Best Coffee For Cold Brew: My Top 7 Picks!

One of my favorite coffee making methods is cold brew. And with summer almost here and cold drinks on the mind, I am sharing everything you need to know about cold brew + the best coffee for cold brew.

Enjoying a cold brew on a summer day is one of life’s simple pleasures so today I thought I’d share about the best coffee for your cold brew. In my opinion, cold brew is a great way to enjoy your coffee any time of the year and once you try it, you may not want to go back to “hot” coffee.

*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.  This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company.  I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly.  If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product. 

Suzi(Gurl Gone Green) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Cold Brew Coffee Made With Purity Coffee

Purity Coffee

No surprises here! Purity Coffee comes out on top again. I tested out the very best of the best organic coffee brands and Purity stood out amongst the crowd as the best coffee for cold brew. With the warm months upon us now, you will definitely want to check it out.

Use code GURLGONEGREEN to save 20% off first time Purity Coffee orders!

Related Content: Best Mold & Mycotoxin Free Coffee Brands

What Is Cold Brew?

Cold brew in technical coffee lingo is a cold water extraction process but in layman’s terms it’s simply allowing ground coffee to steep in water for an extended amount of time at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Cold brew is relatively easy to make because you don’t need a kettle or a scale and isn’t as involved as other brewing methods.

The longer extraction process produces a rich and smooth cup of coffee. Cold brew contains less acid than hot coffee because the cold water extracts less oils from the coffee. It can also be gentler on stomachs than hot coffee because it is less acidic.

Cold brew can generally last for 7-10 days in the refrigerator which makes cold brew a great option for large parties or just for yourself. 

pouring cold brew coffee into a glass
Cold brew coffee can be more gentle on the stomach due to being less acidic.

Any There Any Cons To Cold Brew?

Some coffee connoisseurs don’t like cold brew because it lacks acidity and complexity. If you want to experience your coffee on a deeper level then cold brew might not be your first brew of choice.

Cold brew also takes more time to brew than your hot coffee varieties.

But, really, there’s not a whole lot to complain about when it comes to cold brew! Below I am comparing cold brew to two other brewing methods so you know the differences and which method might work best for you.

cold brew immersion method
Cold brew does take longer than other methods – but the result is so worth it!

What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee? 

  • Cold brew uses cold or room temperature water whereas iced coffee is made by brewing hot coffee and pouring it over ice
  • Cold brew contains a higher caffeine content than iced coffee. 
  • Cold brew also is generally less acidic than iced coffee because hot water extracts acidic and bitter flavors more than cold water.

Another version of iced coffee that you may find in some coffee shops is called the “flash chill” or “flash brew” method. 

This flash method reduces the ratio of water to coffee and immediately cools the coffee by brewing directly into an ice-filled cup or container.

What is the difference between cold brew and French press?

Both cold brew and French press offer similar results. Here are some difference:

  • Cold brew uses cold water whereas French press uses hot water.
  • Cold brew can filter water through the grounds whereas French press steeps the grounds in water.
  • You will notice a less acidic and more mild taste with the cold brew method in comparison to French press which has an intense and robust flavor profile because of the extraction of all of the beans’ oils.

Related Content: The Best No Plastic Coffee Makers

cup of cold brew coffee with cold brew immersion device
When you use the best coffee to make your cold brew, your cup of coffee will be so much better!

What Type Of Coffee Beans Make The Best Cold Brew?

  1. Roast

Dark roast coffee beans make the best cold brew because they give cold brew that deeper taste profile. The low acidity of dark roasts make for a smooth cold brew.

  1. Single Origin

Single origin beans are preferred because they also allow for the nuances of the bean to be experienced in all of their cold brew glory.

  1. Arabica vs Robusta

Robusta beans are more acidic and have a higher caffeine content than Arabica beans. 

Arabica beans are expensive to grow therefore they are more expensive to buy.

Arabica beans have a smoother and sweeter flavor profile in comparison to Robusta beans which tend to produce a bitter flavor profile.

Most coffee shops use Arabica coffee beans in their cold brews because most people prefer the taste of Arabica beans.

However, if you prefer a strong, bitter coffee, more in line with what you would get with your standard hot coffee, then you may prefer Robusta beans. As I mentioned above, they do contain more caffeine so they can make for a quick pick-me-up in the morning! 

  1. Whole Bean vs. Ground

Normally, I wouldn’t recommend pre-ground coffee but due to the forgiving nature of cold brew, you could probably get away with pre-ground coffee. If you have a grinder, then buy a bag of whole bean coffee for the freshest and best flavor.

How Do You Make Cold Brew?

  1. Coarsely grind your coffee beans.
  2. Add the grounds to the cold brew maker. A good rule of thumb is a 1:8 or 1:9 ratio when brewing cold brew coffee. For example, you would add 8 grams of water for every 1 gram of ground coffee.
  3. Pour filtered water over the coffee grounds.
  4. Allow coffee to brew in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. 
  5. Dispose of coffee grounds.
  6. Serve cold brew over ice. A good day starts with a good cold brew!
immersion method cold brew makers
These are both cold brew devices that utilize the immersion method.

Cold Brew Drip vs Immersion Method

There are actually two different ways you can make cold brew coffee. Here are am comparing them so you can pick which method works best for you!

Cold DripImmersion
Brew methodPercolateSteep
Brew deviceCold drip towerMason jar, pitcher
Brew time3-12 hours12-24 hours
Brew difficulty DifficultEasy
Brew tasteRich and full-bodiedSmooth and sweet

Cold Brew Immersion Method

With the immersion method, coffee grounds are submerged in a pitcher or jar of water and allowed to steep. This is the most common cold brew method and what method I like to utilize.

Cold Brew Cold Drip Method

With the cold drip percolate method, water drips slowly from a water reservoir or tower through a bed of ground coffee and into a carafe. 

The Best Coffees For Cold Brew

Related Content: Purity Coffee Review

Related Content: Lifeboost Coffee (Pros + Cons)

My Favorite Cold Brew Recipe

Once you have your cold brew ready to go, I wanted to share my favorite way to drink it. Here is my favorite recipe:

What you’ll need

  • Cold Brew Maker
  • Coffee Grinder 
  • Coffee
  • 1/2 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
  • 1 Tbsp Coconut Milk  
  • Ice
  • Pink Himalayan salt (optional)

Pour cold brew into an ice filled glass and add maple syrup and coconut milk for a sweet and creamy wake-up call!

If you’re feeling fancy, combine brewed coffee, maple syrup, and coconut milk in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, put the lid on and shake, shake, shake then pour into an ice filled glass.

Cold Brew Coffee In Glass Jar
I love my favorite cold brew recipe made with Purity Coffee!

Conclusion: The Very Best Coffee To Make Your Cold Brew At Home

It will probably come as no surprise that in my opinion, the best coffee for your cold brew is Purity Coffee. The name of Purity’s dark roast is called EASE and consists of 100% organic Arabica beans and is even recommended on their site for cold brew. As Purity states on their site, they are committed to

“ providing certified organic, specialty-grade, regeneratively or biodynamically farmed coffee that is measurably high in CGA and nutrients and tested to be free of defects and mycotoxins.”

In other words, Purity produces a perfect cup of coffee and their dark roast is the chef’s kiss for cold brew.

Use code GURLGONEGREEN for 20% off for first time customers!

Share your favorite coffee for cold brew in the comments below!

If you are looking for other ways to brew your coffee, check out these past posts:

Cheers, Suzi

Suzi

Suzi is a wife, and mama who is passionate about sharing her natural lifestyle with those around her. She created Gurl Gone Green to show how our everyday decisions, from what we use on our face, home and the food we eat affect us more than we know. She loves holding space where people can weed through the marketing clutter to find truth, and ultimately make the best decision for their families.

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