There are several factors to consider when choosing the best coffee beans for cold brew. One important factor is the roast level. It is generally recommended to use a medium to dark roast for cold brew as these roasts have a richer and bolder flavor that can hold up well in a cold brew. This is because dark roasts are less bitter, and a coarse grind reduces the surface area in the brewing process. Light roasts tend to be more acidic and have a brighter flavor profile, which can be overwhelming.
To make cold brew coffee, it’s important to use a coarse grind of coffee. This is because a coarse grind allows the flavors to be extracted more slowly, which results in a smoother, less bitter final product. It also has a lower surface area than coffee of a finer grind, which will reduce over-extraction & bitterness.
A coarse grind is similar to a French press grind and larger than you would use for a typical drip coffee maker. It’s important not to use finely ground coffee for cold brew because it will result in over-extraction and bitter coffee. Not to mention, coarse coffee is a lot easier to grind and filter.
Best Beans For Cold Brew
1: Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee, Strong & Smooth Blend, Low Acid
Stone Street Coffee is our go to pick because they bring a dark roast that is specifically coarsely ground for cold brew. Made from 100% Arabica coffee beans, this dark roast Colombian supremo is some of the largest and highest quality beans from Colombia. Freshly roasted in Brooklyn, New York this coffee brings smooth and consistent flavor that is also low in acidity and bitterness. Definitely some of the best coffee for cold brew coffee.
- Perfected for cold brew
- Balanced flavor
- Low Acid
2: Papua New Guinea Dark Roast Coffee Reserve
Sourced from Papua New Guinea is this complex Dark Roast Reserve with mango and papaya fruitiness. With an incredible aroma, the reserve is sweet and floral. Other flavor notes include toffee, lemon, brown sugar, and molasses. Volcanica prides itself on their roasting facilities in Atlanta Georgia, which roasts the coffee and quickly seals it for shipping generally within one business day. This ensures the freshest coffee arriving to your doorstep, and makes the cold brew that much better. This coffee is certified Kosher and one of the best coffee beans for cold brew.
- Dark roast
- Sweet & Floral
- Toffee, lemon, brown sugar, molasses
- Roasted in the USA
- Fair trade certified
- Certified Kosher
3: Peet’s Luminosa Breakfast Blend
- Excellent light roast bean
- Passion flower, stone fruit, cacao flavor notes
- Breakfast blend makes for an excellent cold brew
4: Peet’s Uzuri African Blend
From East Africa, Peet’s brings the Uzuri African Blend, a Dark Roasted coffee with flavor notes of orange blossom, and black cherry. These are the best coffee beans for cold brew because of the silky smooth body gives this coffee an exquisite and juicy flavor. Using the washed-process, you can rest easy that you’re getting the freshest coffee possible from Peet’s. With different grind options on their site, we recommend buying the whole beans and grinding them with either a manual burr grinder or an automatic burr grinder for consistency. This will help lock in the flavor of the bean until the last moment, and thus preserve the flavor for your cold brew. They roast this coffee 5 days a week, it’s sealed immediately after roasting, and it ships out directly to your doorstep so there is no middle man or warehouse time.
- Signature blend
- East African
- Washed process
- Helps small-scale farmers
5: Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Coffee
Bizzy organic cold brew coffee is another top choice when it comes to cold brew coffee. Medium roasted, coarsely ground, sustainably sourced, Bizzy brings smooth and sweet to the forefront with notes of caramel and hazelnut. Bizzy coffee is made up of 100% Arabica coffee beans that are sourced from organic farms in Guatemala, Peru, and Nicaragua. The coffee is also certified organic and non-GMO, making it an appealing option for health-conscious coffee drinkers.
- 100% organic
- Coarse ground
- Overwhelmingly positive taste in reviews
6: Tiny Footprint Coffee Organic Cold Brew
Tiny Footprint Coffee’s Organic Cold Brew is a unique coffee product that not only provides a great coffee experience but also has a positive impact on the environment. The company claims that it is “carbon negative,” meaning that it actively removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus reducing its carbon footprint.
Tiny Footprint Coffee Organic Cold Brew is made from 100% certified organic and fair trade coffee beans, which are carefully selected and roasted to perfection. The coffee is also packaged in compostable and biodegradable packaging, further reducing its environmental impact.
Their coffee is silky, sweet, with bright fruit and floral tones with a cocoa body, this coffee is made to please! Medium roast this coffee is shade grown using 100% Arabica coffee beans.
- Certified organic
- Course grind for the perfect cold brew
- Well liked
7: Stone Cold Jo Cold Brew
Stone Cold Jo is a fair trade & USDA organic certified silky smooth dark roast made from high-quality, carefully selected Arabica coffee beans that are roasted to a medium-dark roast to bring out the coffee’s natural sweetness and smoothness. This blend is designed to create a rich, flavorful cold brew coffee with a low acidity and a smooth, velvety finish.
Non-GMO, this coffee is naturally low acid, and ground coarsely so it’s perfect for your next cold brew. With notes of toffee caramel and chocolate grape you’ll know you’re getting a great bean from a good source while supporting a small business.
- Organic, non-GMO, Kosher
- Unique flavor
8: Inspired Coffee Co Cold Brew (Salted Caramel)
The Inspired Coffee Co Salted Caramel Cold Brew Coffee is made from high-quality, carefully selected Arabica coffee beans that are roasted to perfection and combined with natural caramel and salt flavors. The result is a delicious and smooth cold brew coffee with a sweet and buttery caramel finish and a hint of salt to balance out the sweetness.
This flavored coffee blend is a great option for coffee drinkers who are looking for a sweet and indulgent coffee experience. The salted caramel flavor adds a unique twist to the traditional cold brew coffee, making it a perfect treat for those who enjoy sweet and creamy flavors.
What Is Cold Brew Concentrate?
Cold brew concentrate is made by steeping ground coffee beans in cold water for an extended period, typically between 12 and 24 hours. The resulting brew is then strained to remove the grounds, resulting in a concentrated coffee that is smooth, rich, and full-bodied with low acidity.
One of the benefits of cold brew concentrate is that it has a longer shelf life than regular brewed coffee, as it is less prone to going stale due to the lack of heat used in the brewing process.
Why Cold Brew?
First off, let’s talk about why cold brew has a special place in my heart—and on our menu. Cold brew is more than just coffee; it’s a labor of love. It takes time, patience, and the right beans to get that smooth, low-acidic cup that you can’t help but savor. Plus, you get to experience coffee flavors in a whole new way.
The Best Grinder For Cold Brew
The best grinder for any coffee is going to be adjustable depending on the size of the grind you need. This is why we don’t generally recommend blade grinders, because they are essentially blenders that chop the beans into an inconsistent size. A Burr grinder is going to give a consistent grind because it uses two either stainless steel or ceramic disks that adjust their distance for a consistent grind size. We recommend either this manual grinder or the Ode Brew Grinder.
WE RECOMMEND: Ode Burr Brew Grinder
