10 Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew [2024 Reviews]

With the best coffee beans for cold brew coffee you can enjoy that essential boost of caffeine on a hot summer day in a smooth and refreshing brew.

But it can be a little baffling to choose the best coffee for cold brew at home with such a huge range of options on the market.

So to help get you started, I have narrowed it down and share some of the best cold brew coffee beans for making cold brew at home.

Whether you are searching for the best grounds for cold brew, the best organic cold brew coffee beans, flavored coffee for cold brew or the best whole bean coffee for cold brew, I am sure you will find a great option to try in my cold brew coffee bean reviews.

Best Coffee Beans For Cold Brew Coffee 2024 Comparison

Below is a handy reference table listing all the best beans for cold brew coffee reviewed in this article.

Read on to find out more about each of these cold brew brands in my coffee beans for cold brew reviews. 

Image	Brand	Roast Profile	Sourced From	Options	Our Rating	Price
	Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Coffee	Medium	Central and South America	Ground, brew bags and concentrate	5.0	CHECK
	Volcanica Cold Brew Whole Bean Coffee	Medium	Sumatra	Whole and ground coffee	5.0	CHECK
	Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Reserve	Dark	Colombia	Whole and ground coffee	4.8	CHECK
	Bones Coffee Flavored Cold Brew Coffee	Medium	Brazil	Whole and ground coffee	4.6	CHECK
	Death Wish Organic USDA Certified Coffee	Dark	India and Peru	Whole and ground coffee	4.6	CHECK
	Roast Ridge Cold Brew Coffee Beans	Medium	Not specified	Ground coffee	4.6	CHECK
	Wink Coffee Cold Brew Reserve	Medium Dark	Colombia	Whole beans and pitcher packs	4.6	CHECK
	Cold Brew Lab Ground Organic Coffee	Dark	Colombia	Whole and ground coffee	4.4	CHECK
	Tiny Footprint Carbon Negative Organic Coffee	Medium	Ecuador	Whole and ground coffee	4.4	CHECK
	Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory	Dark	Not specified	Ground coffee	4.2	CHECK

Top 4 Picks For The Best Cold Brew Coffee Beans

If you don’t have time to read all of my reviews on the best coffee for cold brewing at home, or just want a quick recommendation, below are my top 4 picks.

• Top Pick: Bizzy Cold Brew Coffee Beans

• Best Flavored Cold Brew Coffee: Bones Coffee Flavored Coffee Beans

• Premium Pick: Volcanica Coffee Cold Brew Beans

• Best Budget Option: Roast Ridge Cold Brew Coffee

Want to get straight to the reviews? Click here to skip straight down to my reviews.

What Is Cold Brew Coffee?

Cold brew coffee is a coffee brewing method that uses cold water instead of hot water to brew.

This difference in brewing method results in a distinctly different tasting coffee.

A good batch of cold brew coffee is characterized as mellow, soft, smooth and lacking the bitterness of hot coffee drinks.

Cold brew is also less acidic and can be made in large batches at a time to store in the fridge ready to use. It is also the base for making nitro coffee.

Many people mistake cold brew coffee with iced coffee, but the way both are prepared is quite different.

Listed below are the two primary differences for the cold brew method.

1. Different Brewing Temperature

While regular coffee is extracted at a temperature between 195 F – 204 F (91C – 96C), cold brew coffee is extracted between 36 F – 54 F (2C – 21C).

Using room temperature or cold water significantly changes the flavors extracted from the ground coffee beans and results in a more mellow tasting brew.

2. Different Brewing Time

Typically cold brew coffee is made by steeping ground coffee beans in cold filtered water for a long period of time, between 12-24 hours.

It can also be brewed with a cold drip coffee maker which slowly passes cold water over ice and through ground coffee.

Ice coffee, in comparison, is prepared by using regular hot brewed coffee and pouring it over ice.

What Is The Best Coffee Roast For Cold Brew?

One of the most common questions is ‘what coffee is best for cold brew’.

The different temperature and brewing time for cold brew means the best coffee to make cold brew are different to other styles of coffee.

Coffee lovers are divided when it comes to the best roast for cold brew coffee, but in truth, all roasts will work well if brewed correctly.

While different roasts require a slightly different cold brewing process time to achieve great tasting homemade cold brew, you can use medium, light or dark roast for cold brew coffee.

So if you’ve ever tried to make cold brew concentrate at home and didn’t enjoy the taste, it may be due to the roast, grind or the length of time you brewed the coffee beans for.

With that said, it’s good to know that there’s no right and wrong when deciding what coffee to use for cold brew, it all comes down to your personal preferences.  

Dark Roast Beans

Dark roast cold brew coffee beans are one of the best types of cold brew coffee, particularly if you add milk to your drink.

Dark roast coffee beans will yield a rich and earthy tasting coffee.

Think chocolatey, spicy and nutty flavors. Even when adding milk the flavor will carry through better than lighter roasts.

Expert Tip: Dark roast beans need less steeping time than a lighter roast. If left too long, the flavors of a dark roast tend to become overpowering.

Medium Roast Beans

Medium to medium dark roasts are considered by many to be the best coffee type for cold brew.

You will find that medium roast coffee beans have a more balanced flavor and aromas, without the bitterness sometimes attributed to dark coffee roasts.

Expert Tip: Use an extra coarse grind to maximise flavor extraction with a medium roast.

Light Roast Beans

Light roast coffee beans often have a more delicate, citrus flavor that doesn’t always translate well in cold brewing methods.

But with a cold drip coffee maker, they can produce a lovely light cold brew. Note that a longer brewing time is required to extract these more nuanced flavors.

What Is The Best Type Of Coffee For Cold Brew?

While the roast profile and choice of coffee beans may vary from one person to another, many coffee experts believe the best coffee to use for cold brew is single-origin beans. 

When preparing regular coffee like americano or espresso, a blend is often a better choice to help balance attributes like sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

However, cold brewing methods are more subtle and tend to produce coffee that is naturally lower in acidity and bitterness anyway. 

So using single origin coffee beans for cold brew coffee will allow you to truly appreciate the flavors of the beans and their origin. 

That being said, there are still plenty of cold brew coffee bean blends that taste great too – so I suggest you try both and see which you prefer. 

What Are The Best Beans To Use For Cold Brew When Adding Milk?

Whether you choose to add milk or cream or not to your coffee is a matter of personal taste.

Because cold coffee brew is more subtle and mellow when it comes to flavors, many coffee lovers enjoy drinking cold brew without milk or cream.

Like all things coffee, it is a good idea to experiment.

If you are new to cold brew coffee, try it without milk first (this is one of my tips to enjoying coffee black). You may be pleasantly surprised!

If you decide to add milk to your cold brew, my opinion is that the best coffee blend for cold brew is a dark roast.

The bold, robust flavor in a dark roast holds up better when mixed with milk than a medium or light roast.

What ratio of coffee to milk should you use? A blend of three parts coffee to one part milk or cream is a great ratio to start with.

What Is The Best Grind For Cold Brew Coffee?

Cold brew processing works by steeping the ground coffee in cold water for a long period of time.

Unlike making espresso, there is no heat or pressure involved to extract the flavor from the beans.

As a result, the best coffee grinds for cold brew are different to that used in other brewing methods.

So what is the best cold brew coffee grind size? With more time to extract the flavor, a coarse grind is considered to be the best coffee grind for cold brew.

A cold brew coarse grind is similar to that used for french press brewing.

Other benefits of a coarse grind

• Easier to filter out the coffee grounds from the water
• Less bitter coffee
• No sludgy or grainy texture due to fine grinds remaining in the water.

Note that most pre-ground coffees are ground for use in drip coffee makers or espresso machines.

So it is important to check before buying that the ground coffee is suitable for cold brewing – I share some of the best options below.

With all these factors in mind to determine the best type of coffee beans for cold brew, below I share my top picks in my cold brew coffee reviews.

The Best Beans For Cold Brew 2024 Reviews

All of the best cold brew coffee brands below will make great tasting cold brew coffee at home.

1. Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Coffee Review

Best cold brew ground coffee

Bizzy are one of the most popular cold brew brands on the market, offering both cold brew concentrate, ready to drink cold brew and organic cold brew coffee beans.

Needless to say, they know what they are doing, having spent 5 years perfecting their cold brew blends. They offer three flavor profiles – Smooth and Sweet, Dark and Bold and Light and Bright.

I think the Smooth and Sweet is a great choice for convenient cold brew coffee brewing at home as it is a pre-ground blend of light, medium and dark roasted beans.

If you add creamer or milk, you might also try the Dark and Bold for a richer overall flavor.

Smooth and Sweet is a blend of 100% Arabica beans, USDA certified organic beans from Central and South America.

They are delivered pre-ground for your convenience with a coarse setting perfect for cold brewing.

With a sweet caramel flavor and natural low acidity, there is minimal bitterness and maximum flavor. Combine with your favorite creamer or drink black, you won’t be disappointed with this brand.

Bizzy Cold Brew pre-ground coffee beans come in 12 oz, 1 pound and 2 pounds bags. It is one of the best ground coffee for cold brew options in my list and also one of the best cheap coffee for cold brew options.

>> Click here to check the price for Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Coffee

2. Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Review

Best whole beans for cold brew

If you want to enjoy a delicious, refreshing, smooth cup of cold brew coffee, then Stone Street cold brew coffee beans are a must to try.

The Stone Street coffee company has a loyal following and are considered by many coffee lovers to be the best coffee brand for cold brew. They are also on my list of top coffee beans.

These Stone Street beans are specifically designed for preparing cold brew coffees and I love the fact that you can taste the delicious chocolatey essence in this coffee.

It is a single origin cold brew coffee and is made from 100% high-quality Colombian Supremo beans. They have a rich, bold flavor, making them some of the best cold brew beans to try.

Stone Street now also offer a caffeine boosted cold brew option, plus a range of flavored cold brew coffees including caramel nut, vanilla and chocolate – see them here.

Stone Street cold brew is also great option for caffeine fanatics who have a sensitive stomach because these beans are also naturally low in acidity.

These single origin beans come in a resealable package for guaranteed freshness and whole beans are available in a 1 and two pound bag plus they have cold brew coffee grounds in a 1 lb bag, considered one of the best pre-ground coffee for cold brew options.

Beware though, once you try these flavorful Colombian beans, you might be hooked forever! They really are one of the best coffee beans for cold brew on my list.

>> Click here to check the price for Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee

3. Volcanica Cold Brew Whole Bean Coffee Review

Best coffee to cold brew (premium)

Volcanica Coffee Company are renowned for producing high quality coffee blends. Their Cold Brew blend is no different.

This particular blend is a bold dark Sumatra coffee which is low in acidity and high in flavor.

With a smooth chocolate finish and a rich flavor, it is a great choice for brewing cold coffee.

Made with 100% Arabica beans in a 16 oz bag, it comes with the option to purchase as whole bean or ground beans. 

Smooth and well loved by cold coffee drinkers, I think these are some of the best coffee grounds for cold brew.

>> Click here to check the price for Volcanica Cold Brew Coffee Beans

4. Bones Coffee Company Flavored Coffee For Cold Brew Review

Best flavored cold brew coffee beans

As one of the most popular flavored coffee brands in the country, it would be amiss of us not to include Bones Coffee Company in my list of the best cold brew coffee grounds.

Considered one of the best flavored coffee for cold brew, they have a huge range of delicious coffees to choose from.

From vanilla caramel and cookies and cream to this chocolatey, toasted marshmallow S'mores flavor, they are a fun, sweet choice for your next pitcher of cold brew.

All beans are 100% Arabica coffee from Brazil and are small batch roasted to ensure maximum freshness.

They are a medium roast with naturally low acidity and are available in both pre-ground coffee and whole coffee beans.

Bones Coffee Company are proud of the fact their coffee is keto and vegan friendly, plus it is dairy free with no added sugar.

Their bold flavored coffee beans are loved by many cold brew coffee drinkers and they are really good coffee beans for cold brew at home.

If you love some flavor in your cold brew, these flavored cold brew coffee grounds are the perfect choice.

>> Click here to check the price for Bones Coffee Flavored Beans

5. Death Wish Organic Coffee Review

Best strong cold brew coffee beans

Death Wish cold brew coffee is one of the most caffeine-rich cold brew coffee brands out there.

Before I share more, beware, it isn’t for the faint-hearted. This coffee will give you the caffeine boost you need to get through the day.

With a whopping 54.2 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, you should probably only drink Death Wish coffee once a day to keep your caffeine intake level within safe limits!

They are also fair trade, USDA certified organic and kosher. Also a great choice if you add milk, as the stronger flavor of these dark roast beans carries through the milk.

Death Wish Organic Coffee comes as whole beans in resealable packaging in 16, 32, and 80-ounce packs.

One of the most popular coffee bean brands, these coffee beans make perfect homemade cold brew coffee.

>> Click here to check the price for Death Wish Organic Coffee

6. Roast Ridge Medium Roast Cold Brew Coffee

Best budget cold brew beans

Roast Ridge coffee roasters blend affordable cold brew coffee beans perfect for brewing large batches of cold brew coffee.

Roasted using a blend of coffee beans grown at high altitude, they have a full bodied and chocolately and flavor perfect for cold coffee brewing.

Roasted from 100% Arabica beans in a 2 lb oz bag, they are one of the best budget cold brew coffee bean blends.

>> Click here to check the price for Roast Ridge Cold Brew Coffee

7. Wink Coffee Cold Brew Reserve Review

These super smooth coffee beans by Wink Coffee are specifically roasted for making cold brew and are one of the best coffee for making cold brew on a budget.

Wink coffee beans are small batch roasted in Texas and the 100% Arabica coffee beans are sourced from the Colombian Andes.

You’ll notice hints of hazelnut in the dark full bodied roast with hints of cocoa and sweet caramel.

Made from 100% Arabica beans, they come in a resealable bag and have a super smooth flavor which is why they one of the top cold brew coffee beans available online.

Plus they are much more affordable and sold in a two-pound bag and in super convenient pitcher packs too.

If you love a darker roast, these beans by Wink Coffee are one of the best coffees for cold brew at home.

>> Click here to check the price for Wink Coffee Beans

8. Cold Brew Lab Ground Organic Coffee

Cold Brew Lab are an artisan roaster from New York City and this coarsely ground coffee blend is one of the best pre ground coffee for cold brew brewing.

The beans are 100% organic Arabica beans sourced from Colombia – which is why they have a super smooth, full bodied flavor. The beans are USDA certified pesticide free.

They have developed this blend from medium and dark roast coffee beans to create a robust coffee perfect for cold brewing.

Cold Brew Lab coffee comes in 1 and 2 pound bags as pre-ground coffee, and they also offer the same blend for cold brew with whole beans.

>> Click here to check the price for Cold Brew Lab Coffee

9. Tiny Footprint Organic Cold Brew Coffee Review

Best organic coffee for cold brew

Tiny Footprint got its bling by being the first carbon-negative coffee. The company is well-known for being sustainable, so it’s a great choice if you care for mother nature as much as you care about your coffee.

These whole bean cold brew coffee beans are a unique blend of organic light and dark roast bean and are sourced from 100% shade grown Arabica beans from Ethiopia.

Tiny Footprint Cold Press Elixir cold brew bean blends are sold as whole beans or ground coffee in one or three-pound packages.

They have a flavor profile more on the fruity and floral side. With it’s smooth and rich flavor, these organic coffee beans are hard to resist once you try it.

>> Click here to check the price for Tiny Footprint Coffee

10. Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory Review

Best coffee chicory cold brew

This coffee by Cafe Du Monde has been popular in New Orleans for many years and is surprisingly great as a cold brew.

If you’re looking for a good coffee for cold brew with a unique chicory taste and a bit of a kick, this just may be the one for you!

The Cafe Du Monde beans get their exclusive flavor from chicory. The Chicory root is cooked, ground, and added to the coffee grounds.

This ingredient adds a zing to the coffee and reduces the bitter taste of dark roasted beans.

The Cafe Du Monde coffee is sold ground as a set of three 15-ounce cans and is loved by many coffee lovers seeking a unique cold brew coffee grind. 

Chicory cold brew is an aromatic, rich, and flavorful cup of coffee, with a unique taste compared to the other cold brew grounds on my list.

>> Click here to check the price for Cafe Du Monde Coffee

How To Make Cold Brew Coffee At Home

There are many cold brew coffee methods to make the best cold brew coffee. Here are two quick and easy methods to try.

Mason Jar Cold Brew Recipe

For super easy cold brew coffee, consider using a mason jar with cold brew coffee bags like these from Trade Coffee.

1. Simply grind your coffee beans to a coarse grind, and pour into the coffee bag.
2. Fill the mason jar with filtered, cold water.
3. Place the coffee bag into the jar and leave at room temperature for 12-18 hours.
4. Remove the bag and pour the cold brew concentrate over ice or milk.

Click here to read more about Trade Coffee’s compostable fiber coffee bags for cold brew

French Press Cold Brew Recipe

Brewing cold brew in a french press is one of the easiest ways to brew.

• Grind coffee to a coarse grind and add to the press.
• Fill the french press with filtered, cold water.
• Place the filter on top of the press but do not press down. Leave at room temperature for 12-18 hours.
• Slowly push the plunger down and pour the cold brew concentrate over ice or milk.

Need more details? See my full step by step guide to making cold brew in a french press.

If you are ready to invest in a cold brew coffee maker, the Toddy Cold Brew System is one of the simplest and best cold brew coffee maker options.

Best Coffee For Cold Brew FAQs

Before You Go

I hope you found something new to try from my best coffee bean for cold brew reviews.

An easy way to make cold brew is in a french press – I show you how in this guide.

For some recipes with cold brew, why not try this honey almond milk cold brew, these cold brew coffee waffles, this sweet cream cold foam or these cold brew recipes.

More Coffee Bean Reviews

• The best coffee for french press
• Best low acid coffee beans
• All the best Kona coffee beans
• Best espresso coffee beans
• The best African coffee beans
• Best coffee beans in the world

You can find all of my coffee bean reviews here. 

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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