The Best Coffee Concentrates for the Fastest Caffeine of Your Life

WIRED

12 hours ago

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Whether you're into cold brew, a frothy confection, or classic hot coffee, we've got a concentrated pick for every sipping style.
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When I started hunting for the best coffee concentrates, I was skeptical. Can a little jug of liquid or bottle of syrup really hold up to drip coffee or other methods of coffee making? Reader, it can. Our top pick, Javvy ($25), is affordable, tasty, and—most important—easy to use for all coffee drinkers. Read on to find the best coffee concentrates for your favorite ways to sip, fueled by (so much!) caffeine-filled testing.
Be sure to check out our many related buying guides, including the Best Coffee Subscriptions, the Best Pod Coffee Machines, the Best Cold-Brew Makers, the Best Latte Machines, and the Best French Press. Photograph: Louryn Strampe Javvy (formerly Javy) was the first coffee concentrate I tried, and I still reach for it before all others. It's available in a mind-boggling array of flavors, and my favorite part is that the different flavors aren't super-sweet. The Caramel variety, for example, has buttery notes of caramel with very little sweetness. I rarely use sweetener in my coffee, so flavored blends are not usually my go to; Javvy managed to make me rethink that decision, and I'm reaching for Brownie Batter, Mocha, and Caramel Brûlèe without a second glance. I like the flip-top lid and the syrupy consistency of the concentrate. You need only a teaspoon or two for a full 8-ounce cup. The flavor profile of the Original is good, too, with a satisfying Arabica bean taste that almost made me forget I wasn't drinking freshly brewed. There was no bitter or funny aftertaste. I prefer my coffee cold, but I made this hot and it was tasty (if a tiny bit thin). Available Flavors 17 (plus limited-edition options) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 35 Caffeine per Serving 80 mg per tsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1-2 tsp. for 6-8 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 10 weeks once opened
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
If you like your coffee extra kicky, this concentrate is what you're looking for. It packs 150 milligrams of caffeine into a single tablespoon-size serving, but it doesn't taste too acidic or bitter. There's a nice jolt but not jitters or an overt shock to the senses. I also like the cork closure. The flavors are good, too—my favorite is Caramel, but there are lots to choose from. And the base coffee flavor is very unlike other concentrates—it's robust and rich, lending a fuller body (even diluted) than some others I tried. One note is that this must be mixed into 8 ounces of water, rather than 6. I personally think it's quite obvious that Jot and Javvy are very similar, and choosing between them should ultimately come down to what flavor sounds the best to you. Both products are fantastic and worth trying. Available Flavors 6 (plus limited-edition options) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 14 Caffeine per Serving 150 mg per tbsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 tbsp. for 8 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 2-3 weeks once opened
If you know a thing or two about coffee, you might find the other brands recommended here too lowbrow. But can you out-taste a coffee sommelier? Kloo's coffee concentrates are curated by such tasters, also known as 'Q Graders,' and I couldn't stop saying 'Wow' out loud while I tested the brand's offerings. From the upscale, frosted packaging and shiny metal stopper to the included measuring jigger, I was impressed upon first glance. And once I mixed in a shot full of the extract-consistency liquid, the taste was somehow more impressive. Think nuanced, fruity flavors in the Ethiopia blend or nutty, berry notes in the Colombia blend. I am not a coffee snob—I do test pod coffee makers, after all—and even I could taste the difference here. This is not necessarily the most economical of options—one $33 bottle of concentrate makes 12 cups of coffee. Another note is that this has a shorter shelf life than some others we tested. But if you're a true coffee lover, this single-origin stuff is up your alley. Available Flavors 4 Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 12 Caffeine per Serving Unlisted Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 shot (0.75 oz.) for 7 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 3 weeks once opened
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Cold brew is a notoriously tricky thing to make. It's not so much difficult as it is time-consuming. Once your grounds are wet, you need to let them steep for at least 24 hours. In a blind taste test, I don't think I could tell homemade cold brew from the kind made with Pop & Bottle Concentrate. It nails the mellow, smooth, slightly sweet flavor of true cold brew, and it takes seconds to make. It's a little less concentrated than other kinds I tried—one bottle gets you up to 16 cups of coffee—but it truly tastes like cold brew specifically and not just a coffee-flavored beverage. I found it tasted best diluted slightly more than the packaging calls for. I didn't care much for the beverage hot—it still reminded me too much of cold brew—but your mileage may vary there. Available Flavors 4 Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 16 Caffeine per Serving 90 mg per tsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1-2 tbsp. for 6 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated after opening; 2 weeks once opened
Photograph: Louryn Strampe This concentrated Starbucks cold brew tastes exactly like what you'd buy in its stores. That is, delicious. You can finally be your own barista. The flavored varieties aren't too heavy-handed—I like the earthy notes in the Madagascar Vanilla and the creamy quality of the Caramel Dolce—and I like that this is readily available in most grocery stores. It isn't super-concentrated, so you might want to start with slightly less water than is called for, and the bottle is pretty big in my fridge. But if you know what you like and you like it, this is smarter than going to the Siren for a simple cup of coffee. Available Flavors 7 Cold, Hot, or Both? Cold Servings per Bottle 5 Caffeine per Serving 235 mg per 6 ounces Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 6 ounces for 6 ounces of water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated after opening; 2 weeks once opened
Are you running a circus pie car? Do you have a family full of caffeine addicts? Do you drink the stuff all day? This giant jug of cold brew concentrate is the jug for you. It can make 32 cups of coffee! You can make it in a big batch or just dilute it as needed. The coffee is tasty, especially once you get the dilution dialed in right (like most other concentrates, I like mine slightly less diluted). There are notes of chocolate and a toasty nuttiness that go well black or with creamer. Available Flavors 1 Cold, Hot, or Both? Cold Servings per Bottle 32 Caffeine per Serving Unlisted Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 part concentrate to 4 parts water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 2 weeks once opened
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage $79 $69 (13% off)
Cometeer
Cometeer's flash-frozen coffee pods (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are featured in our list of the best coffee subscriptions. Cometeer starts with beans from quality roasters like Intelligentsia or Counter Culture. It brews the coffee, then flash-freezes it into a little pod. You'll get the frozen pods and pop them in the freezer, where they'll keep fresh for months. To make it, just melt it and then mix with hot or cold water or milk. The aluminum capsules are recyclable. The coffee tastes excellent, with all of the guesswork taken out. You don't have to buy a bag of beans and go through the rigamarole of figuring out the perfect grind and extraction temperature—you literally just have to melt, dump, and stir. If you want good coffee but don't want to deal with a single bit of thinking to get it, this is a very safe bet. Available Flavors 50+ (varies by month) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle Each box has 8 capsules Caffeine per Serving Varies Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 capsule for 6 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep frozen; 1 day at room temp, 3 days in the fridge
How We Tested & What's Up Next AccordionItemContainerButton
During my testing period, I completely replaced my once- or twice-daily regular coffee habit with coffee concentrates. I followed the packaging instructions exactly. I made iced coffee with every candidate; I made hot coffee when the packaging said I could. I tried each variety black, with milk, and with flavored creamer. I tried the 'Original' blend when applicable, and a few flavored varieties as well. I looked for ease of use, caffeine content, dissolubility, and—above all—taste. I'll be testing more coffee concentrates from Chameleon Coffee, Dunkin', Explorer, La Colombe, and more.
How Do You Use a Coffee Concentrate? AccordionItemContainerButton
The packaging has instructions, which are very simple. Mix the concentrate (usually a teaspoon or a tablespoon) into your liquid of choice (hot water, cold water, milk, or a mixture; usually 6 to 8 fluid ounces. Six fluid ounces is 3/4 cup). Stir more than you think you need to. Then add flavorings, syrups, cream, or sugar to taste. You can add a bit more concentrate, but this will increase caffeine levels, and a little goes a very long way.
Coffee concentrates can also be used to lend coffee flavor to other foods and beverages. Try mixing a little in your vanilla protein shake or ice cream sundae for a caffeinated kick.
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