Cold Brew Reviews

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Dried guava, dark chocolate, frangipane, vanilla, cedar. Sweet-tart structure with crisp, juicy acidity; refreshingly silky mouthfeel. Guava and dark chocolate lead in the finish, with undertones of cedar and vanilla. Like sweet guava ice cream with a cedar edge in milk.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Dried apricot, baking chocolate, lemon verbena, marjoram, frankincense. Juicy, sweet-tart structure with lively acidity; satiny-smooth mouthfeel. The balanced finish is equal parts dark chocolate and dried apricot. Chocolate notes are further amplified in milk, as sweet marjoram and resiny frankincense notes.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Red plum, cocoa nib, maple syrup, tangerine, oak. Crisply sweet-tart structure with lively, apple-toned acidity; delicate, silky mouthfeel. Cocoa-toned finish with notes of maple syrup and tangerine. In milk, the tart lime is softened and the cocoa and maple syrup intensify.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Date, almond, caramel, freesia, bergamot. Sweet-toned with gentle, round acidity; velvety-smooth mouthfeel. Richly sweet, gentle finish. Combined with milk, this cold brew is caramelly and nut-toned with a hint of spice.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Black cherry, cocoa nib, lilac, toffee, sassafras. Sweet-savory structure with juicy acidity; crisp, delicate mouthfeel. The savory-sweet theme continues into the finish with notes of lilac and sassafras. The volume is turned down in milk in exchange for a mellow, toffee-driven vibe.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Red currant, toffee, lemon-thyme, magnolia, bergamot. Richly sweet-savory structure with balanced, high-toned acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. The finish consolidates to notes of red currant and toffee. Milk enhances the toffee and bergamot notes beautifully.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Baking chocolate, hazelnut, rose hips, raspberry, cedar. Sweet-toned structure with citrusy acidity; pleasingly dry mouthfeel (think good dry vermouth). Resonant, long, flavor-saturated finish. Milk softens all the dramatic edges of this compelling blend, emphasizing a gentle sweet-tart creaminess.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Dark chocolate fudge, raspberry coulis, molasses, almond butter, redwood. Richly sweet structure with brisk acidity; velvety-smooth mouthfeel. The finish is chocolaty, through and through — in milk, dessert-like, reminiscent of a chocolate-raspberry truffle.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Apricot, baking chocolate, freesia, lemon-thyme, fresh-cut cedar. Sweetly tart structure with lively acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. Aromatic cedar-like wood notes frame the gently fruit-toned, chocolaty finish. The milk shot softens the brightness and suggests a candy bar from childhood; perhaps a KitKat?

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Cocoa nib, hazelnut, dried persimmon, honeysuckle, fresh-cut oak. Sweet-toned structure with malic acidity; viscous, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Chocolaty, nut-toned finish with hints of persimmon and sweet florals. Adding milk amps up the cocoa tones and deepens the rich nut and fruit flavors.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Complex, nuanced, multi-layered. Lilac, dark chocolate, lemon verbena, dried apricot, Bourbon barrel. Sweetly tart with juicy-bright acidity; lightly syrupy, very refreshing mouthfeel. Invitingly rich finish with suggestions of Bourbon barrel integrated with classic Ethiopia notes of dried stone fruit and sweet herbs.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Gently Bourbon-toned, crisply sweet-tart. Goji berry, Bourbon barrel, freesia-like flowers, Meyer lemon zest, almond brittle. Sweet-savory structure with vibrant, juicy acidity; crisp, velvety mouthfeel. Resonant, long, flavor-saturated finish.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Notes of peach, pomegranate, a whiff of rum barrel, cocoa powder, jasmine. Sweet-tart structure with high-toned acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. The acidy brightness fades in the finish, leaving pretty fruit notes (peach, pomegranate) with hints of vaguely fermenty sweetness we associated with rum barrel. In milk, fruit recedes and cocoa powder comes to the fore.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Juicy, tart-leaning, sweetly savory. Pie cherry, cocoa nib, freesia-like flowers, hazelnut toffee, myrrh. Sweet-savory structure with vibrant acidity; delicate, crisp mouthfeel. The savory-sweet theme continues into the finish with undertones of freesia and myrrh.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Rhubarb, Pinot Noir grape, cocoa nib, honeysuckle, sandalwood. Sweet-tart-savory structure with big, juicy acidity; viscous, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. Finish consolidates to notes of rhubarb and cocoa nib with sandalwood undertones.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Rich, floral-toned, intricate and complex. Notes of wisteria, Keemun black tea, cocoa nib, Meyer lemon, frankincense. Crisp, tart-leaning structure with sweet undertones and juicy acidity; refreshing, velvety mouthfeel. Satisfying, lingering finish with notes of black tea and lemon. Stands up to milk with continued tartness and amplification of the cocoa note.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Chocolaty-rich, deep-toned. Dark chocolate, candied walnut, pear, baking spices, cedar. Sweet structure with gentle, round acidity; full, satiny mouthfeel. Resonant chocolate-toned finish with undertones of candied walnut and cedar. Milk makes the chocolate notes lift off in this developed roast profile.

A ready-to-drink black coffee tested cold. Subtle, nuanced, attractively bittersweet. Dark chocolate, candied tangerine, cashew butter, lilac, cedar. Balanced structure with gentle but vibrant acidity; plush, syrupy-smooth mouthfeel. The brisk finish centers around dark chocolate and cedar notes. Milk particularly enlivens dark chocolate, candied citrus, and cashew notes.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Deeply sweet, caramel-toned. Dark caramel, vanilla bean, date, magnolia, fresh-cut oak. Richly sweet in structure with lively acidity; lightly velvety mouthfeel. Consolidates to dark caramel and vanilla bean in the finish. Milk gives this cold coffee a dessert-like quality.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Crisp, sweetly tart, multi-layered. Black cherry, rhododendron, marzipan, oak, baking chocolate. Sweet-tart structure with brisk acidity; full, syrupy mouthfeel. Marzipan and oak carry into the quietly engaging finish. Milk changes the equation entirely; rhododendron and baking chocolate take center stage with levity added by the infused nitrogen.