It’s cold brew season again, and for many of us, that means a return to the $4 cup of java. Experts say cold brew is more expensive than hot coffee because there’s no heat involved when making it, so more beans are needed and the recipe takes longer. Nevertheless there’s no need to pay high in-store prices: We asked seasoned baristas what brands of cold brew (La Colombe and Super Brew were favorites)—and what cold-brew-making devices—they personally use at home to save money.
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso coffee Maker, $29.95
When Lyndia McGauhey, barista and head of training and development at Verve Coffee Roasters, is craving cold coffee, she oscillates between guzzling Verve’s Flash Brew and using an AeroPress, which can make cold brew in around two minutes. “I do an AeroPress over ice, using a stronger coffee to water ratio,” she says, adding that this offers her “a unique flavor profile that I feel excited about.” The Aeropress is a hit with consumers too, receiving 4.8 stars on Amazon with more than 12,000 reviews. Buy now.
Chemex Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker, $49.95
When Ally Walsh, founder of Canyon Coffee, brews iced coffee at home, she adapts her cherished pour-over ritual. “After trying a number of iced-coffee makers, we learned that we basically prefer to brew over ice in our Chemex,” says Walsh. “We advise a 17-to-1 water to coffee ratio, truly substitute ice for about ⅓ of your hot water,” says Walsh. Buy now.
Kalita 102 Coffee Dripper, $33.99
“We like to brew hot coffee and turn it into iced coffee as our technique due to the reality that you need heat in order to extract certain oils and flavors out of coffee,” says Gary Chau, barista and co-founder of boutique coffee chain Caffe Luxxe. He uses the Kalita 102 Coffee Dripper. “We decrease the amount of hot water being poured into the coffee with an equal weight of ice into your cup that you’re pouring into. The coffee then steeps at a concentrated extent, and the ice is melted by the hot coffee to create the exact balance to prevent dilution,” says Chau. Buy now.
La Colombe Draft Latte Variety 12-Pack, under $3 per 9-oz can
Ready-to-drink coffees like La Colombe’s Triple Draft Latte and Cold Brew on Tap are one of Dhruv Khanna’s, director of food and beverage at the Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, favorites. The 9 oz cans are gluten-free, lactose-free, less than 150 calories and are made with real cocoa, vanilla and cold-pressed espresso coffee. Buy now.
Super Coffee’s Super Cold Brew, $3.29
Chef Dan Churchill, co-founder of NYC fast casual restaurant Charley St, swears by Super Coffee’s Super Cold Brew cans. “It’s a super versatile coffee that pairs well with creamers like their coconut mocha flavor which is my favorite. The coffee is also lower in sugar content compared to its competitors,” says Churchill. Buy now.
Later Days Coffee Co., Cold Brew, $3.49
Due to the reality that producing cold brew is time and labor intensive, Amer Dukum, market manager at Farmshop in Santa Monica, says cold brew in glass bottles from Later on. Days Coffee Company is a best, quick alternative to buying your own special filters and spending hours making cold brew. Each 8.5oz bottle contains filtered water, organic coffee, 15 calories and more than 275mg of caffeine. Buy now.
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