The Best Store-Bought Cold Brew, Taste-Tested & Ranked
Who's the chillest of them all?
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With its up to 24-hour steep time, making cold brew at home requires planning—and patience. Is it worth it? Absolutely. But do you always have both of those things readily available, in our go, go, go-based world? Not exactly.
These days, entire grocery store shelves are devoted to ready-to-drink, store-bought cold brew, which will probably only expand, given estimates that this $3.87 billion market will balloon to $16.22 billion by 2032.
As someone who's been buying just about every brand I've come across over the past five years, I've noticed there's a wide gulf in quality—some taste bitter and burned, many have a strangely chalky aftertaste. Which ones are worth the spend? I decided to put the top-rated brews to the test.
How I Chose the Best Store-Bought Cold Brew
First, I scoured the market, looking for the top-reviewed brands, as well as grocery store staples and up-and-coming, buzzy new lines. Next, I called in roughly 15 gallons' worth of cold brew from said brands—bottled, concentrate and instant—preparing them according to the package instructions and scoring them based on the following:
- Value: Is this a better deal than going to a local coffee shop and buying the equivalent amount of cold brew? How does the flavor and overall sensory experience compare to the cost?
- Overall Flavor: Do the suggested tasting notes come through? How smooth is it? Is there any bitterness?
- Quality: Does this taste comparable to cold brew sold at cafés? What are the ingredients? Does it include any standout features, like Fair Trade certification or any eco-friendly component?
- Aroma: While less important than flavor and finish, what does it smell like? Is it chemical-y and offputting, or does it impart a fresh-roasted scent?
- Body: What's the viscosity and mouthfeel like? Is it akin to water or tea, or is it a bit heavier, and more robust? (Water isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as the flavor is there.) Is there any grittiness to it?
- Finish: This is crucial for bottled cold brew, as many have what I deem a "chalky" aftertaste. What flavors, if any, linger on your tongue? And for how long? Do you immediately want to brush your teeth, or do you feel refreshed?
Using that criteria, each brew was ranked on a 100-point scale, known as the PureWow100, and the best of the best were included in the ranking below.
Candace Davison
VP of editorial content
- Oversees home, food and commerce articles
- Author of two cookbooks and has contributed recipes to three others
- Named one of 2023's Outstanding Young Alumni at the University of South Florida, where she studied mass communications and business
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