Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew : The 10 Brands We love!

 

Cold brew has become increasingly more of the coffee norm for many people. Cold Brew takes longer than other methods to brew, as the grounds are submerged in water of a much lower temperature. A lot of the flavor profiles that characterize the different types of beans depends heavily on the beans chosen, taking into consideration the roast type, date and hints of flavor that they come with. In this post, we like to share the best coffee beans for cold brew which we have tried!

Best Coffee Beans For Cold Brew

Stone Street Single Origin Colombian Coffee

This dark roast is specifically designed for this brewing method, as the coarsely ground beans allow for a slow extraction of flavor, which provides the finished product with a bold and smooth taste.

The single origin characteristic of this roast provides a more unique set of full-bodied flavor affinities, as the growing conditions in this region of South America are preferred due to the mountainous terrain and high altitudes, for this is the environment that coffee beans thrive in.

It has a low acidity, which makes it easier on the stomach and perfect for those with a higher sensitivity. It has a slight sweetness which allows for it to be enjoyed without additives, and is well-balanced in other flavors and boldness.

https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Street-Coffee-Colombian-Coarsely/dp/B01HFK955I/

 

Cooper’s Cask Coffee Guatemalan Beans

These beans are of a medium roast, and although cold brew results in a more robust, darker coffee taste, the lighter roasted beans bring out brighter flavors in the drink, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to make cold brew but isn’t a fan of the sometimes too bold dark roast taste.

With hints of caramel and milk chocolate that are noticeable but stray far from overpowering the coffee, Cooper’s single origin Guatemalan beans makes an extremely well balanced batch of cold brew, and the beans were ground and roasted specifically for this method.

Another thing to note is the fact that it uses a smaller amount of grounds when preparing the cold brew, the ratio being 6 ounces of coffee for every 32 ounces of water.

But of course if you’re a cold brew professional, then it’s all up to personal preference. With a long shelf life after brewing is complete, bold but still maintaining the lighter attributes that come from a medium roast, and a well-balanced flavor profile, Cooper’s Cask is definitely a must try for any coffee lover.

https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Cold-Brew-Coffee-Guatemalan/dp/B07N62NRVC/

 

Grady’s Cold Brew Coffee

Perfect for the person wanting to try out cold brew for the first time, as the grounds come pre-measured and packaged in individual coffee bags. This makes it easy to make, leaving you with no left over coffee grounds that may leave you with a mess.

The steeping time is slightly shorter than other cold brews at just 12 hours, while others call for 15 or more, but just like other brews, it keeps in your fridge for a while giving you more than enough time to enjoyably finish it before it’s too late.

The beans make a darker tasting coffee, but the full bodied flavor profile from chicory, which gives it a slight smokey finish, and signature New Orleans style spices make it a very well balanced brew. The bean bags are versatile as well, for they can be used for a quick hot brewed coffee if your taste buds are craving something warm and smooth.

https://www.amazon.com/Gradys-Cold-Brew-Storage-Regular/dp/B00KH4M8FO/

Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Coffee

Sourced ethically and created by sustainable production, Bizzy Cold Brew coffee gives a fresh take on flavors, and also gives multiple options for people with different flavor and taste preferences. You can choose from a Sweet and Smooth Blend or a Dark and Bold blend, both blends sourced from Nicaragua and Peru.

It is a multi-origin coffee, and this provides a more unique flavor profile due to the different regions in which the beans are sourced from, with both still including the chocolate hints and nutty balanced tones of South America.

Recommendations are present on the packaging for those inexperienced in making cold brew from scratch, giving specific instruction and clear guidelines to follow to have the best tasting finished brew. But the experienced maker has the freedom to make a stronger brew or one of a lighter nature. The brewing time, dependent on strength desired, is anywhere between 14-20 hours, with a fridge life that is even longer. It’s easy to make, extremely flavorful and has a smooth, full-bodied finished taste.

https://www.amazon.com/Bizzy-Organic-Cold-Brew-Coffee/dp/B07BL58L14/

Dark Brazilian Cerrado

The single origin coffee is perfect for any brewing method, but when out through the cold brewing method, it provides a rich, full-bodied and smooth flavor profile and feel, leaving no unwanted bitterness in the drink. Brazilian coffee is one of the highest rated in the world, due to its climate and environmental factors that give it its nutty taste and hints of rich chocolate, thus it will give you a cold brew of the same value.

The beans for the Cerrado are partly sun dried, which is a traditional drying method used in the process of roasting and gives the coffee a unique taste, setting it apart from other roasts or blends. The beans are sourced ethically and are packaged immediately following roasting, maintaining freshness for a high quality brewing taste.

It is a medium-dark roast, so although the overall coffee flavor will be apparent, the sweetness from the chocolate and rich flavor from the nutty hints will give you a very smooth and easy to drink cold brew.

https://www.amazon.com/Brazilian-Cerrado-Coffee-Whole-Roasted/dp/B00ELQ45ZK/

Koffee Kult Dark Roast

Roasted in small batches, ensuring that all of the beans receive the quality care that will deliver the best possible flavors, Koffee Kult is a reliable brand for your cold brew making needs. Although they have many different options, the dark roast is one of their highest rated coffees, and its multi-origin nature provides a wonderfully crafted blend of bold, smooth and clean flavors.

You can get the coffee whole bean and grind it yourself, as they package the beans immediately following roast completion to ensure optimal freshness and to protect the flavor profile of the beans, and any additional handling would result in a loss of these contributing factors. It is important to note, though, that this coffee was not made specifically for cold brew, but can still be used for this method of brewing, and you can find recommended measurements almost anywhere.

A good rule of thumb to follow when making cold is a 1 part coffee to 8 parts water ratio, although this can be changed dependent upon your specific liking in boldness. When using Koffee Kult’s dark roast and preparing it for your individualized taste buds, you’ll find yourself drinking in the aromas of cocoa and cinnamon and indulging in this rich, smooth, clean coffee.

https://www.amazon.com/Koffee-Kult-Roast-Coffee-Beans/dp/B00PV4FG3Q/

Verena Street Nine Mile Sunset

Named after the Nine Mile Island on the Mississippi River, this dark roast offers a fresh complexity in flavor, but has a comforting smooth, full-bodied taste that you can enjoy without any bitterness or other unappealing aftertastes, and using this coffee for cold brew will bring that complexity to life.

Verena Street is responsibly sourced and sustainable, as they understand the importance of protecting the regions that bring us the unique flavors of the coffee bean, and they roast their beans in small batches which ensures a full roasting of each and every bean that comes into play.

The coffee comes from different regions and is roasted at varying temperatures which gives it a bold and rich flavor and is perfect for cold brew lovers who lean more towards the darker end of the spectrum, as the pure coffee taste will come through but will also be accompanied by the different regional flavors that make up this dark roast blend.

https://www.amazon.com/Verena-Street-Rainforest-Alliance-Certified/dp/B00X8LYNEW/

Volcanica Tanzania Peaberry Coffee

Peaberry coffee beans are unique in that it is two coffee beans that mutated into a single bean, which has arguably given it a more smooth, brighter, juicier and sweeter taste, which can even be noted in the cold brew method that somewhat dulls flavor profiles included in some beans.

The peaberry, with its combined two beans, is round unlike other beans that have a flat surface, and this allows for a more even roast which brings about more full bodied aromas and flavor profiles, although the individual taste is not for everyone.

The Volcanica Tanzania blend is sourced from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and is a medium roast, which allows for the peaberry flavor affinities to come forth in their entirety. Its acidity sets it apart from other roasts but lies more on the intense side of the bold flavor spectrum, so it may not sit well with some.

The beans are packed immediately for the protection of freshness, and the ratios remain the same for preparation, but the medium roast may be too weak for the dark roasters, so a larger coffee amount to water is suggested for a bolder cup.

https://www.amazon.com/Tanzania-Peaberry-Coffee-Kilimanjaro-16-ounce/dp/B0030IQ71K/

Death Wish Coffee

Don’t be mislead by the intensity of the packaging or the name, as this is a perfect blended dark roast coffee for cold brew, especially if you’re looking for something that packs a big caffeine punch.

The slow roasting process of the Arabica and Robusta beans offers a higher concentration of caffeine per cup than other brands, and along with the slow brewing method used for cold brew, you’ll have a great energizing start to your morning that will be accompanied by hints of chocolate and cherry that come with this blend.

 Death Wish Coffee packages their beans whole as they want to preserve the freshness and authenticity of their coffee, and also allow those who purchase it the experience of grinding this unique blend and discovering the rich aromas that come with, while also brewing it to their preferred liking. Due to its high caffeine concentration, 200% more to be precise but completely organic, and robust flavors, the 1 part coffee ratio to 8 parts water will be suitable for this blend, although again it is dependent upon what you desire in your cold brew.

Whatever that preference is, this slow roasted, small batched, unique blend will give you the cold brew you’ve been wanting, without all the bitterness and ugly aftertastes and instead with a smooth, extremely drinkable cup.

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Wish-Organic-Certified-Coffee/dp/B006CNTR6W/

Tiny Footprint Coffee

This subtle fruity and floral blend of light and dark roast beans is not only perfect for your next batch of cold brew, but they are built upon sustainable practices. This is a carbon negative company, as every pound of coffee bought, a percentage of those funds goes towards tree planting and other practices meant to help the planet’s natural habitats.

Sourced from the highlands in Ethiopia, this blend is ideal for those who crave chocolate hints, as the main contributing factor in this blend, and what makes it unique in its own light, is the rich and silky flavors found in the cocoa bean. The mix of light and dark roasts, with the inclusion of signature Ethiopian beans, creates a cold brew that lies on the stronger side and is more bold in flavor and bitterness.

The inclusion of lighter roasts increases the acidic flavor in the coffee, but the cold brewing method deceases this acidic characteristic, and you are left with a complex batch of good-karma cold brew.

https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Footprint-Coffee-Organic-Elixir/dp/B00BN4WBJK/

Tips When Using Coffee Beans to make Cold Brew?

Grind size

It is important to not have a finely ground coffee when making cold brew, as it will lead to a over-extraction of the coffee’s bitterness and other factors that will make it not enjoyable. Instead, always use even coarsely ground coffee beans which allows for a slower extraction of the flavors, the ones you want, and won’t end up in your cup.

Roast Type

The roast type isn’t necessarily vital in order to achieve a good tasting cold brew, but it should be taken into consideration that the acidity from light and medium roasts won’t be present in the final product if normal brewing times are used. Darker roasts are preferred for cold brew because they provide the most amount of their original flavor in the least amount of possible time and are consistent.

Thus if a lighter roast is being used, be sure to keep the grounds submerged for a longer period of time to extract the hints of flavor that classify those beans. The acidic nature of the beans are lost in the cold brewing method, but medium roasts are perfect for maintaining balance in flavor affinities that make the bean unique to the region or blend and the roasting process.

Why drink Cold Brew Coffee?

The cold brew method of coffee preparation offers the drinker a new way of enjoying the varying flavors that come from different coffee beans, for the profiles that classify each blend or single origin bean come through in a way that other methods can’t replicate. The acidity is low, thus easy in the stomach, the caffeine is a perfect for starting any morning on the right foot, and making it is beyond easy. Make it before going to bed and sleep while it steeps.

Which is the Best Coffee Beans For Cold Brew?

While all of these beans are perfect for cold brewing methods, and totally dependent upon personal preference in terms of flavor, caffeine concentration and strength. It is in our hope that this post have provided you some inspiration and you are now well-informed to find the best coffee beans for cold brew.