18 Cold Brew Coffee Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best
Cold brew coffee has exploded in popularity, offering a smoother, less acidic alternative to traditional iced coffee. With countless brands now crowding store shelves, finding the perfect cold brew can feel overwhelming.
I’ve sampled dozens of options to bring you this definitive ranking, from disappointing duds to morning game-changers that’ll revolutionize your caffeine routine.
1. Stok Unsweet Black Cold Brew
Stok’s offering falls flat with a watery consistency that lacks the robust flavor profile cold brew fans crave.
The coffee tastes diluted, as if someone took a decent cold brew and added too much water. While affordable and widely available, this mass-produced option sacrifices quality for convenience.
The slightly metallic aftertaste lingers unpleasantly, making this a forgettable option among its competitors.
2. Dunkin’ Cold Brew
Dunkin’s cold brew sadly doesn’t match the quality of their hot coffee offerings. The flavor profile lacks depth, presenting as thin and somewhat artificial tasting.
While it delivers a decent caffeine kick, the coffee itself tastes mass-produced rather than crafted.
I remember grabbing this during a road trip emergency coffee stop, and even in my caffeine-deprived state, I couldn’t finish the bottle due to its strange chemical undertones.
3. Lavazza Organic Cold Brew Variety Pack
Lavazza’s cold brew variety pack promises Italian coffee expertise but delivers inconsistent results. The classic black option lacks the richness you’d expect from this storied brand.
While the flavored varieties fare slightly better, they rely too heavily on sweeteners to mask the underwhelming coffee base.
The convenience of the variety pack is its strongest selling point, but the actual brewing quality disappoints given Lavazza’s reputation in the hot coffee world.
4. Kloo Coffee Concentrate
Kloo’s concentrate format requires dilution, which often results in an unbalanced final product. Getting the ratio just right proves frustratingly difficult, even with their provided instructions.
When properly prepared, it offers decent flavor, but the concentrate itself has peculiar sour notes.
I once served this at a brunch gathering, and my coffee-loving friend asked if I’d accidentally used expired beans, which pretty much sums up the experience.
5. High Brew Coffee Cold Brew
High Brew markets itself to active professionals, and the caffeine content certainly delivers energy. Flavor-wise, it’s serviceable but not spectacular.
The compact cans make it conveniently portable, though the taste has a slightly artificial quality in some of their flavored options.
The classic black variety performs best, with a clean finish that works well for on-the-go consumption when coffee quality isn’t your top priority.
6. Califia Farms Unsweetened Cold Brew
Califia Farms creates a respectable cold brew with a distinctive almond undertone that sets it apart from competitors. The sleek bottle design catches the eye, while the coffee inside delivers moderate satisfaction.
The unsweetened version has a clean finish but lacks the complexity coffee enthusiasts might seek.
Back when I first tried plant-based milks, I paired this with their almond milk for a completely dairy-free experience that actually impressed my traditional coffee-drinking relatives.
7. Jot Coffee Seasonal Cold Brew Concentrate
Jot’s ultra-concentrated formula creates an impressively strong coffee experience from just a tablespoon of product. The seasonal varieties offer creative flavor profiles that change throughout the year.
The tiny bottle takes up minimal fridge space, a practical advantage for small kitchens.
The concentration level means it’s easy to make your cold brew too strong, though, as I discovered when I accidentally doubled the recommended amount and couldn’t sleep for 24 hours straight.
8. Grady’s New Orleans-Style Cold Brew
Grady’s brings distinctive New Orleans coffee traditions to the cold brew world with chicory-infused flavor. The result is a uniquely rich profile with hints of chocolate and spice not found in standard cold brews.
The signature flavor polarizes drinkers – some love the bold departure from typical coffee notes, while others find it overwhelming.
The brew bags make home preparation simple, though the steeping process requires patience for optimal results.
9. Partners Coffee Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches
Partners Coffee delivers convenience without sacrificing quality through their innovative brew pouches. The resulting cold brew has pleasant chocolate notes with minimal acidity and a silky mouthfeel.
The pouches make home brewing foolproof, eliminating the mess associated with traditional cold brew preparation.
The Rockaway blend specifically balances sweetness and strength in a way that appeals to both casual and serious coffee drinkers alike.
10. RISE Brewing Co. Nitro Cold Brew
RISE stands out with its nitrogen-infused brewing process that creates a remarkably smooth texture with a beautiful cascading effect when poured. The nitrogen bubbles create a creamy mouthfeel without any dairy additives.
The organic beans produce a clean, straightforward flavor that’s consistent across batches.
I once brought these cans to a camping trip, and my friends couldn’t believe the velvety texture came from a canned product with no refrigeration required.
11. Wandering Bear Straight Black Organic Cold Brew
Wandering Bear’s box design revolutionizes cold brew storage with its convenient spout and long-lasting freshness. The coffee itself delivers impressive strength without veering into bitter territory.
The organic certification and eco-friendly packaging appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
The flavor profile features distinct dark chocolate notes with a surprisingly clean finish for such a robust brew, making it ideal for those who prefer their coffee strong but not harsh.
12. Driftaway Cold Brew Subscription Kit
Driftaway’s subscription model elevates the cold brew experience through personalization and education. Each delivery includes beans specifically selected based on your taste preferences, with detailed information about origin and flavor notes.
The brewing kit simplifies the process while maintaining craft quality.
My favorite part is learning about the farmers who grew the beans, creating a connection to the source that most commercial brands simply can’t match.
13. La Colombe Brazilian Cold Brew
La Colombe’s Brazilian Cold Brew showcases how single-origin beans can transform the cold brew experience. The Brazilian beans create a naturally sweet profile with distinct nutty undertones and remarkable smoothness.
Unlike many competitors, this brew maintains complex flavor notes despite the cold extraction process.
The sleek, minimalist packaging reflects the brand’s focus on letting quality ingredients speak for themselves rather than relying on flashy marketing.
14. Chameleon Organic Cold Brew
Chameleon’s organic approach yields a remarkably balanced cold brew that works beautifully both black and with additions. The concentrate format provides excellent value, producing multiple servings from one bottle.
The flavor profile features subtle caramel notes with a hint of nuttiness and minimal bitterness.
When my coffee snob brother visited last summer, I secretly served him Chameleon instead of my usual homemade brew, and he asked for my “recipe” – the ultimate compliment.
15. Peet’s Coffee Cold Brew
Peet’s brings decades of coffee expertise to their cold brew, resulting in exceptional depth of flavor. Their Baridi blend, specifically developed for cold brewing, offers dark chocolate notes with a surprisingly bright finish.
The ready-to-drink bottles maintain freshness without preservatives, a testament to their quality standards.
I discovered Peet’s cold brew during a California road trip years ago, and finding it in my local grocery store felt like reuniting with an old friend.
16. Blue Bottle Cold Brew
Blue Bottle’s meticulous approach to coffee shines in their cold brew offering. The 12-hour brewing process extracts incredible complexity while maintaining remarkable smoothness.
Notably absent is the bitterness that plagues lesser brands, replaced instead with notes of dark chocolate, berries, and a gentle sweetness.
The single-origin options rotate seasonally, providing coffee enthusiasts with an ever-changing tasting experience that showcases the best beans from around the world.
17. Starbucks Signature Cold Brew
Starbucks has perfected their cold brew formula after years of refinement. The 20-hour steeping process creates a remarkably smooth, naturally sweet coffee with chocolate undertones and zero bitterness.
Unlike their hot coffee, which often tastes over-roasted, their cold brew strikes an ideal balance between accessibility and complexity.
The consistent quality across locations is impressive, making it a reliable choice for cold brew lovers whether at home or from their cafes.
18. Stumptown Cold Brew
Stumptown reigns supreme in the cold brew world, setting the gold standard that other brands aspire to match. Their hair’s-breadth brew has revolutionized ready-to-drink coffee with its perfect balance of strength and smoothness.
The signature stubby bottle contains notes of chocolate, caramel, and subtle fruit that unfold gradually with each sip.
When I first tasted Stumptown years ago, I finally understood what cold brew could be – not just cold coffee, but a completely different experience with depth and character unmatched by competitors.