Best Beans for Cold Brew: Roast, Origin and Grind

Choosing beans is the first decision in our cold brew guide, and it shapes everything after it. Cold water treats coffee differently from hot water, so the bag you love for pour-over will not always make your favourite cold brew.

How cold water changes flavour

Hot water extracts acids, sugars and bitter compounds quickly. Cold water is slower and more selective. It pulls out plenty of sweetness and body but much less acidity.

That is why cold brew tastes smooth and chocolatey. It also means bright, fruity coffees can taste muted, as if someone turned the volume down.

Roast level

• Medium to medium-dark roasts are the classic choice. They bring chocolate, caramel and nutty notes that cold brewing brings forward.
• Dark roasts make a bold, heavy cold brew. They can taste smoky or ashy if steeped too long.
• Light roasts can work, but they need a longer steep and a stronger ratio to avoid tasting thin.

If you are new to cold brew, start with a medium roast.

Origin

Coffees from Brazil, Colombia and Central America tend to taste great as cold brew. Think cocoa, toffee and roasted nuts. Natural-processed Ethiopian coffees can also be lovely, giving a sweet, berry-like brew that feels like a treat.

Very delicate, floral washed coffees are often better saved for hot brewing.

You do not need the most expensive bag

Cold brew uses a lot of coffee per batch, and its gentle extraction hides some of the subtleties you pay extra for. A good, fresh, mid-priced coffee usually gives better value than a rare micro-lot.

Freshness still matters, though. Stale beans make flat cold brew.

Grind coarse

Cold brew needs a coarse grind, roughly like raw sugar or coarse sea salt. Fine grounds over-extract during the long steep and make straining a pain.

A burr grinder is a big help here. It gives even coarse particles without lots of dust, which keeps the brew clean and easier to filter.

How beans affect your recipe

Darker beans extract faster, so you might use a slightly weaker cold brew ratio. Lighter beans need more coffee and more time. Our article on cold brew steep time explains how to adjust the steep for different roasts.

Try a side-by-side

The easiest way to learn what you like is to brew two small jars with different beans on the same day, using the same recipe. Taste them together the next morning.

Keep reading

• Cold brew concentrate: brewing strong and diluting later
• Cold brew storage: keeping your batch fresh all week