10 Best Coffee for Cold Brew for Every Roast Level

The best coffees for cold brew are typically Arabica beans, preferably single-origin and freshly roasted. A coarse grind is essential, and many people prefer low-acid beans with a medium to dark roast.

A cold brewing method is identified by long steeping times, cold or room-temperature water, and immersion techniques that allow for a slower extraction of the coffee's natural oils and flavors. With a cold brew, the coffee-to-water ratio and steeping duration are key factors that impact the strength, acidity, and flavor profile. The origin, variety, and roast of the coffee beans and grounds, along with the grind size, ultimately determine the clarity and smoothness of the final DIY cold brew coffee.

Many coffee brands are excellent choices for cold brewing, including Bizzy Cold Brew for their bold and intense roasts, Merit Coffee for its smooth and approachable flavor profile , and Colipse Coffee for its unique and interesting single-origin beans. The 10 best coffee for cold brew for every roast level are listed below.

1. Colipse Cold Brew: Colipse's Cold Brew Blend is a medium roast specialty-grade coffee made from 100% Arabica coffee sourced from high-altitude regions in Sumatra, Brazil, and Ethiopia.
2. Bizzy Cold Brew: Bizzy's Cold Brew Organic Coffee is a 100% Arabica blend sourced from Central and South America.
3. Starbucks Coffee Sumatra Dark: Starbucks Sumatra Dark is a dark roast, single-origin coffee from the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
4. La Colombe Cold Brew: La Colombe's Cold Brew Blend is a medium roast coffee perfect for making cold brew at home.
5. Lifeboost Coffee Cold Brew: Lifeboost Coffee Cold Brew Medium is a USDA organic coffee blend from South America specifically coarse ground for cold brew.
6. Merit Coffee Cold Brew: 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.
7. Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew: Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee is a 100% Arabica, single-origin coffee sourced from Colombia, roasted dark for a strong yet smooth blend.
8. Temple Coffee Capital Cold Brew: 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.
9. Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew: Volcanica Cold Brew is a ground, medium roast coffee blend made specifically for cold brewing.
10. Peace Coffee Yeti Cold Brew: Peace Coffee's Yeti Cold Brew Blend is a USDA-certified organic, fair trade blend designed specifically for cold brewing.

1. Colipse Cold Brew

Description: Colipse's Cold Brew Blend is a medium roast specialty-grade coffee made from 100% Arabica coffee sourced from high-altitude regions in Sumatra, Brazil, and Ethiopia. Colipse Cold Brew Blend is roasted to order, meaning customers receive the freshest coffee possible. It's delivered within days of roasting for a deep, complex flavor not found in regular grocery store cold brew coffee. The blend is for sale online through Colipse’s website.

Taste: This medium-roasted Colipse Cold Brew Blend offers a delicious and invigorating taste with notes of chocolate, toffee, and floral hints. Its natural sweetness is complemented by hints of honey and apple, with a bright acidity and a smooth, chocolatey finish. Its best for cold brew concentrate, iced coffee, and French press.

About Colipse: Colipse Coffee, founded in 2024 in Albuquerque, NM, offers roasted-to-order specialty coffee beans and grounds suitable for various brewing methods, including espresso, cold brew, and French press. They feature a wide selection of single-origin and blended coffees from regions in South and Central America, Africa, and Asia, along with options for decaf made using the Swiss Water® Process.

Cold Brew Coffee Availability: Colipse Cold Brew Blend is available for purchase online from the Colipse website in 12 oz bags of whole bean or drip grind for $22.50. The price includes free shipping within the U.S. Orders ship within 3-5 business days.

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's a solid choice for milk-based cold brew drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, or salted caramel cream cold brews.

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 a brand of organic cold brew coffee concentrate and coarse ground coffee, founded in 2014 by Alex French with a focus on health, convenience, and taste. The company is known for its ready-to-drink cold brew in various roasts and flavors, as well as its coarse ground coffee specifically designed for optimal cold brewing at home.

Cold Brew Coffee Beans Availability: Bizzy Cold Brew coffee is available in both DIY brew bags and ready-to-drink bottles. Find them online or at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, with prices ranging 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.

Cons: Not ideal for cold brewing in large batches.

Recommendation for Bizzy Cold Brew Cold Brew: Bizzy Cold Brew ground coffee bags are among the best for making organic cold brew at home, especially for those who want a hassle-free experience without specialty equipment, complicated recipes, or expensive tools.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is the Best Roast for Cold Brew?

The best roast for cold brew is typically medium to dark, ranging from a City roast, to Italian roast. Medium-dark roasts are often ideal for cold brew as they balance between sweetness and acidity without becoming too bitter or overpowering. Dark roasts, while bolder, has a more intense flavor and fuller body, but can sometimes overpower the nuances of the bean.

What is the Best Dark Roast Coffee for Cold Brew?

The best dark roast coffee for cold brew is one that balances intensity with smoothness. Look for beans with low acidity and a full body, often featuring chocolate or nutty notes, and a hint of sweetness to counterbalance any potential bitterness. Colipse offers a variety of dark roast coffees for cold brew from different origins, allowing you to explore and find your perfect match.

What is the Best Medium Roast Coffee for Cold Brew?

The best medium roast coffee for cold brew is often one with a balanced flavor profile, featuring notes like chocolate or nuts, which tend to hold up well during the long steeping process. These characteristics contribute to a well-rounded and flavorful cold brew concentrate. However, "best" is subjective, and exploring a variety of origins and flavor profiles is encouraged to discover personal preferences. Colipse sells single-origin and blended medium roast coffee for cold brew, providing a wide range of options to suit various tastes.

What is the Best Light Roast Coffee for Cold Brew?

The best light roast coffee for cold brew often features bright acidity and vibrant fruit or floral notes, which can create a refreshing and nuanced cold brew concentrate. However, achieving a balanced extraction with light roasts requires careful consideration of grind size and steep time to avoid over-extraction or a weak brew. Colipse has a curated selection of light roast coffee grounds for cold brew, including those with unique flavor profiles that are particularly well-suited for cold brewing.

What are the Best Coffee Bean Types for Cold Brew?

Arabica beans are typically the best coffee bean type for cold brew. They have a smooth, sweet taste and have lower acidity. Arabica beans offer a wide range of flavor profiles, from fruity and floral to chocolatey and nutty. If you like your cold brew strong and with more caffeine, Robusta beans may be a better choice. For a health-conscious choice, consider decaf. Always use fresh, coarsely ground beans for the best results, and experiment with different coffee bean types from different origins to find your favorite flavors.

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.

What is the Best Grind Size for Cold Brew?

The best grind size for cold brew is a coarse grind, similar to what you'd use for a French press. This is because cold brew involves a long steeping process, and a coarse grind prevents over-extraction and bitterness.

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 are the Prices for Coffee Grounds for Cold Brew?

An 12 oz bag of specialty coffee beans and grounds for cold brew at Colipse ranges from $19.95 to $24.95. Customers pay only for the coffee they order with free shipping on all orders.

Where to Buy Ground Coffee for Cold Brew?

You can find a wide range of ground coffee perfect for cold brew 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 [insert website link here] to explore our selection and place your order.

How to Choose the Best Coffee for Different Brewing Methods?

To choose the best coffee for different brewing methods, consider the roast that best suits each method's unique characteristics. For cold brew, the ideal roast profile is typically a medium-dark to dark roast. To find the best kind of coffee to suit a specific home coffee brewing method, the following actions are recommended.

• Look for medium to dark roasts, which tend to have lower acidity and full body.
• Consider single-origin beans from regions known for producing smooth, chocolatey coffees.
• Explore reputable coffee retailers like Volcanica Coffee, Happy Mug, or Stone Street Coffee.
• Visit local roasters or specialty coffee shops. Ask staff for recommendations based on your preferences.
• Check out forums and subreddits like r/Coffee or r/ColdBrew for bean suggestions and brewing tips.