2024-04-01

Coffee Investigator

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The Top 8 Cold Brew Coffee Beans

15 min read
Blue Bottle Coffee

Introduction

The cold brewing technique and the science behind it have brought a new perspective to the coffee industry. That is, it takes many hours, low temperatures and, obviously, lots of patience to give you in return a very low-acidity and fragrant cup of coffee. The secret? The process starts by choosing proper coffee beans for cold brew coffee. This article tells about 8 beans species which are worth every penny and will transform a normal cup of coffee into a heavenly journey.

1. Blue Bottle Coffee 

Blue Bottle Coffee’s Giant Steps is an example of a blend of bean coffees of a wide range of geographic provenance: Uganda, Papua New Guinea and Sumatra. This mix is nothing short of a delight, with a combination of bitter dark chocolate, the sweetness of berry, and a delightful hint of licorice. The pricing of around $18 a bag making the coffee middle-range among specialty coffee offerings.

Origin

The Giant Steps blend is a fusion of beans sourced from three distinct regions:

  • Uganda: Long well known for the coffee produced from the local high quality Arabica beans, our brew has an original reminiscing taste of being thin, yet deep and rich. The beans exported from Uganda have a unique taste of deep earth, which eventually results in the cup’s special bold flavor with a touch of richness;
  • Papua New Guinea: Even the less evident generalization the coffee originated from Papua New Guinea can be met with audience appreciation identifying the coffee notes as an exquisite combination of greenish plus fruity tones. PNG Coffee beans give you added complexity and a touch of dark berry sweetness that fit in well with this blend as in the case of Giant Steps brew;
  • Sumatra: Sumatran coffee is now known by people around the world, which is characterized by its natural body and various particularly herbal aromas and sometimes the spices! The Indonesian Sumatra Arabica which is part of the blend is responsible for the darker side of the blend and then ends up leaving a mildly persisting taste of licorice at the end.

Flavor Profile

The flavor profile of Blue Bottle’s Giant Steps blend is a harmonious amalgamation of the unique characteristics contributed by each origin:

  • Boldness: The blend undoubtedly is bold because of its strong and high-bodied taste that will appeal to real coffee fanatics who relish a rich coffee brew;
  • Chocolatey Notes: It gives this chocolate an ideal bitter cocoa aftertaste, which ranks among the most important flavors;
  • Hints of Berry: The hints of berry which are in the background creates a visual and complexity to the taste keeping its durability at the same time as well;
  • Licorice Undertones: Lingering effect of liquorice in this gum gives it a finishing which is like dimensions of sensation that stick in the memory of your palate.

Best For

Blue Bottle’s Giant Steps blend is best suited for individuals who appreciate a coffee with a multifaceted flavor profile:

  • Those who enjoy robust flavors: The richness of the Giant Steps blend fashions to be a perfect companion for the coffee enthusiasts who enjoy their cup of coffee with bold and pronounced flavor;
  • Fans of complexity: And the wide range of flavor profiles, including chocolatey, fruity and herbal notes, make it great for fans of the coffee that tastes like it has several notes on it;
  • Adventurous palates: Caffeine lovers that relish the challenge of finding new flavor properties and discovering the subtle nuances of different beans will find exceptional joy in the complexity and depth of the Blue Bottle’s Giant Steps. blend.

2. Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Hair Bender is a well-balanced blend of coffee beans from Latin America, East Africa, and Indonesia. The combination that characterizes this one, offers sweet and balanced taste notes, where citrus fruit and dark chocolate are present. Priced at around $15 for a 12 oz bag, Hair. Bender is among the specialty coffees available at the affordable end of the price range.

Origin

The Hair Bender blend comprises beans sourced from three diverse regions:

  • Latin America: Hair Bender blend’s base consists of Latin American beans, known for their even coffee flavors and smoothness. This type of beans mostly present a medium body and insignificant acidity, which work really well for the final taste attribute;
  • East Africa: The quality of coffee beans from East Africa lies in their distinctive characters of bright acidity and sweet, floral aroma. With this region of the world’s beans in the Hair Bender, you can see the floral notes and distinctive flavors which make the cup aromatic and smooth;
  • Indonesia: Indonesian coffee is usually known for its full-bodied flavor, low acidity, earthy, and sweet undertones. The Indonesian beans added to Hair Bender blend make the coffee more complex with notes of dark chocolate while the smooth and long aftertaste of this coffee leaves quite a good impression.

Flavor Profile

Stumptown’s Hair Bender blend offers a well-rounded and versatile flavor profile that appeals to a wide range of palates:

  • Sweetness: The main feature of this mixture is the sweetness as well as an excellent balance, which makes the blend neither dry nor too heavy on the palate;
  • Balance: Creation of a perfect harmony between acidity, sweetness, and body of Hair Bender delivers a consistently pleasant coffee drink. It neither entails too much acidity, nor too much mellowness;
  • Citrus Notes: Prominent citrus characters with hints of zesty tanginess uplift the blend and add an invigoration for the palate in the finality;
  • Dark Chocolate Undertones: The velvety and dark notes of chocolate provide a sophisticated and elegant finish to the coffee, thanks to its richness and value. It brings out the blend’s sweetness and finalizes each sip with a sense of luxury.

Best For

Stumptown’s Hair Bender blend is ideally suited for coffee lovers seeking a well-rounded and versatile brew:

  • Those who appreciate balance: Hair Bender offers such a pleasing balance of flavors and textures through its light, low-acidity and lightly sweet tastings. Thus, it is ideal for people who would like to taste such a harmonious and beautiful mixture of tastes;
  • Versatile palates: Whether you are a black coffee lover or enjoy a nice warm cappuccino with milk, as an espresso shot or a drip brew, Hair Bender is a perfect choice for those who like change and challenge;
  • Fans of complexity: Coffee connoisseurs who love to explore the subtlety of multiple flavor profiles would be the main target audience of Hair Bender according to its multilayered character; from bright lemon notes to deep chocolate tones.

3. La Colombe 

La Colombe

La Colombe’s Corsica Blend is a carefully roasted mixture of beans procured from Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, and Mexico. Such a blend is popular for its high quality and of course, its lush roasted flavor, which brings forth a sense of comfort and satisfaction. Currently, Corsica is priced around $14 per 12 oz. bag, making it a reasonably affordable option among other craft coffee brands.

Origin

The Corsica Blend draws its distinctive flavors from beans sourced from four diverse regions:

  • Brazil: Brazilian coffee beans are characteristic of the smooth, soft and nutty flavors, of no acidity. In the Corsica Blend there is a contribution of Brazilian beans to the blend’s total richness and they provide a strong basis for the blend’s taste profile;
  • Colombia: The Colombian coffee is revered for its versatile acidity, medium undertone, and caramel-like sweetness. Colombia beans contribute distinctiveness and harmony to our blend which confers a fruity and floral taste to it with a hint of coffee notes;
  • Honduras: Honduran coffee beans are admired for their moderate acidity and very delicate flavor profiles, normally tasting like cocoa and nuts. Corsica Blend is a mixture of beans from Honduras, which enhance the chocolatey tones of the blend and create some depth to the coffee;
  • Mexico: The coffee beans from Mexico are famous for their medium bodies, low acidity and the flavor sophistication. Beans from Mexico, which comprise the Corsica Blend as well, complete the taste journey by providing subtle spiciness and complexity to the whole experience.

Flavor Profile

La Colombe’s Corsica Blend offers a classic and robust flavor profile that appeals to those who enjoy a strong coffee taste:

  • Richness: The special thing about this blend is its tasty, richness which is mostly identified by its smooth velvety taste and the ending feely that gives the full satisfaction;
  • Chocolatey Notes: Conspicuous hues of chocolatey undertones intertwine the cocoa profile; give it the density and indulgent feel of dark cocoa from the olden times;
  • Deep Roast Flavor: The Corsica Blend caters to coffee lovers who appreciate the art of roasting, showing an intense and bold roasting’s profile alongside a deep flavor derived from the process of roasting.

Best For

La Colombe’s Corsica Blend is best suited for coffee lovers who appreciate a classic and robust coffee taste:

  • Those who prefer strong flavors: Bold and intense flavor of Corsica is precisely for those who sip coffee in search of the perfect taste that remains there forever on their palate;
  • Fans of classic coffee: The Corsica Blend personifies the enduring nature of an authentic cup of coffee and is therefore the perfect option for those who cherish the simplicity of a good old traditional brew;
  • Lovers of deep roast coffee: For lovers of dark roast coffee, Corsica offers a very gratifying taste experience by means of its rich, dark roast flavor profile.

4. Intelligentsia Coffee 

Intelligentsia Coffee

Intelligentsia Coffee’s Frequency Blend is a masterfully curated blend of beans sourced from all over Latin America. The sinuous marriage of these notes is the hallmark of this blend as its clear and sweet sense of taste plays with the tangy acidity that jolts you awake. This is slightly below average by comparison to the other specialty coffee brands and is priced at around $16 for the 12oz bag.

Origin

The Frequency Blend derives its unique flavors from beans sourced from multiple Latin American countries, each contributing to its distinctive taste profile:

  • Latin America: Beans are highly associated with Latin American countries such as Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica which are sweetly low acidic and have clean tastes. These legumes form the core of the Frequency Blend, with the resulting delivery dominated with energy and invigoration.

Flavor Profile

Intelligentsia’s Frequency Blend offers a refreshing and vibrant flavor profile that showcases the best qualities of Latin American coffee:

  • Cleanliness: The blend taste of this blend presents your premium beans as the lead, there is no any taste that can ruin or ruin the mixture taste. This is indeed good for the taste of each and every cup of coffee;
  • Sweetness: There is a subtle sweetness all over the liquid, building nuance while at the same time it never becomes too dominant on the palate;
  • Vibrant Acidity: The acidity promptly spurt the joy and the coolness that beautifully adorns the smooth and clean taste of the coffee.

Best For

Intelligentsia’s Frequency Blend is ideal for coffee aficionados who appreciate crisp and bright coffee notes:

  • The brand’s signature coffee beverage offers a biting acidity and a subdued sweet taste profile that will appeal to everyone looking for lively and energizing coffee flavors;
  • Lovers of clean coffee: The Frequency Blend caters to coffee drinkers who enjoy their brew with no aftertaste and without bitter overtones. It provides a clean and light consumption;
  • Fans of Latin American coffee: Frequency, being a Latin American inspired brand, gives you a chance to journey through the region with each sip of its coffee, hence perfect for the true connoisseurs of Latin American coffee.

5. Death Wish Coffee

Death Wish Coffee

Death Wish Coffee is a powerful brew that results from a blend of both Arabica and Robusta beans. It is this blend which is widely acclaimed for its robust and impressive flavor that has both chocolate and cherry hues. Priced at about $19.99 per 16 oz bag, Death Wish Coffee energy blast would definitely fulfill this need.

Origin

Death Wish Coffee’s unique flavor profile is achieved through a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans:

  • Arabica Beans: They are the beans that are known for their unique flavors and also strong scents. Arabica contributes to the complexity of the Death Wish Coffee taste. These beans belong to a profile of floral and fruity flavors that will bring some depth to the whole mix;
  • Robusta Beans: Robusta beans are loved for the higher caffeine content and full, earthy flavors. Robusta coffee beans are included in the blend of Death Wish Coffee, which add strength to the coffee and establish a strong backbone of its flavor profile.

Flavor Profile

Death Wish Coffee offers a bold and intense flavor experience, characterized by its robustness and subtle flavor notes:

  • Strong and Bold: Such a powerful and robust mix is the most appreciated among coffee enthusiasts when they are looking for the strongest caffeine infusion. The Death Wish Coffee has a deep and complex taste that will thrill your taste and give you an unforgettable drinking experience;
  • Subtle Notes of Cherry and Chocolate: Amailst numerous distinctness, Death Wish Coffee has cherry and chocolate notes, which give it a full flavor. The intricate intonations bring a soothing sweet background for the blend’s strong style.

Best For

Death Wish Coffee is best suited for individuals who require an extra-strong caffeine boost and appreciate bold flavors:

  • Those in Need of an Extra Kick: If you have to be productive all day and you are looking for more caffeine, Death Wish Coffee will give you the vitality you need to live your day and accomplish every one of your tasks with dignity;
  • Fans of Bold Flavors: The robust profile and strong taste of the coffee from the brand Death Wish Coffee, result in a drink that is liked and appreciated by those who prefer drinking a coffee that has a distinctive taste and character. Whether you prefer it black or with milk, it guarantees an exciting and rejuvenating drinking experience. Earn 0.5 Loyalty points, redeemable for $0.5 on next purchase.

6. Bean Box 

Brazil is the home to the coffee bean in Bean Box’s Cold Brew. This distinct single-origin drink is roasted in the country itself. Priced at around $16 for a 12oz bag, its nutty and velvety flavored taste with lower acidity makes this cold brew blend a favorite of customers. It fits perfectly for those who are mad about cold brew with a gentle nutty flavor.

Origin

BeansBox’s Brazil Cold Brew is made exclusively from coffee beans harvested in Brazil, a country renowned for its top notch coffee arabica kinds and diverse flavor characteristics. The coffee beans employed for this particular blend are all the single origin sourced ones, hence capturing the real essence of Brazilian coffee that reveals the region’s terroir, growing conditions, and coffee strength.

Flavor Profile

The Brazil Cold Brew from Bean Box features a flavor profile that is nutty, smooth, and low in acidity:

  • Nutty Notes: The blend’s prominent nutty flavor adds depth and richness to the cold brew, creating a satisfying and indulgent drinking experience;
  • Smooth Texture: With its smooth and velvety texture, Bean Box’s Brazil Cold Brew glides effortlessly over the palate, leaving a lingering sensation of comfort and satisfaction;
  • Low Acidity: The cold brew boasts a low acidity level, resulting in a gentle and mellow taste profile that is easy on the stomach and suitable for prolonged enjoyment.

Best For

Bean Box’s Brazil Cold Brew is best suited for cold brew drinkers seeking a mellow and nutty flavor experience:

  • Cold Brew Enthusiasts: If you enjoy the smooth and refreshing qualities of cold brew coffee, Bean Box’s Brazil Cold Brew offers a delightful twist with its nutty flavor profile and low acidity;
  • Mellow Flavor Seekers: For individuals who prefer their coffee with a subtle and nuanced taste, this cold brew blend delivers a mellow and balanced flavor experience that can be enjoyed any time of day;
  • Fans of Single-Origin Coffee: With its exclusive use of Brazilian coffee beans, the Brazil Cold Brew appeals to aficionados of single-origin coffee who appreciate the unique characteristics and terroir of a specific coffee-growing region.

7. Trade Coffee Co

Trade Coffee Co’s The Classics blend offers a versatile and timeless coffee experience, crafted from a blend of beans that vary seasonally. Priced at about $15 per 12 oz bag, this blend is characterized by its rich, balanced flavor profile and classic coffee flavors. It’s an ideal choice for enthusiasts who appreciate traditional and consistent coffee profiles.

Origin

The Classics blend from Trade Coffee Co is a carefully curated combination of beans sourced from different origins, with the specific blend varying seasonally. By selecting high-quality beans from various regions, Trade Coffee Co ensures that The Classics blend maintains its distinctive flavor profile while offering variety and complexity.

Flavor Profile

Trade Coffee Co’s The Classics blend boasts a rich, balanced flavor profile that showcases classic coffee flavors:

  • Richness: The blend’s richness is evident in its full-bodied texture and deep, satisfying taste. With each sip, The Classics delivers a robust and indulgent coffee experience that captivates the senses;
  • Balance: Achieving a harmonious balance between acidity, sweetness, and bitterness, The Classics blend offers a well-rounded flavor profile that appeals to a wide range of palates. Its balanced composition ensures a consistently enjoyable drinking experience;
  • Classic Coffee Flavors: The blend features familiar and comforting coffee flavors, such as nutty undertones, caramel sweetness, and a hint of dark chocolate. These classic flavors evoke a sense of nostalgia and tradition, making The Classics blend a comforting and familiar choice for coffee lovers.

Best For

Trade Coffee Co’s The Classics blend is best suited for enthusiasts of traditional and consistent coffee profiles:

  • Enthusiasts of Classic Flavors: If you enjoy the timeless appeal of classic coffee flavors, The Classics blend offers a satisfying and familiar taste experience that never goes out of style;
  • Fans of Consistency: With its carefully crafted blend and seasonal variations, The Classics ensures a consistent and reliable coffee experience with every brew. Whether enjoyed in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up, this blend delivers dependable quality and flavor;
  • Traditionalists: For those who appreciate the simplicity and elegance of traditional coffee profiles, The Classics blend provides a comforting and reassuring option that embodies the essence of a classic cup of coffee.

8. Starbucks 

Starbucks' Veranda Blend

Starbucks’ Veranda Blend is a carefully crafted blend sourced from Latin America. Priced at approximately $12.95 per 12 oz bag, this blend offers a light-bodied and mellow coffee experience, with subtle notes of soft cocoa and lightly toasted nuts. It’s an ideal choice for those who prefer a gentler and softer coffee taste.

Origin

Veranda Blend from Starbucks is a blend sourced exclusively from Latin American countries. The specific origins may vary depending on the harvest and availability, but the blend consistently showcases the finest beans from this region. Latin American coffee is known for its smoothness, brightness, and balanced flavor profile, making it an excellent choice for a light and mellow blend like Veranda.

Flavor Profile

Starbucks’ Veranda Blend boasts a light-bodied and mellow flavor profile with delicate flavor notes:

  • Light Body: The blend’s light body enhances its smooth and easy-drinking quality, making it a refreshing and enjoyable option for any time of day;
  • Mellow Taste: Veranda Blend offers a mellow and approachable taste experience, with subtle flavor nuances that gently caress the palate without overwhelming it;
  • Soft Cocoa and Lightly Toasted Nuts: The blend features subtle hints of soft cocoa and lightly toasted nuts, adding depth and complexity to its flavor profile. These delicate flavor notes contribute to the blend’s overall smoothness and gentle character.

Best For

Starbucks’ Veranda Blend is best suited for individuals who prefer a gentler and softer coffee taste:

  • Those Seeking a Gentle Experience: If you enjoy coffee with a softer and more delicate flavor profile, Veranda Blend offers a soothing and comforting taste experience that is easy to enjoy;
  • Fans of Lighter Coffee: For individuals who prefer lighter-bodied coffees that are smooth and easy to drink, Veranda Blend provides a refreshing option that doesn’t compromise on flavor;
  • Morning Coffee Enthusiasts: As a light and mellow blend, Veranda is an excellent choice for starting your day on a gentle note. Its subtle flavors and smooth texture make it a perfect companion for a leisurely morning routine or a relaxing afternoon break.

Conclusion

Choosing the best coffee beans for cold brew can transform your coffee experience. Whether you prefer bold, chocolatey notes or a light, crisp taste, there’s a bean out there that’s perfect for your cold brew. Remember, the best coffee beans cold brew experience combines quality beans with the right brewing technique. So, brew it cool and enjoy every sip of your meticulously crafted cold brew coffee!

FAQ

Why is cold brew coffee less acidic?

Cold brew coffee is less acidic because the cold water brewing process extracts fewer acidic compounds than hot brewing methods.

Can I use any coffee beans for cold brew?

Technically, yes. However, for the best coffee beans cold brew experience, opt for beans with a flavor profile that suits cold extraction.

How long can I store cold brew coffee?

Properly stored in the refrigerator, cold brew coffee can last up to two weeks, but it tastes best within the first week.

Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

Cold brew coffee often has a higher caffeine concentration than regular coffee, but it can be diluted according to taste.

Can I make cold brew with decaf beans?

Absolutely! Just choose a high-quality decaf bean to ensure a great taste.

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