On hot summer days, we prefer cold, soothing beverages. Cold brew coffee is one of the most popular options. You might have tried different cold brew coffee of different types and flavors. When making the cold brew at home, normally we use the coffee powder or beans that are in hand. But do you know which are the best types of coffee for cold brew coffee? 

To make cold brew coffee, you can use Brazilian, Colombian, Ethiopian, Sumatran, Kenyan coffee beans etc. We suggest grounding these beans coarsely and roasting them at medium to dark levels. The best types of coffee (packaged in powdered form) brands are Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Blue Bottle Coffee, La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Death Wish Coffee etc. 

In this article, we are mentioning the best types of coffee beans as well as the best brands offering ground and concentrated coffee. Moreover, we have described how to prepare the cold brew from beans and also from concentration. We have also shown the comparison between both and suggested some tips and tricks for your better experience with cold brew coffee. 

Preferable Types of Coffee Beans For Cold Brew (Best Bean Types)

If you are willing to make coffee from the very beginning, you have to choose the fresh and perfect coffee beans. What are the best types of coffee beans for cold brew? Well, there are various types of coffee beans and some of them are well-known for cold brewing. Choose any of the following beans for making cold-brew coffee. 

Coffee Beans	Roasting Level	Flavors
Colombian Coffee Beans	Medium to dark	These beans have a nutty flavor with well-balanced acidity.
Brazilian Coffee Beans	Medium to dark	Brazilian beans have both chocolatey and nutty essences.
Ethiopian Coffee Beans	Light to medium	This is a low-acidity coffee bean. You can get an earthy and natural flavor from it.
Sumatran Coffee Beans	Dark	Expect an earthy and chocolatey vibe from these beans.
Costa Rican Coffee Beans	Medium	These beans can create bright acidity.
Kenyan Coffee Beans	Medium to dark	This has a bold flavor of wine and fruits.
Guatemalan Coffee Beans	Medium to dark	It can have a spicy and rich flavor.
Mexican Coffee Beans	Light to medium	You can expect light and fresh flavor from this bean.
Honduran Coffee Beans	Medium	These are like Colombian beans with the essence of caramel.
Nicaraguan Coffee Beans	Medium	It has a balanced flavor profile with a nutty texture.
Panamanian Coffee Beans	Light to medium	These beans have a balanced sweetness and you can get the floral freshness from it.

Preferably Types of Coffee For Cold Brew Coffee (Best Brands)

What if you don’t want to go through the hassle of grinding your beans for cold-brew coffee? Simply you can rely on packed ground coffee powder or concentrated coffee. Many brands offer powdered or coarsely ground coffee beans along with concentrated coffee. Which is the best types of coffee for cold brew coffee? Let’s find out some best category brands for cold brew coffee. 

Coffee Brands	Description
Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Holler Mountain	It is specifically recommended for cold brew coffee. Moreover, you will get the best quality coffee.
Chameleon Cold-Brew	This brand is renowned for its ready-to-drink cold brew concentrate. You may find it quite convenient.
Blue Bottle Coffee	You can count it as one of the best options because of its fruity and floral flavor.
La Colombe Coffee Roasters – Corsica Blend	Corsica Blend is specifically designed for cold brew coffee. You can have a smooth and cooling experience from it.
Death Wish Coffee	If you like bold and strong flavors, this one will match your taste buds well.
Counter Culture	This is also suitable for cold brew coffee.
Grady’s Cold Brew	This brand provides concentrated cold brew coffee with versatility.
Verve Coffee Roasters	If you like smooth cold brew coffee with balanced flavor, we recommend Verve Coffee Roasters.
High Brew Coffee – Double Espresso	It will be very convenient for you as it is ready to drink.
Cafe du Monde	It provides a unique taste of cold brew coffee.

Preparation Process of Cold Brew Coffee (From Beans)

As you know which beans are the best types of coffee beans for cold brew coffee, let’s check out the making process. 

Ingredients 

• Coarsely ground coffee beans (any of the best types)
• Cold or room temperature water
• Sweeteners, milk, toppings or flavorings (Optional)

Steps to Follow 

Preparation and Measurement: Take any fresh beans that we have mentioned earlier like Colombian or Brazilian beans. Grind it coarsely or medium-sized like breadcrumbs. Take 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee beans for every 4 cups of cold or room-temperature water.

Combine: Take your preferred container and add the ground coffee and water to it. Make sure the coffee grounds are covered with water well.

Steeping or Soaking: Keep the container in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours and let the coffee soak. If you keep it for a long time, you will get bold and strong flavors.

Filtering: After the steeping period, take out the container from the refrigerator and use any filter to get the concentrated brew. You can then add water or milk to it if you think the concentration is too strong.

Serving: Your cold brew coffee is ready to serve. You can serve it over ice or customize it as you like. Adding sweeteners, toppings or flavorings can be fun to make your drink tastier.

How to Drink Concentrated Cold Brew Coffee? 

We have already mentioned the best types of coffee for cold brew. All brands don’t offer powdered or ground coffee. Moreover, it can be difficult to get beans and grind everything you want in coffee. Considering these issues, many brands offer concentrated cold brew coffee. It is a ready-to-drink type of coffee; already brewed. For example- Chameleon Cold-Brew, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Death Wish Coffee etc. How can you drink such concentrated coffee? 

Steps to Follow 

Dilute if you prefer: The concentrated coffee which you may buy from shops is very strong. If you like strong and bold coffee, then you can skip this step. Otherwise, dilute (Add water or milk to make the coffee mild) your concentrated cold brew.

Customizing:You can serve it straight over ice without any customization. But if you want you can add sweeteners, toppings, syrups, cream etc. to make it match your taste buds. This is how you can drink your concentrated cold brew easily.

Comparison Between Concentrated Cold Brew and Cold Brew From Beans

We have seen both the best types of coffee beans for cold brew and the best types of coffee brands offering concentrated cold brew. Which one is much more reliable? What will you choose for your cold brew coffee? Here we are presenting a comparison of both so that you can get a clear view.

Basis	Concentrated Cold Brew Coffee	Cold Brew Coffee from Fresh Beans
Convenience	As it is ready-to-use, it is way more convenient.	It requires time and effort, that’s why it’s not quite convenient.
Customization	Options for customizing are limited.	Too many options to customize and control over flavor.
Consistency	Mostly consistent.	Not that much consistent.
Shelf Life	Long	Short
Freshness	Might lack the instant freshness of freshly ground beans.	Best beans provide freshness and pure aroma.
Time and Effort	Low	High

Our Suggestions (Important Tips and Tricks)

When you are picking the best types of coffee for cold brew or making cold brew coffee, you should be aware of some important aspects. You can go through our suggestions below to be mindful of the aspects.

• We suggest choosing Colombian, Ethiopian or Brazilian Coffee Beans.
• Roast your coffee beans as suggested, because different beans require different roasting levels.
• To avoid extreme bitterness, always take Coarse-ground coffee beans. It helps to prevent over-extraction.
• Keep the soaking or steeping time within 12 to 24 hours for best results.
• Always use filtered water for making coffee. 
• If you are picking concentrated cold brew, go for Chameleon Cold-Brew, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Death Wish Coffee etc. as they are the best in quality. 
• Cold brew coffee tastes best when served over ice. So try to serve it over ice.
• Keep your leftover cold brew in the refrigerator. Do not use the leftovers beyond 4 to 5 days.

These are some tips and tricks to get the perfect cold brew coffee. For more recipes and other necessary information, you can visit our website “Coffee Mart Blog” anytime.

Conclusion 

To sum up, we can say that cold brew coffee is one of the most comforting and refreshing beverages. Use the best types of coffee for cold brew to get the perfect taste every time. Now you know the best beans as well as the best concentrated cold brew options. So, choose which one tastes best for you. Follow our suggested tips and tricks to experience the best cup of cold brew coffee. Follow our website “Coffee Mart Blog” to learn more about different coffee brands, recipes, and all relevant things.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Can I use any coffee beans for cold-brew coffee? 

It would be best if you choose the best types of coffee beans for cold brew as we have mentioned. But other coffee beans can be used also. You have to check the perfect roasting of the beans and obviously focus on coarsely grounding the beans. 

Why is coarsely ground coffee needed for cold brew coffee? 

Grind size is important for coffee extraction. Suppose you have chosen fine grounds or big-sized grounds. What will happen? Fine grounds will make your coffee too bitter as it will result in over-extraction. On the other hand, big-sized grounds will not extract that much flavor. So keeping the size medium or coarse results in the best extraction and the cold brew tastes amazing. 

Can I use leftover concentrated cold brew coffee? 

Yes, you can use leftover concentrated cold brew coffee within 4 to 5 days. Remember to store the leftover coffee in the refrigerator to keep fresh.

Can I heat cold-brew coffee? 

Yes, you can heat cold brew coffee in a microwave, stovetop or in a water bath method for having hot coffee. Do not boil the cold brew because it will ruin the taste and make the coffee bitter. To know more, you can check our article on heating cold brew coffee at our website “Coffee Mart Blog”.

Does cold brew coffee have more caffeine than regular coffee?

Caffeine content differs on the basis of the type of coffee beans, how you brew it and what is the ratio to water. But in general, cold brew coffee holds more caffeine than regular hot brewed coffee.