10 Best Coffee for Cold Brew for Every Roast Level
Updated - Team Colipse
The best coffee beans for cold brew are 100% Arabica, specialty grade, and freshly roasted to order. A coarse grind and medium to dark roast best enhance the smooth, rich, balanced flavor when cold-brewed. There is no single best brand for cold brew coffee that suit all palates as coffee beans for cold brew differ in origin, flavor profile, price, and bean varietals.
Key factors in choosing the best coffee for cold brew include freshness, availability, the way beans are processed, and cost. Some coffee beans for cold brew are considerably more expensive than others, so knowing about discounts, subscriptions, and shipping fees is crucial for finding the best value for money.
Many cold brew coffee brands offer excellent beans. For example, Bizzy Cold Brew uses convenient brew bags, Colipse Coffee offers a freshly roasted specialty grade blend, and Lifeboost Coffee uses an organic blend. The 10 best coffees for cold brew, covering every roast level, are listed below.
- Colipse Cold Brew
- Bizzy Cold Brew
- Starbucks Coffee Sumatra Dark
- La Colombe Cold Brew
- Lifeboost Coffee Cold Brew
- Merit Coffee Cold Brew
- Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew
- Temple Coffee Capital Cold Brew
- Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew
- Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew
1. Colipse Cold Brew
Description: Colipse Cold Brew Blend offers one of the best-tasting coffee beans for cold brewing in the U.S., sourced from high-altitude regions in Sumatra, Brazil, and Ethiopia. Smallholder farmers hand-pick these specialty-grade beans to ensure ripeness and process them using the wet method in local cooperatives. Colipse Cold Brew Blend is a medium 'City' roast, roasted to order in small batches and delivered within days. It has deep, complex flavor not found in regular grocery store cold brew coffee.
Taste: Colipse Cold Brew Blend is designed to make the best homemade cold brew by combining Sumatra, Brazil, and Ethiopia. Sumatra adds syrupy depth and low-acid earthiness, Brazil provides a smooth, nutty base with chocolatey sweetness, and Ethiopia introduces bright, fruity, and floral notes. This blend balances richness and clarity for a bold, refreshing finish. It is best for cold brew concentrate, iced coffee, and French press.
About the Brand: Colipse Coffee is an online coffee retailer founded in 2024 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It offers single-origin and blended coffees from South and Central America, Africa, and Asia. Options include espresso, cold brew, and French press, along with Swiss Water® Process decaf.
Colipse Cold Brew Beans Availability: Colipse Cold Brew Blend is available online from the Colipse website in 12 oz bags of whole bean or drip ground for $21.50 USD. Free shipping is included within the U.S., and orders ship within 3-5 business days. Mail-order discounts of up to 10% reduce the price to $19.35 USD.
Colipse Cold Brew Pros: Ethically sourced, customizable grind options, freshly roasted, one of the best specialty grade ground coffee for cold brew.
Colipse Cold Brew Cons: Not widely available in physical stores, higher price compared to others.
Recommendation for Colipse Coffee Cold Brew: Colipse's Cold Brew Blend is among the best coffee beans and grounds for cold brew and nitro brewing. It is a solid choice for milk-based cold brew drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, or salted caramel cream cold brews.
| Colipse Coffee Cold Brew Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Specialty grade |
| Country of Origin | Sumatra, Brazil, and Ethiopia |
| Roast Profile | Medium roast, freshly roasted within days after you place the order. |
| Process | Sun-dried on raised beds |
| Elevation | 1,200 to 2,000 meters (3,930 to 6,560 feet) |
| Typical Price in USA | $21.50 for 12 oz |
| Where to Buy | Colipse Coffee website |
2. Bizzy Cold Brew
Description: Bizzy's Cold Brew Organic Coffee is a 100% Arabica blend sourced from Central and South America. Their medium roast is available in convenient brew bags, optimized for cold brewing at home in a Mason jar, pitcher, or other glass container.
Taste: Bizzy Cold Brew coffee has a smooth, balanced flavor with hints of caramel and hazelnut. It's naturally sweet and enjoyable. The medium roast gives it a nice texture and a clean finish without any bitterness.
About Bizzy Cold Brew: Bizzy Cold Brew is an American brand of organic cold brew coffee concentrate and coarse ground coffee founded in 2014 by Alex French. Thier focus is health, convenience, and taste. The company sells ready-to-drink cold brew in various roasts and flavors, and coarse ground coffee for home cold brewing.
Cold Brew Coffee Beans Availability: Bizzy Cold Brew coffee is available in DIY brew bags and ready-to-drink bottles at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart. Prices range from $10.99 for a small pack of brew bags to $27.99 for a variety pack.
Bizzy Cold Brew Pros: Convenient brew bags for easy and mess-free preparation, micro-sifted grounds for consistent particle size, and optimal cold brew extraction.
Bizzy Cold Brew Cons: Not ideal for cold brewing in large batches.
Recommendation for Bizzy Cold Brew Cold Brew: Bizzy Cold Brew ground coffee bags simplify making organic cold brew at home. They eliminate the need for specialty equipment, complicated recipes, or expensive tools, making the process hassle-free.
| Bizzy Cold Brew Coffee Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Arabica beans |
| Country of Origin | Central and South America |
| Roast Profile | Medium roast |
| Process | Not specified |
| Elevation | Not specified |
| Typical Price in USA | $10.99 USD for 4 brew bags (makes 14 cups) |
| Where to Buy | Bizzy Cold Brew website, Amazon, Walmart, supermarkets across the USA |
3. Starbucks Coffee Sumatra Dark
Description: Starbucks Sumatra Dark is a dark roast, single-origin coffee from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is made from 100% Arabica beans and is ready to buy from Starbucks stores, online retailers like Amazon, and grocery stores.
Taste: Starbucks Sumatra Dark offers a bittersweet, bold, and earthy flavor profile with notes of rich herbs, cocoa powder, and rustic spice with barely perceptible sourness and acidity. It has a very full, creamy mouthfeel, making it perfect for those who enjoy complex, full-bodied cold brews.
About Starbucks: Starbucks is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker. The company, which was originally a coffee bean wholesaler, is known for its espresso-based drinks and its signature green logo.
Starbucks Sumatra Dark Availability: Starbucks Sumatra Dark Roast in stores and online at many different places, like grocery stores and online retailers. A 12-ounce bag usually costs around $12.99, which makes it one of the best affordable coffee for cold brew.
Starbucks Sumatra Dark Pros: Widely accessible, inexpensive, suitable for multiple cold brew drinks.
Starbucks Sumatra Dark Cons: This cold brew doesn't show when the coffee was roasted, only when it's best to drink it by, so its hard to know how fresh it is.
Recommendation for Starbucks Sumatra Dark: Starbucks Sumatra Dark is one of the cheapest and most widely available coffee beans for DIY cold brew concentrate, found at Costco, Aldi, Target, Amazon, and other major retailers.
| Starbucks Sumatra Dark Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Premium Single-origin Coffee |
| Country of Origin | Sumatra, Indonesia |
| Roast Profile | Dark Roast |
| Process | Not specified |
| Elevation | Not specified |
| Typical Price in USA | $12.99 per 18 ounces |
| Where to Buy | Starbucks stores, online at Amazon, or your local grocery store. |
4. La Colombe Cold Brew
Description: La Colombe's Cold Brew Blend is a medium roast coffee perfect for making cold brew at home. It's made with arabica beans from Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The beans are mixed and then roasted to create a balanced flavor.
Taste: La Colombe's Cold Brew Blend has a strong chocolate flavor and a refreshing finish. It's not too bitter or sour, and has a little sweetness.
About La Colombe: La Colombe Coffee Roasters is a premium coffee company founded in 1994 by Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are known for their high-quality beans, innovative brewing methods like the Draft Latte, and focus on ethical and sustainable sourcing practices.
Cold Brew Coffee Beans Availability: You can buy La Colombe cold brew beans and grounds on their website, at their coffee shops in cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles, or in many grocery stores. A 12-ounce bag costs about $14.
La Colombe Cold Brew Pros: Versatile grind options, many positive customer reviews, offers subscriptions with discounts.
La Colombe Cold Brew Cons: This cold brew doesn't have a roast date, so it might not be as fresh as other brands. Also, they don't say how they make it.
Recommendation for La Colombe Cold Brew: La Colombe's Cold Brew Blend is one of the best whole bean coffees for making cold brew at home. It works great with different cold brewing methods like slow drip, cold drip, or a French press.
| La Colombe Cold Brew Blend Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Medium Roast |
| Country of Origin | Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Roast Profile | Medium roast |
| Process | Not specified |
| Elevation | Not specified |
| Typical Price in USA | $14.00 for 12 oz bag |
| Where to Buy | La Colombe website, La Colombe cafes, select retailers |
5. Lifeboost Coffee Cold Brew
Description: Lifeboost Coffee Cold Brew Medium is a USDA organic coffee blend from South America specifically coarse ground for cold brew. This cold brew blend is third-party tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals, and pesticides, ensuring its purity and low acid content.
Taste: Lifeboost cold brew blend has a smooth, chocolatey taste with hints of nuts and dried fruit, a subtle nutty aroma, and a silky mouthfeel. Its low acidity makes it easy on the stomach, with no bitter aftertaste, making it suitable for plain black cold brew as well as milk-based iced coffees.
About Lifeboost Coffee: Lifeboost Coffee is a health-focused coffee brand that offers low-acid, organic, single-origin coffee beans grown using sustainable farming practices. Founded in 2015, Lifeboost Coffee prioritizes quality and transparency.
Lifeboost Cold Brew Coffee Availability: You can buy Lifeboost Coffee directly from their website or from Amazon. One 12 ounces bag usually cost $24.60. If you sign up for a subscription, you can get it for cheaper.
Lifeboost Cold Brew Pros: Widely available, non-GMO and USDA organic certified.
Lifeboost Cold Brew Cons: Coffee doesn't say when it was roasted, how it was processed, or what type of beans were used.
Recommendation for Lifeboost Cold Brew: Lifeboost Medium Cold Brew Coffee is among one of the best low acid coffee grounds for making cold brew concentrate that won't upset your stomach.
| Lifeboost Cold Brew Coffee Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Premium Coffee |
| Bean Origin | South America |
| Roast Profile | Medium roast |
| Process | Not specified |
| Elevation | Not specified |
| Typical Price in USA | from $24.60 for 12 ounces |
| Where to Buy | Online at Amazon, directly from Lifeboost Coffee website, or at some grocery stores |
6. Merit Coffee Cold Brew
Description: Merit Cold Brew blend is a medium-light roast coffee. Merit Cold Brew beans come from Latin America and are roasted at Merit's own roasting facility in San Antonio. It's the same coffee they use to make cold brew in their cafes.
Taste: Merit Coffee's Roaster's Blend Cold Brew is a smooth, full-bodied coffee with low acidity. It tastes of milk chocolate, caramel, and has a hint of spice. The sweet and slightly spicy notes linger, leaving a refreshing finish perfect for summer cold brew drinks.
About Merit Coffee: Merit Coffee is a specialty coffee brand known for its high-quality beans, expertly crafted drinks, and welcoming community spaces. Founded in 2009 in San Antonio, Texas by Robby Grubbs, Bill Ellis, and Javier Lobo, Merit Coffee has since expanded to multiple locations throughout Texas.
Cold Brew Coffee Beans Availability: You can buy Merit Cold Brew online for $18.25 per bag (12 ounces). Orders over $35 ship for free. You can also buy it in their stores.
Merit Cold Brew Pros: Consistent quality, perfect for any cold brewing method, available in 5 grinds.
Merit Cold Brew Cons: Doesn't list the coffee varieties or processing methods, only available on their website, not in supermarkets.
Recommendation for Merit Cold Brew: Merit Coffee's Roaster's Blend is among the best specialty light roast coffee for cold brew for a surprisingly sweet and smooth cup.
| Merit Cold Brew Coffee Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Specialty grade |
| Country of Origin | Latin America |
| Roast Profile | Light-medium roast, freshly roasted |
| Process | Not specified |
| Elevation | Not specified |
| Typical Price in USA | $18.25 for 12 oz bag |
| Where to Buy | Merit Coffee website and Merit Coffee cafes |
7. Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew
Description: Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee is a 100% Arabica, single-origin coffee sourced from Colombia, roasted dark for a strong yet smooth blend. It is coarsely ground, specifically for cold brewing, and has low acidity, making it easier on the stomach.
Taste: Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee is a dark roast coffee with a strong, smooth, and slightly sweet flavor profile. It features rich chocolate and nutty notes, balanced by its low acidity and velvety mouthfeel, making it ideal for cold brew drinks.
About Stone Street Coffee: Stone Street Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster known for its handcrafted small-batch roasted coffees, founded in 2009 in Brooklyn, New York. They prioritize ethical sourcing and intimate relationships with coffee farms to ensure high-quality beans and unique flavor profiles.
Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Availability: Stone Street cold brew blend comes in 1-pound, 2-pound, and 5-pound bags. You can choose whole beans or coarse ground coffee. Prices start at $17.25, and you can also sign up for a subscription.
Stone Street Cold Brew Pros: Available in whole bean or pre-ground coarse ideal for cold brew.
Stone Street Cold Brew Cons: Coffee isn't freshly roasted, there's no roasting date, and the subscription discounts require a long commitment.
Recommendation for Stone Street Cold Brew: Stone Street cold brew coffee is one of the best coarse ground coffees for cold brew in New York. Its strong flavor comes through even when mixed with milk, cream, or syrups in drinks like cold brew lemonade or Vietnamese iced coffee.
| Stone Street Cold Brew Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Colombia Supremo |
| Country of Origin | Colombia |
| Roast Profile | Dark Roast |
| Process | Washed |
| Elevation | 1200 – 2000 m.a.s.l. |
| Typical Price in USA | $17.25 per 1 lb bag |
| Where to Buy | You can buy Stone Street Coffee on their website or on Amazon. |
8. Temple Coffee Capital Cold Brew
Description: Temple Coffee's Capital Cold Brew is a blend of fully washed beans sourced from Colombia and Guatemala, specifically from regions like Caldas, Antigua, and Alotenango at altitudes of 1,500-1,700 meters. It is designed for cold brew preparation with a medium-dark roast, emphasizing a smooth, rich body.
Taste: Temple's Capital Cold Brew blend has bright citrus and chocolate flavors with a touch of caramel. It's smooth, a little nutty, and not bitter at all.
About Temple Coffee: Temple Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster founded in Sacramento, California in 2005 by Sean Kohmescher. Temple Coffee is dedicated to providing high-quality coffee and creating a welcoming space for its community.
Cold Brew Coffee Availability: Temple Coffee cold brew is available for purchase online, with free shipping on orders over $40. The company has coffee shops in Sacramento, Davis, and Folsom, California. They sell 12-ounce bags of coffee beans for $23.00, including options for whole bean or coarse grinds.
Temple Coffee Cold Brew Pros: High-quality taste, sustainable sourcing, custom roast profiles.
Temple Coffee Cold Brew Cons: May be more expensive than other cold brew options.
Recommendation for Temple Coffee Cold Brew: Temple cold brew is among the best beans for cold brew at home. They produce a smooth, rich flavor that's much more interesting than the cold brew you usually find at the supermarket.
| Temple Coffee Capital Cold Brew Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Specialty Coffee |
| Country of Origin | Colombia, Guatemala |
| Roast Profile | Medium |
| Process | Washed |
| Elevation | 1,500 - 1,700 meters |
| Typical Price in USA | $23.00 for 12 oz, $110.00 for 5 lbs |
| Where to Buy | Temple Coffee Roasters website and physical locations in Sacramento, California, Subscription boxes like Mistrobox |
9. Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew
Description: Volcanica Cold Brew is a ground, medium roast coffee blend made specifically for cold brewing. It features 100% Arabica beans with a focus on low acidity, using Sumatra coffee for a bold flavor that complements cold water brewing preparations.
Taste: Volcanica's Cold Brew Coffee offers a balanced profile with sweet chocolate and nutty flavors. The medium roast and washed processing result in a smooth, low-acidity cup, ideal for traditional cold brew methods.
About Volcanica Coffee: Volcanica Coffee is a family-owned coffee roaster that sells coffee beans grown near volcanoes. The company started in 2004 and is located in Atlanta, Georgia. They roast the beans in Suwanee, Georgia, where they have 20 workers.
Cold Brew Coffee Beans Availability: Volcanica Coffee's Cold Brew blend costs $16.99 for a 16-ounce bag (that's about $1.06 per ounce). You can choose from whole bean, drip, espresso, or French press grinds.
Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew Pros: Affordable cold brew, comes in different grinds, easy on sensitive stomachs.
Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew Cons: Absence of roast dates on the packaging, inconsistencies in flavor.
Recommendation for Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew: Volcanica Cold Brew is a great choice for buying cold brew coffee in bulk. It's affordable and perfect for making large batches.
| Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Premium arabica coffee |
| Country of Origin | Sumatra (Indonesia) |
| Roast Profile | Medium Roast |
| Process | Washed |
| Elevation | Not specified |
| Typical Price in USA | $16.99 for 16 oz bag |
| Where to Buy | Volcanica Coffee website, Amazon |
10. Peace Coffee Cold Brew
Description: Peace Coffee's Yeti Cold Brew Blend is a USDA-certified organic, fair trade blend designed specifically for cold brewing. The blend features beans from multiple origins including CENFROCAFE in Peru, PROCOCER in Nicaragua, and Manos Campesinas in Guatemala.
Taste: Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew Blend offers a smooth, chocolatey flavor with hints of caramel, making it a delightful choice for any cold drip coffee enthusiast. The aroma is rich and inviting, the body is medium to full, and the acidity is low, contributing to a well-balanced and clean finish.
About Peace Coffee: Peace Coffee is a Minneapolis-based coffee roaster focused on organic and fair-trade practices, ensuring high-quality coffee that supports farmers and the environment. Founded in 1996 by Lee Wallace, Peace Coffee has grown into a beloved local brand with a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.
Cold Brew Coffee Availability: Peace Coffee's Yeti Cold Brew Blend is available online in 12oz, 20oz, and 5lb bags, with grind options including whole bean, drip, fine, coarse, and extra coarse. Retail prices range from $16 to $85, and the blend is also available at select Costco locations in the Midwest.
Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew Pros: Versatile grind options available, highly rated by customers, convenient subscription option with a discount.
Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew Cons: May not be fresh if you buy it from third-party websites. It's not roasted to order and isn't always available in stores.
Recommendation for Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew: Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew is among the best fair trade ground coffee for cold brew. It's organic, affordable, and makes a delicious cup.
| Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew Blend Features | |
|---|---|
| Quality | Arabica coffee |
| Country of Origin | Blend from multiple origins |
| Roast Profile | Chocolatey and smooth, suitable for cold brew |
| Process | Natural |
| Elevation | Not specified |
| Typical Price in USA | $16 for 12 oz bags |
| Where to Buy | Peace Coffee website, select retailers, Costco |
What is Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew coffee is a brewing method where coffee grounds steep in water at 39°F to 77°F (4°C to 25°C) for 12 to 24 hours. This process extracts a smooth, less acidic flavor compared to hot brewing. Cold brew is typically served over ice and can be diluted with water, milk, or sweeteners. Cold brew coffee in North American specialty coffee shops is a dark brown beverage prepared a day in advance using cold drip towers, full immersion, or cold brew makers like Toddy, Takeya, or OXO.
The terms cold brew coffee, cold brew concentrate, and nitro cold brew are not the same. Cold brew coffee steeps coarse coffee grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours. Cold brew concentrate is a stronger version, meant for dilution before drinking. Nitro cold brew adds nitrogen, making it creamy and frothy. A cold brew coffee can be made with a blend of coffee beans selected and roasted for the best flavor when brewed cold. Making cold brew in a Mason jar is the simplest, most efficient, and most affordable way to produce smooth, delicious cold brew coffee in large batches.
How to Choose the Best Coffee for Cold Brew?
To choose the best coffee for cold brew, start by selecting coarse-ground beans with low acidity and rich flavors. Opt for medium to dark roasts, such as Colombian, Brazilian, or Ethiopian varieties, to enhance smoothness and chocolatey or nutty notes. Always use fresh, high-quality beans for optimal taste.
When choosing your cold brew beans from Colipse Coffee, consider our range of dark, medium, and light roasts. Darker roasts bring out chocolate and nut notes, while medium roasts offer brighter, fruitier flavors. To ensure the best cold brew flavor, use our freshly roasted beans within 1-3 months of roasting (if stored airtight) or grounds within 1-2 weeks of opening. After these periods, the coffee is still safe to consume, but the freshness and optimal flavor will start to fade.
Which Brands Offer the Best Coffee for Cold Brew?
Many coffee brands offer coffee beans for cold brew as drinking cold brew coffee is booming in popularity. Some of the popular cold brew brands are listed below.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters
- Intelligentsia Coffee
- Counter Culture Coffee
- Colipse Coffee
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Stone Street Coffee
- Dark Horse Coffee Company
- Peace Coffee
- Trader Joe’s
- Peet’s Coffee
- Starbucks
- Verve Coffee Roasters
- Ritual Coffee Roasters
- Philz Coffee
- Sightglass Coffee
- Onyx Coffee Lab
- Brooklyn Roasting Company
- Four Barrel Coffee
- Irving Farm Coffee Roasters
- Equator Coffees
Cold brew coffee, available in whole bean and ready-to-drink (RTD) formats, is experiencing rapid growth. It is projected to increase 413.29% from $3.16 billion in 2024 to $16.22 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. Many brands offer cold brew, but bean origin, roast, and grind size affect flavor. Trying different brands and beans helps find the best cold brew.
Where to Buy Coffee Beans for Cold Brew?
You can buy cold brew coffee beans right here at Colipse. We offer freshly roasted, specialty grade, Arabica beans in medium-dark to dark roasts, with a variety of grind sizes available online. Visit our website to explore our selection and place your order.
What are the Prices for Cold Brew Coffee Beans?
An 12 oz bag of specialty cold brew coffee beans and grounds at Colipse ranges from $19.95 to $22.95. Customers pay only for the coffee they order with free shipping on all orders.
Which Coffee is Not Good for Cold Brew?
Stale beans and finely ground coffee are generally not recommended for cold brew. This is because stale beans can produce a bitter or dull flavor, while finely ground coffee can make the cold brew cloudy and gritty.
What is the Best Decaf Coffee for Cold Brew?
The best decaf coffee for cold brew depends on your taste, how the caffeine was removed, and if the beans are already ground for cold brew. Almost all the caffeine is removed from decaf coffee, but it's hard to get rid of every tiny bit. There are a few ways to remove caffeine from coffee beans. Some methods, like the Swiss Water® Process, do a better job of keeping the coffee's flavor and aroma than others.
For making decaf cold brew concentrate, Swiss Water® Process or Sugarcane Process coffees are great choices as they keep those delicate flavors intact, so you get a cleaner, tastier cup. At Colipse, we offer a wide variety of Swiss Water® Processed coffee beans and grounds for cold brew, freshly roasted to order.