Best Coffee for Cold Brew
Cold brew steeps grounds in cold water for 12–24 hours. The result is low-acid, naturally sweet, and concentrated. Medium-dark and dark roasts with chocolate and caramel character are common picks. Many roasters offer dedicated cold brew blends.
- Recommended roast
- medium, medium-dark, dark
- Grind
- Coarse
- Recipe
- 1:8 concentrate (200g coffee : 1.6L water, 16 hours)
What pairs well with Cold Brew
- Brazilian Cerrado for chocolate-forward sweetness
- Sumatran for low-acid body
- Mexican Chiapas for nutty smoothness
Notes on Cold Brew
Cold brew is the easiest specialty method to scale at home. Long, low-temperature extraction pulls sugars and chocolate notes while leaving most of the harsher acids in the grounds, which is why finished cold brew often tastes naturally sweet without being sour. Concentrate brewed at 1:8 keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks and can be diluted to taste with water, milk, or ice. Roasters increasingly offer dedicated cold-brew blends — usually heavier-bodied medium-dark beans — but specialty single origins from Brazil, Sumatra, and Mexico make excellent cold brew on their own.
Coffees recommended for Cold Brew
Keys Koffee
NITRO - Martini Espresso - Dark Roast
Ethiopia · Dark
Rich, Smooth, Robust
Keys Koffee
NITRO - Organic Guatemala - Light Roast
Guatemala · Light · Washed
Caramel, Honey, Smoky
Barr Coffee
Hawaii, Kona Region
United States · Medium · Honey (Yellow)
Floral, Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar
Barr Coffee
Mexico - Puebla
Mexico · Light · Honey (Yellow)
Orchard Fruit, Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar
Barr Coffee
Indonesia, Sumatra
Indonesia · Light · Wet-Hulled
Spice / Herbal, Earthy / Woody
Barr Coffee
Papua New Guinea - Carpenter Estates Sigri AA
Papua New Guinea · Light · Washed
Chocolate, Nutty, Spice / Herbal
Barr Coffee
Mountain Water Decaffeinated Honduran
Honduras · Medium · Natural
Berry, Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar
Barr Coffee
Peru (Norandino) - Washed
Peru · Light · Washed
Citrus, Orchard Fruit, Chocolate
Barr Coffee
Nicaragua (Selva Negra) - Honey
Nicaragua · Light · Natural
Orchard Fruit, Berry, Sweet / Sugar
Barr Coffee
Lychee Bomb Double Ferment (Colombia)
Colombia · Medium · Washed
Stone Fruit, Tropical Fruit, Orchard Fruit
Barr Coffee
Tatted Banana Co-Ferment (Pink Borbon Colombia)
Colombia · Medium · Experimental / Co-Fermented
Tropical Fruit, Chocolate, Fermented / Complex
VIA GUATEMALA COFFEE
Mayan Jaguar - Dark Roast Guatemala Coffee Arabica
Guatemala · Dark · Washed
Chocolate, Roast-driven, Savory / Other
VIA GUATEMALA COFFEE
Mayan Warrior - Medium Roast Guatemala Coffee Arabica
Guatemala · Medium · Washed
Citrus, Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar
VIA GUATEMALA COFFEE
Mayan Power - Medium Roast Guatemala Coffee Arabica
Guatemala · Medium · Natural
Berry, Chocolate, Nutty
VIA GUATEMALA COFFEE
Mayan Cardamom - Medium Roast Guatemala Coffee Arabica
Guatemala · Medium · Washed
Citrus, Chocolate, Spice / Herbal
Aldo's Coffee Co
Orient Espresso™ Signature Blend (Dark Roast)
Dark · Wet-Hulled
Floral, Sweet / Sugar, Tea-like
Aldo's Coffee Co
Guatemala Single Origin (Medium Roast)
Guatemala · Medium · Natural
Citrus, Orchard Fruit, Sweet / Sugar
Aldo's Coffee Co
Earthy & Seductive Coffee Blend (Dark Roast)
Dark · Natural
Orchard Fruit, Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar
Aldo's Coffee Co
Bali Blue Single Origin (Dark Roast)
Indonesia · Dark · Natural
Citrus, Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar
Aldo's Coffee Co
Ethiopia Single Origin (Dark Roast)
Ethiopia · Dark · Natural
Berry, Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar
Aldo's Coffee Co
Costa Rica Single Origin (Medium Roast)
Costa Rica · Medium · Natural
Citrus, Orchard Fruit, Chocolate
Aldo's Coffee Co
Sumatra Single Origin (Dark Roast)
Indonesia · Dark · Wet-Hulled
Sweet / Sugar, Spice / Herbal, Earthy / Woody
Aldo's Coffee Co
Half Decaf Blend (Dark Roast)
Indonesia · Dark · Wet-Hulled
Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar, Earthy / Woody
Aldo's Coffee Co
Decaf Blend (Dark Roast)
Dark · Natural
Chocolate, Sweet / Sugar, Earthy / Woody
Related brew methods
Origins that shine in Cold Brew
Single-origin coffees that pair especially well with cold brew brewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What roast for cold brew?
Most cold brew uses medium-dark or dark roasts because long extraction emphasizes sweetness and body. Light-roast cold brew is gaining popularity for a brighter, fruit-forward style.
How long should I steep?
12–18 hours at room temperature, 16–24 hours in the fridge. Longer steeps are not necessarily better — past about 24 hours flavors flatten out.
Concentrate or ready-to-drink?
Concentrate (1:8 ratio) lasts longer in the fridge and is diluted to taste with water, milk, or ice. Ready-to-drink (1:15 ratio) is brewed directly to drinking strength.