Over the years, as coffee culture has grown, changed and expanded, cold brew coffee has become one of the most popular ways to get your caffeine fix. The brewing style is known for creating a smooth, less acidic cup of coffee that’s particularly nice over ice.
You can get your cold brew at your local coffee shop, of course, but many brands have started making cold brew concentrate that you can buy at the supermarket. Having a jug of the java in the house ready to dilute and drink means that you can get your coffee fix without leaving the house and save some money too.
The only issue? There are a lot of options out there and a lot of factors to consider. Do you like a fragrant, bold taste or more of a mellow sip? Do you lean into the bitterness of some or prefer a milder brew? What about undertones of chocolate, spice, malt or smoke?
Ideally, you’d personally taste as many options as possible to help you hone in on your favorite, but that’s not exactly practical. Luckily, that kind of task is in my actual job description. To help you find the best cold brew concentrate, I gathered my cold brew-loving friends for a blind taste test to find out which ones are worth pouring over ice—and which ones you’re better off skipping.
Together, we poured, sniffed and sampled our way through 11 of the biggest cold brew concentrate brands available in grocery stores. When we were done, we had a definitive ranking from worst to best—and we were truly shocked by how some of the brands performed. Ready on for all you need to know to level up your at-home cold brew coffee game.
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What Is Cold Brew Concentrate?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s kick things off with some coffee talk. Before my crew and I started sipping, I reached out to Ever Meister, an award-winning coffee expert, journalist and educator, to talk about the basics of cold brew concentrate.
“Cold brew and cold brew concentrate are sometimes used interchangeably,” Meister tells Parade. “Generally, though, cold brewing creates a very potent coffee base liquid that is diluted with cold or hot water or milk/non-dairy milk to make a delicious coffee drink. If you’re using a brewing recipe that’s stronger than the 1:16 you’d use for other coffee brewing methods, you’ll probably have a concentrate at the end. Dilution is often 1:1 or 1:2, or simply to taste.”
It’s also important to note that caffeine levels vary. “Cold brew concentrate does contain more caffeine than a cup of brewed coffee, but once you dilute it, it can be relatively comparable in caffeine by volume,” they explain.
The other big difference? Time and temperature. “The primary differences between cold brew and many other brewing methods are that you use cool to room temperature water and that the steeping, or brewing, can take between 12 to 24 hours,” Meister says.
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What Should You Look For When Buying Cold Brew Concentrate?
According to Meister, the basics of cold brew concentrate are simple: “All you need to make brew concentrate is freshly roasted, coarse ground coffee, clean (not distilled) water and some kind of filter or sieve.” That means that when you’re buying cold brew concentrate from the store, the ingredients list should be short.
Beyond that, it really comes down to your personal taste in coffee.
“Coffee roast level or country of origin is a personal preference,” Meister shares. “Experiment to find what you like! Most ready-to-drink cold brew and cold brew concentrates are brewed from a blend of coffee beans, often chosen for their chocolatey, nutty or sweet flavor profile.”
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How Do You Use Cold Brew Concentrate?
Cold brew concentrate is more versatile than many people realize. Meister explains that there’s no single “best” way to enjoy it: “There really is no such thing as the best anything when it comes to coffee: if you like it, you like it, and that’s great! I will use either water or milk, depending on my mood and the need I have for coffee flavor. I also like to use it as a component in cocktails or mocktails. The best cold brew mixed drink I’ve had recently was cold brew, pineapple juice, lime juice and demerara sugar syrup, a take on the Java Bird cocktail,” they share. “You can also add some to tonic water for a refreshing pick-me-up; I like to garnish with an orange twist.”
As for shelf life, Meister recommended keeping it cold: “Shelf-stable cold brew will have been treated so that it can be stored at room temperature, but you don’t see that as widely available as the kind that is refrigerated. Coffee can lose its flavor quality faster after brewing, so I recommend keeping it cold and drinking it within a week or so.”
Homemade or store-bought, “cold brew concentrate should last about a week in a sealed container in the fridge. A carafe or a growler does nicely,” they add.
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How I Tested These Cold Brew Concentrates
I first put the call out to my trusty taste test team—Samantha, Chérie, Maddie, Arianna, Cate, Dara—and gathered as many cold brew concentrates as I could find in the Chicago area. I focused on big brands that are widely available at various grocery stores (including the higher-end grocery stores). I only grabbed bottles that were unsweetened and plain in flavor (no French vanilla, caramel, mocha, etc.). I headed to Walmart, Mariano’s, Jewel, The Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s, Fresh Thyme, Meijer, Whole Foods Market and Woodman’s, and found 11 contenders.
For the test, each cold brew was diluted according to the label specifications and poured into small paper cups. Most were 1:1 concentrate and water. We sampled them blindly and black, without milk or sweetener.
Once we tasted all 11 and took notes in a Google form, I revealed the brands and we went back in for a second round of observations. I then averaged out everyone’s answers and compiled the master list from worst to best.
11 Cold Brew Coffee Concentrates, Ranked from Worst to Best
11. Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $8.99
While we usually love Trader Joe’s products, this one fell to the bottom of the list for its burnt flavor. “Tastes burnt and like an artificial sweetener simultaneously. I had a visceral reaction to this one,” Chérie said. Others in the group thought that it was deep, rich, bold and smoky, but after all of the numbers were tallied, it landed in last place. “Very abrasive on the tongue. Would not buy,” Cate said. “Extremely bitter,” Arianna said.
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10. Starbucks Signature Black Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $14.99
Starbucks surprised us all with this one, which struggled to keep up with its high-end competitors on our list. While we thought we knew our beloved Starbucks coffee well, it turns out we really didn’t. “Super intense and really awful,” Chérie said. “Very much like an ashtray. Very abrasive. Would not buy,” Cate said, and “This tastes like dirt. Like the darkest part of dirt. Too bitter, dirty and earthy,” Arianna added. Maddie and Samantha were the only ones in the group to like this one, saying that it was buttery in texture and would be great with cream and sugar.
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9. CoolBrew Original Coffee Concentrate, $8.39
We followed the directions on this very cool, self-dispensing bottle to make our cold brew, but the flavor seemed off. “If the coffee were a bit more concentrated, I would have liked this one a lot,” Chérie said. “Smooth, but otherwise flat,” Maddie shared. “Odd taste, intense in not a good way,” Dara said, with the rest of us noticing its herbal notes.
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8. Great Value Donut Shop Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $4.49
This Walmart brand landed in the middle of the pack for us, with some really liking it and others likening it to diner coffee. “Reminds me of rum,” noted Arianna. “This one has a deep, rich flavor, but it’s bitter,” Chérie said. “Chocolate with a bite. There’s an astringency to it,” Cate added. “Nutty and full-bodied! Great balance of flavor, very sophisticated,” Samantha shared. “Nutty yet bitter, oily, not good,” was Maddie’s take, and I thought it was bland and too mild and boring for my tastes: “Nothing special about this one,” I wrote. That said, at $4.49 for 32 ounces, the price does recommend it.
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7. Pop & Bottle Medium RoastInstant Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $17.99
This cute little pastel bottle of concentrate split the group. The brand’s marketing is spot on and these tiny little bottles can be transported easily for cold brew on the go or for a chic gift for a coffee connoisseur. “This one is fruity and malty. Not my favorite, but not the worst,” Chérie said. “Sour, but with a smooth finish. Not my favorite,” Cate said, with my comment being “VERY sour; not for me.” Dara thought it was “gritty,” and Maddie’s notes said “Nutty, aromatic, full-bodied with flavor, doesn’t need sugar.”
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6. Dunkin‘ Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $10.99
“[This] surprised me—I didn’t think I liked Dunkin’ coffee,” Cate said about this huge bottle of concentrate (31 ounces). “Tangy, more acidic. A little brighter on the tongue. I would buy this,” she said. “This one is really acidic and also has a lingering aftertaste. It’s a really intense flavor,” Chérie said. “Pungent and sour. Gritty and dry, not my favorite,” Samantha said.
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5. Chameleon Black Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $9.99
“This one tastes very watered down and smoky at the same time,” Chérie said of this organic concentrate. “Much bolder at the front, more of a burnt flavor that I don’t prefer. I would not buy this,” Cate said. However, the rest of us liked this one a lot. “Mellow and balanced. Very subtle and fresh tasting, but not a strong flavor,” Samantha said.
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4. Grady’s Cold Brew New Orleans Style Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $14.99
This was one of our top contenders. Arianna thought this one was earthy, and she’s right: it’s the only one with chicory added to it. “This one is strong and tangy. A good neutral coffee flavor that would pair well with standard coffee mix-ins,” Chérie shared. “Nice and smooth and balanced with chill vibes,” Dara said. “Nutty, smooth, and chocolatey,” I said.
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3. Explorer Classic Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $15
Nearly all of us noted that this cold brew, which comes in a sleek glass bottle with minimalist labeling, was very fruity in flavor, with Arianna noting that it was herbal and Chérie commenting that it was “tangy and strong.” “Very fruity and bright. So far, my favorite—a little more acidic,” Cate shared.
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2. Cameron’s Original Black Medium Roast Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, $8.69
Overall, we loved this one. The flavor was pretty well balanced, right in the middle of bold and mild. “Rich and nutty! Very flavorful. Herbal and smooth and full-bodied,” Samantha said. Arianna thought this one was “tangy.” Dara said this one was refreshing, with Maddie commenting that it might not be dark enough for some. “Mellow, smooth and chocolatey,” I noted. At just under $9 for 32 ounces, it’s a good value too.
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1. Stumptown Coffee Roasters Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate 2x, $14.59
A pretty easy-to-find and recognizable favorite in the coffee world, Stumptown won our hearts in the end. “This is pretty good, bold and smooth,” Chérie said. “Kind of chocolatey but light-bodied and not heavy. Pretty velvety,” Cate said. “Wow, very good flavor! Earthy and bold to start, and then it transitions into a refreshing and delicious aftertaste. Nutty and smooth and buttery undertones,” Samantha said. I noted that this one was mild, mellow and chocolatey. I found this bottle at The Fresh Market location near me, so keep your eyes peeled for it at higher-end grocery stores.
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Source:
- Ever Meister, award-winning coffee expert, journalist and educator
