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Best Supermarket Cold Brews, According To Experts

When the summer heat is out in full force, hot coffee doesn't always hit the spot like it does throughout the rest of the year. If you're looking for something a bit more refreshing, but still with the necessary kick that gears you up for the day, cold brew is a great option. While you can absolutely make your own cold brew (or iced coffee, for that matter), you may not want to. Fortunately, there are plenty of quality options you can grab online or at the supermarket. From single-serve cans to cold brew concentrates to multi-serving bottles of ready-to-drink cold brew, you have plenty of options. So, how do you choose? While it can be fun to sample your way through the options, we decided to get to the bottom of it for you by asking coffee experts about their favorite cold brew drinks and concentrates that can be purchased online or at the supermarket. Here's what they recommend: Trader Joe's Coconut Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Lani Kingston, education director at the B2B event Coffee Fest and adjunct professor at Portland State University who teaches a class called "The Anthropology of Coffee," loves the taste, ease, and versatility of Trader Joe's Coconut Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate. 'The coconut flavor isn't overly sweet or fake — none of that sunscreen-y thing some coconut stuff has,' Kingston said. 'It's subtle, smooth and just makes the whole drink feel a little more special without being over the top.' She said it's also convenient for summer travels. 'It's also my camping go-to since it's small but strong, efficient to pack, and easy to mix,' Kingston said. Blue Bottle Coffee's Organic Cold Brew Matt Filipovich, founder of Same Sip Coffee, says Blue Bottle's Organic Cold Brew is the best he's had. It's sold in 8-ounce cans designed for a single serving. 'Blue Bottle uses a long immersion brewing method, which is steeping coarsely ground beans in cold water for 8 to 12 hours, which gives the final product this incredible clarity and balance without the bitterness or acidity you often find in cold brew,' Filipovich said. He also appreciates that the company sources high-quality coffee beans from places like Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, and Colombia, which are some of the most celebrated coffee growing regions in the world. 'These areas are known for producing complex, vibrant coffees, and Blue Bottle brings out those flavors beautifully, even in cold brew form,' Filipovich said. Hey you! Want to cook recipes in step-by-step mode right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now. BuzzFeed Explorer's Cold Brew Concentrate Kylee Clancy, senior coffee buyer at Verve Coffee Roasters, recommends Explorer's Cold Brew Concentrate. 'To turn off my coffee brain for a morning or two, I typically mix the concentrate into water or milk to create both hot and iced versions,' she said, adding that she appreciates the company's focus on sustainability and social responsibility. 'With the glass packaging and concentrated consistency, a little truly goes a long way to give me my caffeine fix.' Stok's Extra Bold Cold Brew Coffee, Darker Roast When JT Santana, barista at Redband Coffee Co. in Davenport, Iowa, is off the clock and looking for an easy, reliable coffee, his favorite is Stok's Extra Bold Cold Brew, which is an unsweetened dark roast cold brew that's sold in a 48-ounce package that allows for four 12-ounce servings. 'It has that rich, full-bodied flavor I crave, without being bitter or overly acidic,' he said. 'I love that it is just coffee — no sugar, no gimmicks — so I can dress it up or drink it straight.' He also loves this product for its affordable price point, 'Which matters when you drink as much coffee as I do,' he said. Grady's New Orleans-Style Cold Brew Concentrate Riley Westbrook, barista and co-owner of Valor Coffee in Georgia, recommended Grady's New Orleans Style Cold Brew Concentrate, which is unique in that it's brewed with chicory and other spices. 'It brings this distinct molasses edge and a bitterness that works more like dark chocolate than over-roasted beans,' he said. 'When I taste it, I get clove, toasted grain, and a little black licorice on the finish. It is not subtle, and that is what makes it work.' Stumptown Coffee Roasters' Original Cold Brew Coffee If you're into drinking your cold brew black but don't want something bitter, Westbrook recommends Stumptown Coffee Roasters' Original Cold Brew Coffee, which is sold in a ready-to-drink single-serving bottle. 'You can drink it straight from the fridge, pour it over ice, and it holds up without milk or sugar,' he said. It also holds up well even a few days after opening the bottle, he said. Chameleon Organic Black Cold Brew Concentrate 'I recommend this because the sweetness comes from the bean's character rather than added flavoring,' Westbrook said. 'It tastes like burnt sugar and dark caramel without veering into artificial vanilla or syrupy territory.' Califia Farms' Pure Black Medium Roast Cold Brew For a cold brew that holds up well when mixed with oat or almond milk, Westbrook suggested Califia Farms' Pure Black Medium Roast Cold Brew, which is sold in a 32-ounce or 48-ounce package designed for multiple servings. 'It leans into soft citrus and cocoa notes that actually show up through the creaminess instead of disappearing,' Westbrook said. 'A lot of cold brews turn chalky or get drowned out when mixed with non-dairy milk— this one stays present without overpowering anything.' He also likes that it mixes well with non-dairy milks without separating or curdling. 'Some cold brews react poorly to certain alt milks and leave that weird, grainy film,' he said. 'I have poured this over half a dozen brands of oat and almond milk and it always blends evenly.' For the best coffee recipes, download the free Tasty app — no subscription required. BuzzFeed