9 Best Store-Bought Cold Brew Coffees, According to Food Network Staffers

We tried illy’s ready-to-drink cold brew cappuccino and were instant fans. It's made from illy’s signature 100% Arabica coffee blend (so you already know it's going to taste as creamy and fresh as your everyday illy roast) and cold-brewed for 12 hours to give you a bold jolt of caffeine with subtle hints of cocoa. If your favorite part of a hot cappuccino is the bubbly foam, you won’t be disappointed either — the beverage contains a light hint of milk fat, which froths up quite nicely when you pour it over ice. We also appreciate how the slim can is the perfect size for just about any on-the-go summer activity, including pool lounging, bike riding and backyard sunbathing. This variety also comes in a classico cold brew option, but we couldn't resist the velvety taste of an old and reliable cappuccino.

If Starbucks' Nitro Cold Brew also had you in a chokehold when it debuted nearly 10 years ago, chances are this canned version will do the same. Offering the same smooth, velvety texture and refreshing taste as the one at your local chain, these canned cold brews are a great on-the-go alternative. And you certainly won't be missing out on the nitro claim to fame in these cans. The infused nitrogen gas still offers a frothy texture straight up or when poured over ice, creating a smooth sip and pleasant coffee and vanilla aroma our Associate Commerce Editor Julia Morlino loves. "While this cold brew also comes in caramel and unsweetened flavors, I'm a vanilla stan through and through. It presents just the right balance of candied and bold flavors that satisfy a sweet tooth without risking a sugar headache," she said.

While it's always a hit or miss when a coffee roasting company you know and love sells their raved-about varieties in cans, we can say in confidence that these cold brews offer a true cafe-quality flavor. Made with freshly roasted beans and natural sweetness packed in 11-ounce cans, this cold brew "delivers the same exceptional, smooth and rich taste that coffee lovers have come to expect from La Colombe," according to Jennifer Cicatelli, Food Network's Director of Commerce Analytics. You can additionally buy these in packs of 12 so caffeine withdrawals are never an issue.

Unlike most of the other options on our list, which you can drink straight from the bottle or can, this cold brew is quite the opposite. Concentrate is the undiluted base of cold brew that is much stronger and requires dilution to your desired strength before sipping (usually with milk or water). Knowing this, this STUMPTOWN COFFEE ROASTERS 25.4 ounce bottle actually makes five 10-ounce servings after being mixed with a 1:1 ratio of dilution. And to get even more bang for your buck, our Commerce Editor Laura James recommends adding a little more water or milk than concentrate to make the bottle go further, "which I can get away with since it has such a bold flavor," she said. "Plus, it comes in a heavy-duty glass bottle worthy of repurposing after drinking through its contents.” A win-win!

To the brave coffee drinkers out there who don't need any fancy creams or sugar packets to enjoy a glass of cold brew, we salute you — although it's ok to admit the off times you've cringed at your drink before adding a pinch of flavoring (we won't tell). But according to Food Network's Newsletter Editor Ellie Sanders, you'll never have to risk that terrible mouthfeel again with this SToK variety. "As someone who drinks their cold brew black, SToK is the only bottled brew I've found that's smooth, flavorful and can stand on its own," she said. Thanks to the Arabica-based blend that has a higher ratio of coffee beans to water than hot brewed coffee, SToK bottles up a medium roast cold brew that's bold, rounded and never bitter when tried on its own.

This pure black cold brew option from Califia Farms is the ultimate choice for straight coffee drinkers who appreciate a balance between light and dark. The medium roast is made from exactly two ingredients — water and coffee made from 100% Arabica beans — and can even be heated up on the stove or in the microwave if you prefer to drink your cold brew hot (yes, that’s actually a thing). We tried this cold brew three different ways — black, with oat milk and coffee creamer — and found it to be smooth and robust without overpowering in strength. There's also no bitterness whatsoever when sipped without add-ons, and it's also available in shelf-stable boxes so buying in bulk is totally acceptable if you happen to love it just as much as us.

Our staffers found this cold brew to be the one that gave them the biggest caffeine jolt, adding that even a small cupful went a really long way in helping them get through the dreaded afternoon slump. "It’s so smooth, and wakes me right up without the jitters," said Editor Maggie Wong. Wandering Bear Straight Black Cold Brew also contains two times more caffeine than other cold brews (one six-ounce glass is equivalent to two espresso shots!) which explains the instant wake-up. And the cartons these come in are great for easy stocking and recycling when you're done!

Since Jot Original Cold Brew is 20 times stronger than other options currently on the market, we recommend using both water and milk to dilute it. And let's just say the results were pretty stellar. "Robust," "bold" and "super-charged" were the words our editors used to describe the taste, so if you are someone looking for a cold coffee option that actually delivers acidic, harsh coffee notes — add this to your cart asap! Note: Don't be alarmed by Jot's tiny-sized bottles. Though small, each one contains about 14 cups worth of coffee. In fact, a tablespoon of this concentrate is all you need to make any hot or iced beverage, even affogato!

​​If you're a fan of Pop & Bottle’s antioxidant-, collagen- and adaptogen-rich canned oatmilk lattes, you'll equally like their line of super coffee concentrates. The boldly caffeinated collection comes in three flavors total — Vanilla, Mocha and Original Coffee, but we liked the mocha variety best of all. Our editors found it to be heavy on both the chocolate flavoring and the caffeine, as every cafe-quality mocha should be. We also loved just how versatile this concentrate is — not only can it be poured over ice and paired with your choice of milk or coffee creamer, but you can also heat it up and use it to make a bevy of hot coffee drinks, including Americanos, lattes and cappuccinos.