The Best Bottled Cold-Brew Coffee

Once available only in high-end coffee shops, cold-brew coffees now fill supermarket shelves. We sampled both concentrates and ready-to-drink versions to find the best.
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ABOUT US: The mission of America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) is to empower and inspire confidence, community, and creativity in the kitchen. Founded in 1992, the company is the leading multimedia cooking resource serving millions of fans with TV shows (America’s Test Kitchen, Cook's Country, and America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation), magazines (Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country), cookbooks, a podcast (Proof), FAST channels, short-form video series, and the ATK All-Access subscription for digital content. Based in a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot test kitchen in Boston’s Seaport District, ATK has earned the trust of home cooks and culinary experts alike thanks to its one-of-a-kind processes and best-in-class techniques. Fifty full-time (admittedly very meticulous) test cooks, editors, and product testers spend their days tweaking every variable to find the very best recipes, equipment, ingredients, and techniques. Learn more at www.americaste....
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[@dawnw9850]

We need this again, but with tasters who already love iced coffee. I volunteer 😊

[@andrewspielman1921]

Not just “iced coffee” though, just good coffee. Both described coffee that is not good.

[@razorrich]

Julia’s expressions are priceless. She prefers ‘water-downed coffee’, and Bridget likes ‘hot conference room coffee.’ Probably not the best testers for cold brew coffee.

[@kareninalabama]

"By the urn." 😂

[@razorrich]

@@kareninalabama Lol. She’s also ‘More of a quantity girl than a quality girl.’

[@bobsiddoway]

My thoughts exactly. 🤣 Get some real cold brew tasters up there.

[@indigo_falcon]

Agreed! Presumably the people watching this video are people who like cold brew coffee, so why have testers who don't like it?

[@Tortilla.Reform]

@@indigo_falconprobably Because they’re the presenters they already have hired for these videos, we never see the testers who do the tests they mention. Almost like the news and the anchor/journalist difference

[@amybowman8647]

I really wish they’d included STŌK in the taste test. I’ve tried so many different bottle cold brews, and STŌK is always my favorite.

[@kevinreylek2366]

Their notes on Stok: Some tasters praised this coffee’s flavor and body both with and without milk, calling it “very drinkable with a nice, balanced flavor” and noticing notes of “maple syrup and brown sugar.” Others found it “weak” and “thin,” with one taster commenting, “I need more coffee in my coffee.”

[@kathywright7070]

Love stok

[@GoldenFrizbee]

Stok is the best. Love the green bottle, the espresso blend, and the yellow bottle!! It has less of an aftertaste than la columbe bottled cold brew.

[@douglasbrandt4068]

I liked STOK, and then I tried their espresso cold brew, and fell in love. I already liked the brand, but that espresso bottle (orange/yellow label) is so smooth and naturally sweet, even with no sugar added.

[@shimmer8289]

They have stok bold now no sugar more chocolate taste purple bottle.

[@deargodwhyme]

LaColombe in the bigger bottles are great (the Red and Blue bottles, no milk added). Also fantastic is the Bizzy brand. For those in the southeast, Publix very often puts those brands on BOGO.

[@JMHardinMyTwoLives]

As a born-and-breaded New Orleans girl, chickory coffee doesn't need spices. My go-to is a bag of Community Coffee New Orleans Blend coffee, 3 oz or so straight chicory, with cold water and proportions as if brewing hot. Let it sit in a French press for 16-20 hrs and you have a fine pot of cold-brewed coffee. I make it daily and use some to make ice cubes for my coffee.

[@drtbantha]

Thanks for this - actually bought a bag of chicory but have been having trouble finding a good ratio to try!

[@navealien]

How did you not include Stok?? Easily the best grocery store cold brew. The light roast (golden label) is even better.

[@jase_allen]

"Who likes weak coffee?" I have a friend who's coffee recipe is 2-3 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 10 cup pot. It's coffee colored water.

[@donf3058]

That's my mother, she puts just a bit more ground in her pot than I do in my 1 cup of pour over

[@susandooley9630]

That was my late aunt, you could almost read a newspaper thru the coffee

[@gandydancer823]

Stok purple label is my favorite

[@ABCEggplant]

STOK is definitely my favorite, and also the most affordable refrigerated offering. I like the green regular one, the purple strong one, and the brown espresso version. They all have a nice, slightly sweet flavor. Agree that the Chameleon brand is pretty bad.

[@dkatzism]

Bridget hasn't looked this suspicious of a tasting since vegan mayo! LOL!

[@jonnyfendi2003]

Go watch when she tasted fish sauce!! Lol

[@randmiller88]

Stok purple label is pretty decent, but La Colombe in the bottle is my favorite that I've tried. For concentrate, Stumptown and Trader Joe's are both very good and especially when diluted with milk rather than water.

[@marcelgaida3093]

I tried most of them and I must say that my favorite is none of them but the stumptown cold brew coffee concentrate.

[@sparticus55667]

Buy a big bag of your fav blend, a big container and make your own. I just filter through a cheese cloth and I'm good for the week. Doesn't take too much time either!

[@science2726]

Stumptown cold brew for the win

[@Serjohn]

For me canned cold brew has a metallic or tonic taste. I like dark roast espresso with ice and milk. I like the straight bitterness, no acidity at all.

[@karenhackney9920]

I like the La Columbe. I even had one this afternoon!

[@cclaussen]

Wegmans has a pretty good bottled version. I make my own but buy Wegmans as a backup if run out of my own brew.

[@PatriciainOz]

Thanks for this. I honestly thought cold brew coffee was Peets Drip that I didn't finish the day before which is still my favorite "cold" coffee

[@amlach6148]

My favorite is Califia Blonde Roast Cold Brew Coffee…second favorite is the Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee…both are smooth, no bite consistency which I prefer when I make iced latte coffee 😋👍

[@rucksackzen]

I agree with your top choice!

[@LoriEbreo]

Calfia Blonde Roast is delicious and my fav

[@MVCChick]

Stok is my favorite. I buy 4 bottles every week!

[@evoandy]

Stok is the move.

[@susandooley9630]

I’ve had New Orleans chicory coffee, but it was 50 yrs ago & I actually liked it, but it was warm with milk in it.

[@78625amginE]

It's been years since i had Starbucks. So, does this mean they've stopped burning the hell out of their beans? *shiver*

[@wallyshedd3157]

No, they have not stopped 😂

[@Ddabig40mac]

I agree with you that Starbucks over-roasts their beans, Dutch Bros does too btw. But I find the starbucks cold brew brings less of the burned flavor than their iced espresso. At least when purchased at the coffee shops. I have sampled bottles of grocery store cold brew and found they taste off.

[@bobsiddoway]

Their espresso still tastes burnt, but their drip and cold brew taste more mild.

[@kristinemisko2578]

If Starbuck’s over-roasts their coffee beans, does that mean they can brew with a smaller amount of grounds? Just wondering

[@NateBiggity]

SToK Espresso is the best if you can find it.

[@RaySawhill]

So far as the cold brews that are available at my nearby supermarket, I prefer Stok. I liked Chameleon even better than Stok back in the days when they were making non-concentrates.

[@jasonbean2764]

I bought a couple of bottles of cold brewed coffee a few months ago. Can't say I'm a fan.

[@richardly1277]

Try a bottle of concentrate and you can add hot water to it. Takes away the bitterness while giving you convenience

[@denisefuqua2139]

I really like the Chameleon but I add half and half as well as water and sweeten to taste. I don’t drink but maybe a couple a week since I limit my artificial sweetener to my coffee only. I really like to buy the Mocha.

[@llevitt4637]

After the pickle tasting episode I didn’t think the facial expressions could be more comedic, but it appears you’ve hit a new high mark.

[@emilybilbow4990]

I love that the two tasters are just average people… and that they are on different ends of the spectrum… I’m like Bridget… strong, black coffee… others in my family are like Julia… weak, creamy coffee… I’m not buying coffee for an expert tasting panel… I’m buying it for me… lol

[@ningcheng_shu]

To my taste, I would make a cup of coffee of intense acidity with quite amount of sugar, which would make it uniquely different from the instant coffee on the market. Many coffee bean sellers use the word "fruity" in the place of "acidity" to advertise their products. If you don't like the flavor, then "fruity" becomes "acidity". It just depends.

[@willjay916]

MFK Fischer has a recipe for cold brew (the Welton Brew) in With Bold Knife and Fork, published in 1968 or 1969. Don't waste your money paying for water, brew your own with the appropriate quality of beans that fits your budget.

[@TheTEXMIKE]

why didnt you test the stok?

[@vdevov]

They did. This is for TV, the hosts always pair it down to those the testers deemed outstanding (bad or good). I’m guessing the Stok was unremarkable.

[@rachray83]

Yep

[@Incisiform]

I guess the testers disliked it? I've tried most of these and it was the only one that wasn't sour at all. It's also the cheapest, especially compared to the chameleon (which I couldn't enjoy, even with milk)

[@SimpleSock]

For what it's worth, it's my least favorite cold brew I've tried. I picked a pack up at Costco with high hopes a few days ago and it tastes like coffee flavored water, I'm not sure it's even real cold brew.

[@elizabethjury9375]

Stok is my favorite cold brew as well.

[@christinawyckoff2164]

Thank you for all the all do. Happy Easter 🐰

[@drtbantha]

I’d argue the concentrates weren’t tested right for the “with milk” drinkers - the best method is to skip the added water and use the milk to dilute the coffee. We do this, but with homemade concentrate.

[@thesmellycatjazz]

Chameleon cold brew is harsh, so I recognized that grimace when they tried it. Even with milk it's rough, and I've tried it several times and different flavors.

[@GreedoGangrene]

iced nola from blue bottle, trust it's good

[@goddessj530]

I love Stok unsweetened, the starbucks is ok but it definitely needs milk. Stok is the coffee i wish i could brew hot at home.

[@gregaclark2]

IMO, Stok is by far the best, which wasn't tested here, despite being in the video the whole time (unsweetened only, the "slightly sweet" ones are diametric).

[@gregaclark2]

@@sandrah7512 thanks!

[@mjbmjb1064]

Trader Joe's concentrate is great. I figured out a dilution that works - 2:1 water to concentrate, then 6oz 2% milk to about 10-12 oz concentrate. Drink it every morning.

[@bobsiddoway]

Should have tasters who enjoy cold brew!

[@joemc1960]

La Colombe, best coffee for me. From Philly too.

[@chambersstevens3135]

Love these guys!

[@Hexiad]

STOK!!!!!

[@philipraimondo]

Technical call out. If it is shelf stable then it was heated and no longer a cold brew. Even if it is to preserve it. Refrigerated

[@mikek3658]

I don't like mustard. I don't like mustard. Maybe atk will hire me as a mustard taste tester

[@purberri]

Iove Chameleon espresso add milk yum

[@kareninalabama]

It sounds delicious! Based on their reactions ("too strong" and "tannic") I believe Chameleon would be the brand for me. And they were describing the black coffee concentrate, not the espresso! Unfortunately, I there aren't any stores near me that carry it. The nearest is about 45 minutes away, which is too far to go just for coffee.

[@z-z-z-z]

make your own; super easy at a fraction of the price...

[@nikksterr0902]

We are a local roaster, grind at home, pour over kind of house. BUT every once in a while I feel lazy, and I buy the Starbucks cold brew from the store. It’s shockingly good. With vanilla soy milk (which I normally wouldn’t dare put in the pour over). Try the blond roast - which again, wouldn’t normally order ever. 😂

[@schnu44]

I am a fan of Grady's CB straight up, no milk or sweetener.

[@frankmandy1981]

Great video and taste testing! Just love the three of you. I agree Starbucks is the best.

[@AmyKaylasVegas]

FML I miss Trader Joe's fizzy cold brew in the little brown bottles. That stuff was the BEST. Please bring that back TJ's! The crap now is awful.

[@candycemonroe7345]

I like chicory coffee!! ☕

[@bobmarchese8847]

Was this served cold?

[@ez4me2sa]

Love Chameleon!

[@Sakja]

La Colombe is only 42 oz. compared to the others (48 oz.).

[@Sakja]

I've only seen Starbucks, Stok, La Colombe, and Califa.

[@thefeldgeister2961]

I can't drink caffeine and it really bothers me how there isn't a single caffeine-free option with these cold brew coffees. I've been complaining to myself about this for a few years now. It just seems like one of these companies would realize they're missing out on lost sales. I don't think one basic decaf flavor that can be customized at home is asking too much.

[@tiffanybagby6868]

Making cold brew is very easy to do at home, minus the initial time investment. KZbin is a great resource to find out how to make it . Cheapest option is to use a French Press and stick it in the fridge for 24hrs. Check it out!😊

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

I've never seen the point of bottled cold brew, it's just so easy to stuff coffee grounds and cold water in a jar and strain it afterward.

[@shimmer8289]

Need lots of ice for it to be a cold brew and an option of a flavor shot. STOK COLD BREW IS BETTER THAN ANY OF EM. They were getting a dig in at the brand putting it on table but ignoring it. Those women seem not like coffee connesoirs one says i like weak coffee the other i like conference room coffee lol😅

[@angiemaley9335]

I am a cold brew drinker. I am always looking for an already made cold brew, that I can keep in my fridge, but that taste like what I'd buy at a coffee house. This video was not very helpful because these ladies never even drank cold brew. One admittedly, likes hot coffee and the other likes it weak and watered down. I would like to see a coffee drinker who likes cold brew, and understands the nuances, try various kinds and recommended one that tastes like what is freshly steeped at my local Starbucks or coffee shop.

[@30Huckleberry]

I ATK reviews of liquor. “Bridget is sipping neat on ATK.”

[@jeffreywhitaker5154]

Is it just me?-or is it just a perception to me thinking that the Keurig packet coffee lacks a full flavored mouth feel? I call it a “hollow taste” compared to the old school hot water brewed coffee??

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

I think you need to adjust the 'size' (the amount of water that comes out) to the smallest setting, and then use more than one K-cup, to fill your mug (instead of just running more water through the same small amount of grounds). One place I used to work at was buying 'mini' K-cups, (a smaller amount of coffee grounds inside) and that was the only way to get anything close to a real cup of coffee. Other than that... I've never really had a great cup of coffee from a Keurig, but I don't own one. Get a Moccamaster. Get a cheap one (a model without the hotplate), used... without a carafe (just put your insulated travel mug underneath), and make half a batch (4 so-called 'cups' is actually 16 ounces). It's damn near as fast as a Keurig, but it's real coffee.

[@jeffreywhitaker5154]

@@hxhdfjifzirstc894 wow that was an in-depth response. I appreciate that. I will look it up the product you stated.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

@@jeffreywhitaker5154 If you do buy a used Moccamaster, without a carafe, you need to put tape over the little white carafe switch (so the machine will run without a full size carafe pushing the switch in). It's a far cheaper route (about $50-$75) than buying a new machine (about $350).

[@delwoodbarker]

I like instant coffee.

[@tisa6193]

Can you give us a recipe to make?

[@b3z3jm3nny]

They have multiple videos on that

[@MiamiCoffee2023]

Jack rocks! ☕️☕️☕️

[@MrJuanchernandez]

How can people who do not enjoy this style to begin with, provide any sort of insight for those who do? Poor choice of casting.

[@sociopathmercenary]

I just think it's interesting that they're always seems to be a new way to make coffee that uses more coffee and makes the manufacturers more and more money.

[@roxanasmith7745]

Do you all check on organically grown foods, herbs and chicken,beef pork for your magazine recipes?

[@thaisstone5192]

(250) Well, after this, I'm going to invest in a cold brew machine.

[@willshenbergerjr2357]

Stok on the table but no reviews...

[@willshenbergerjr2357]

@@sandrah7512 ... Thank you

[@RYAN799]

Pour some Dr. Pepper over Ice, add a splash of Coconut Creme coffee creamer and stir, you'll thank me later.

[@MrBossinn]

... or just drink regular coffie like regular people ;)

[@debbymccauley4774]

I do not like "Starbucks" coffee it is so strong & bitter. Not to mention it's very pricey. I like iced coffee but prefer hot coffee. I love my Keurig , as I can buy Kcups of my choosing or use regular coffee. I do not drink milk, cream or sugar in my coffee so I get full coffee taste. I use to work in Whole Bean Coffee shop so Iam kinds of a Coffee Lover.☕️

[@juliamaddox4408]

Oh, you guys MISSED THE BOAT on this one! I've tried all of these cold brews. WANDERING BEAR is the most delicious out of ALL OF THEM! SMH...

[@AirrowRocket]

They never give details of their testing groups so consequently I dismiss their results.

[@AirrowRocket]

The review is behind a paywall. The fact that the testers are ATK employees is a baked-in bias as that does not represent the public at large. Not disclosing their testing group makeup is very peculiar. That's why I dismiss the results. Your information supports my conclusions about their way of conducting their "testings". @@sandrah7512

[@johnnymauler]

Trader Joe's is actually the best out of the bottle, otherwise better homemade.

[@ryannordheimer]

Why don't you review Trader Joe's products?

[@sweetjimmyt]

Stumptown is the only winner, duh!

[@JoshuaAMG]

Very obviously the worst possible people you could have had test these 🤣🤣 these are not "coffee people"

[@Wafflinson]

"Coffee people" are such a small minority of the total population that any test catering to them would be useless. They also don't need a video to tell them what to buy. The whole point of these is to aim at the average home cook, not a connoisseur

[@razorrich]

My sentiments exactly. Choose folks that enjoy coffee.

[@razorrich]

⁠​⁠@@Wafflinson Majority of Americans (70+%) drink coffee every day.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

"""Coffee people""" would already be making their own, at home.

[@Wafflinson]

@@razorrich and so do the hosts. They just don't like it the same way you do so you are being a snob.

[@cindiqq2292]

Love cold brew at Starbucks store, taste like chocolate with milk to me. That jar Starbucks taste like water to me, no taste.

[@JEEBUSxHIMSELF]

why do they all look like medicine?

[@JogBird]

to justify the 500% mark up?

[@Viewscreenon]

Because medicine often comes in dark tinted bottles to protect it from light.

[@sharonsekhon9475]

Was this supposed to be fun?

[@bavariasuhl]

cold brew not harsh - well thats rubbish, some of it is very acidic and harsh

[@tksharkbait]

Then it's inferior and badly brewed cold brew. Done right, or even half right, it's very smooth, and nothing compared to hot-brew coffee.

[@dharmasquid]

Hot take. Iced coffee is the move. Cold brew ruins coffee. I offer many cold brew with milk drinkers to try iced coffee with milk versus cold brew.

[@Lucysmom26]

A few people here singing the praises of Stok, of my own at-home taste test (Stok, Starbucks, President's Choice, President's Choice Nitro) the Stok was by far my least favourite. It has an aqua blue label and it. was. awful..

[@meseahunt]

a coffee challenge with NO DUNKIN'???????????????????????????? 🤠

[@trekkiejunk]

This video is just frustrating. First, you taint the results by telling them which coffee is which in the middle of the testing. Then you further taint the results by telling them what others preferred in the middle of the testing. Then, when you were finished, you didn't get any real comparisons of which coffee they preferred when milk was added. You just agreed that "it tastes different with milk." And if all that wasn't bad enough, you didn;t even include Stok, which is the most commonly found store brand! You guys have a lot of great videos, but this one was just crap.

[@BS-pd9hk]

I love coffee, but cold brew gives me diarrhea. 💩

[@debrawalton2366]

TMI!! Why do I need to know this??

[@razorrich]

@@debrawalton2366 Lol

[@razorrich]

Seems like far too strong for your stomach. Better to dilute it with water.

[@MissRyukkie]

I have to dilute my cold brew, too.

[@ningcheng_shu]

Perhaps precautions should be taken to put the coffee beans into a freezer for a couple of days before brewing, to reduce the possibility of biohazard. Raw coffee beans may not up to the hygiene standards of "ready to eat", I guess, so direct cold brew could potentially lead to problems.

[@trackzero0]

Slow day at ATK.

[@dapper00000]

That's a waste of time. Why aren't you using coffee connoisseurs? Might as well go to 7/11 or the Shell station

[@dapper00000]

​@@sandrah7512 yes, i both watched and read this. Your target audience are the Walmart shopper. There are classier stores. But, I get it. I assumed your audience is a bit more sophisticated. I now know better. Thx

[@dapper00000]

@@sandrah7512 thanks... perhaps there should be foodie expert videos and introductory categories. I'll just be more picky reading the headlines and such before diving in. I like cold brew due to its more mellow and especially less acidic. Favorite are La Colombe, haven't tried Illy, and Trader Joe's.... Just plain black. No flavorings, no sugars of any kind, and no milk of any kind. Just coffee. :) Blue bottle is likely excellent.

[@ivermec-tin666]

This is heresy! How about showing us how to make cold brewed coffee rather than doing product reviews on these trendy and stupidly expensive pre-made beverages?

[@TheTEXMIKE]

put coffee in water put it in the fridge for 12-24 hours. lol

[@ivermec-tin666]

@@TheTEXMIKE What kind of coffee, roasted to what degree, and ground to what level? This is what a how to video would cover. Not just how to make cold brew coffee, but how to make it consistently, easily, and with excellent results. Is cold coffee a technique best suited to a mild, medium or dark roast? I don't know. That would be one question that a proper video would attempt to address.

[@BrilliantWhenYouGlow]

They have a video somewhere on here that shows how to make cold brew amongst other styles of coffee

[@JogBird]

@@ivermec-tin666 its basically french press with cold water and about 24 hour immersion time. thats it. all the other parameters are up to you.

[@dian3145]

@@ivermec-tin666 it is too hard to define what is the best roast or grind since it is all to a persons taste. Start with what you currently drink and adjust to your taste. The only recommendation I see pretty consistently is to grind it a little coarser than your drip. But that is a huge range, depending on your brand.

[@marilynsnider8183]

Sorry, I'm not a coffee drinker.

[@zacharyseibert6788]

Sorry, your loss.😁

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Begone, $atan!

[@debrawalton2366]

More for me!😋

[@ay_yal5217]

Stok is the shiznit