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The 9 Best Coffees For Cold Brew

For when you want to prep your morning cup the night before.

By
cold brew
Sarah Ceniceros

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Cold brew is your best bet for a smooth, delicious cup of cold coffee. Unlike a standard iced coffee, cold brew infuses the beans in cold water for prolonged periods of time. The finished product is perfectly chilled and strong, instead of just diluted hot coffee poured over ice cubes.

Odds are you can probably find pre-made cold brew at any café, but relying on baristas for your cup can become an expensive habit. Even at chains like Starbucks or Dunkin' a medium-sized cold brew can run you upwards of $4. Thankfully, making cold brew at home is a low-effort and low-cost solution.

If you follow our recipe, a single 12-oz bag of coffee beans can yield over a gallon of cold brew concentrate, making the cost per cup a fraction of what you'd get at a coffee shop. Another perk is you can choose your own cold brew adventure by choosing your bag of coffee. In general, the best beans to use for cold brew are medium to dark roast and coarsely ground for optimal extraction. The nature of the cold-brewing method minimizes acidic notes and amplifies the flavors of chocolate and dark fruit that we love in coffee. However, the versatility of cold brew means you can make a cup with nearly any variety, but if you want some pointers, here are some of our favorite beans.

1

Partners Coffee Brooklyn Roast

Partners Coffee Brooklyn Roast
Credit: Partners Coffee

Pros

  • Roasted To Order
  • Offers Specialized Grind

Cons

    This blend is our Associate SEO Editor Allie Arnold's go-to pick for making cold brew. The chocolate and toffee notes in this coffee take centerstage when prepared cold.

    It has a delightful richness that pairs well with milk and sugar. Or, if you take your coffee black, the Brooklyn roast has enough integrity to stand on its own. You can order from Partners directly, and they'll even pre-grind it to the perfect consistency.

    2

    Coffee Variety Coffee High Hopes Blend

    Variety Coffee High Hopes Blend
    Credit: Variety Coffee

    Pros

    • Subscription Available

    Cons

    • Only Sold As Whole Beans

    Variety Coffee sources their beans for their cold brew blend from Ethiopia, where arabica coffee originates. The combination of high-quality coffee lends a luscious, full-bodied flavor that's ideal for cold brewing.

    If you love this coffee as much as we do, you can take advantage of Variety Coffee's subscription services. Whether you choose to receive a delivery once, twice, or four times a month, you can rest assured that you'll never wake up without coffee again.

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    3

    Stone Street Cold Brew Reserve Blend

    Stone Street Cold Brew Reserve Blend
    Credit: Stone Street

    Pros

    • Offers Specialized Grind
    • Subscription Available

    Cons

      Stone Street's cold brew blend is a favorite among many Delish editors, including our very own Makinze Gore. The roastery selects "supremo" beans from Colombia, which means the coffee you receive is among the most renowned for their size and quality.

      You can order one-, two-, or five-pound bags directly from their website. Not only can you select between whole beans and cold-brew approved coarse grind, you can even sign up for a subscription.

      4

      Counter Culture Coffee Counter Culture Hologram Blend

      Counter Culture Hologram Blend
      Credit: Counter Culture Coffee

      Pros

      • Comes In Multiple Sizes
      • Subscription Available

      Cons

        If you prefer your coffee to be on the lighter side, Counter Culture's Hologram is a great option. This blend features those deep notes of chocolate that any good cold brew should have. However, it's incredibly nuanced and balances the richer notes with delicate fruity flavors.

        You can buy bags of Hologram in 12-ounce, 24-ounce, and five-pound bags. Their subscription service is also unmatched—you'll save 10 percent on each 12-ounce bag.

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        5

        Irving Farm Cold Brew Blend

        Irving Farm Cold Brew Blend

        Pros

        • Subscription Available

        Cons

        • Only Sold As Whole Beans

        Irving Farm's cold brew-specific blend features all of the flavor notes you'd expect: chocolate, caramel, molasses. What makes it special, however, is the slight fruity flavor that shines after a long, cold extraction.

        You'll need your own coffee grinder, since these are only sold as whole beans. However, its richly complex taste is absolutely worth the extra step.

        6

        La Colombe Nizza Blend

        La Colombe Nizza Blend
        Credit: La Colombe

        Pros

        • Subscription Available
        • Comes In Multiple Sizes
        • Offers Specialized Grind

        Cons

          This medium roast is the standard blend used to pull espresso shots at all of La Colombe's coffee shops, but we're making the case for it as a cold brew bean. The honey-like sweetness and deep nuttiness are uniquely refreshing when prepared cold.

          This coffee checks all the boxes: you can choose between multiple sizes, select a customized cold-brew grind, and buy a subscription. This blend is a no brainer.

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          7

          Nguyen Coffee Supply Moxy Blend

          Nguyen Coffee Supply Moxy Blend
          Now 67% Off
          Credit: Nguyen Coffee Supply

          Pros

          • Comes In Multiple Sizes
          • Subscription Available

          Cons

          • Pre-Ground Is Too Fine For Cold Brew

          Nguyen Coffee Supply makes some of the most exciting coffee on the market, and their Moxy blend is a standout. While the majority of their beans are optimized for brewing with a phin (a traditional Vietnamese filter), Moxy also shines when brewed cold.

          This medium roast has all of the fruity, delicate notes without any of the acidity. You can order this coffee in multiple sizes and sign up for a subscription. However, there's one thing to note: their grind size is fine, as it should be when brewing with a phin.

          8

          Café Integral Cold Brew

          Café Integral Cold Brew
          Credit: Cafe Integral

          Pros

          • Comes In Multiple Sizes

          Cons

          • Only Sold As Whole Beans

          Café Integral sources their beans from different regions of Nicaragua. They are on the ground during the harvest, and most of their offerings are limited to certain seasons. Their cold brew blend, however, is available year-round.

          This bright and nuanced blend has a seriously well-rounded flavor. I especially love sipping on this cold brew in warm weather. You can purchase either 12-ounce or two-pound bags of these whole beans.

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          9

          Partners Coffee Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches

          Partners Coffee Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches
          Credit: Partners Coffee

          Pros

          • Convenient Pre-Portioned Pouches

          Cons

          • Can Only Fit In Certain Cold Brew Makers

          If you like the idea of making cold brew at home but don't want to splurge on kits or grinders, Partners Coffee cold brew pouches are for you. Each bag comes with four pouches of pre-ground coffee meant specifically for steeping a batch of cold brew.

          Think of this as a giant tea bag, but for coffee. Simply add 24 ounces of water and allow the rich, chocolatey notes to infuse for 20-24 hours.

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