7 Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew in 2025: Kona Expert Picks
You want to make exceptional cold brew at home, but the coffee aisle overwhelms you with choices. Dark roast or medium? Single origin or blend? Whole bean or pre-ground? Most coffee sold today gets roasted for drip machines or espresso, not the slow, cold extraction that makes cold brew special. Pick the wrong beans and you get a watery, bitter mess instead of the smooth, sweet concentrate you crave.
This guide breaks down the seven best coffee beans for cold brew in 2025, tested and ranked by our team at Menehune Coffee Company. You’ll get specific recommendations for different taste preferences, from bold chocolate notes to bright fruit flavors. Each pick includes the roast profile, ideal brewing ratio, and who should buy it. We also explain why certain beans excel in cold water extraction while others fall flat. By the end, you’ll know exactly which beans to order for your next batch.
1. Menehune Coffee 100 percent Kona dark roast
This dark roast represents the pinnacle of Hawaiian coffee for cold brew extraction. Grown on the volcanic slopes of Mauna Loa at 2,000 feet elevation, these beans undergo a careful roasting process that develops deep caramel notes without crossing into burnt territory. You get authentic 100% Kona coffee, not a blend diluted with cheaper beans from other regions.
Flavor and roast profile
Your first sip reveals bold chocolate undertones paired with subtle nutty sweetness. The dark roast level brings out the natural sugars in Kona beans while maintaining the smooth, low-acid profile that makes Hawaiian coffee special. Unlike many dark roasts that taste charred, this one preserves the bean’s inherent complexity. The volcanic soil imparts a distinct mineral quality that adds depth without overpowering the coffee’s natural sweetness.
Why it shines in cold brew
Cold water extraction pulls out smooth, concentrated flavors from dark roasted beans more efficiently than from lighter roasts. The extended steeping time (12 to 24 hours) allows the chocolate and caramel notes to fully develop without extracting bitter compounds. Dark roasts have a more porous structure after roasting, which means the cold water penetrates faster and extracts more soluble compounds. This creates a rich concentrate that holds up beautifully when you dilute it or add milk.
The volcanic soil and higher elevation create beans with a density that extracts perfectly in cold water, giving you a concentrate that stays flavorful even after dilution.
Best brewing method and ratio
You’ll want to use 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight for a proper concentrate. Grind the beans to a coarse consistency similar to raw sugar crystals. Steep for 18 to 20 hours in your refrigerator or at room temperature, then strain through a fine mesh filter or coffee sock. The resulting concentrate dilutes 1:1 with water or milk, giving you control over the final strength.
Ideal drinkers and use cases
This coffee works perfectly for black coffee purists and milk drink lovers alike. The bold flavor cuts through cream and sweeteners without disappearing. You’ll appreciate this choice if you drink your cold brew throughout the week, since the concentrate keeps fresh in your refrigerator for up to two weeks. Veterans, Hawaii enthusiasts, and anyone seeking authentic Kona coffee will find this among the best coffee beans for cold brew available.
Price and availability
You can order this directly from the Menehune Coffee Company website in 8-ounce or 16-ounce bags. The price reflects true Kona coffee pricing at $30 to $50 per pound, which stays competitive for authentic 100% Kona. A subscription option reduces the cost by 10% and ensures you never run out of beans for your next batch.
2. Menehune Coffee 100 percent Kona medium roast
This medium roast reveals a different dimension of authentic Kona coffee, perfect for cold brew enthusiasts who prefer brighter, more nuanced flavors. The same volcanic slopes produce these beans, but the lighter roasting approach preserves more of the bean’s natural acidity and fruit notes. You get a completely different cold brew experience while maintaining the quality standards that make Kona coffee world-renowned.
Flavor and roast profile
Your palate encounters bright citrus notes balanced with honey-like sweetness in every sip. Medium roasting stops before the caramelization that defines dark roasts, allowing the coffee’s inherent characteristics to shine through. The result tastes cleaner and more vibrant, with subtle hints of tropical fruit and floral undertones that reflect the Hawaiian terroir. This roast level maintains higher acidity than the dark roast, creating a more complex flavor profile in your cold brew concentrate.
Why it shines in cold brew
Medium roasts extract differently in cold water, producing a lighter-bodied concentrate with more pronounced origin characteristics. The cold brewing process mellows the acidity naturally present in medium roasts, creating a smooth drink without the sharpness you’d get from hot brewing these same beans. This makes medium roast one of the best coffee beans for cold brew when you want to taste the specific qualities of Hawaiian Kona rather than roast-forward flavors.
Medium roast Kona beans give you a cold brew that tastes distinctly Hawaiian, not just like generic dark roast concentrate.
Best brewing method and ratio
Use 1 part coffee to 7 parts water by weight for a slightly stronger concentrate than the dark roast requires. Grind to a medium-coarse consistency and steep for 16 to 18 hours in your refrigerator. The shorter steep time prevents over-extraction of the delicate fruit notes, keeping your concentrate balanced and refreshing.
Ideal drinkers and use cases
You’ll prefer this option if you drink your cold brew black or with minimal additions. Coffee drinkers who enjoy light, refreshing beverages and want to experience authentic Hawaiian coffee flavors will appreciate this roast. This also works perfectly for afternoon cold brew when you want something bright rather than heavy.
Price and availability
Order directly from Menehune Coffee Company at the same $30 to $50 per pound price point as the dark roast. Both roast levels come from identical beans, so you pay for quality Kona coffee regardless of your roast preference.
3. Purity Coffee Ease dark roast
This specialty roaster earned recognition in the health-conscious coffee community for producing beans tested for mold and mycotoxins. The Ease dark roast specifically targets cold brew preparation, offering a scientifically-backed approach to coffee quality that goes beyond organic certification. Purity Coffee sources beans from high-altitude regions and roasts them to preserve maximum antioxidant content while developing the deep flavors cold brew requires.
Flavor and roast profile
You’ll taste rich chocolate notes complemented by smooth caramel sweetness in every batch. The dark roast level creates a full-bodied profile without the acidity that bothers sensitive stomachs. Purity’s roasting process preserves chlorogenic acids at levels three times higher than typical commercial coffee, giving you both great taste and functional benefits. The flavor stays consistently bold across multiple brewing sessions.
Why it shines in cold brew
Cold extraction pulls out the health-promoting compounds Purity specifically preserves during roasting. The beans’ lower acidity naturally suits cold brewing, which further reduces acid content by up to 70% compared to hot brewing methods. This combination makes Purity Coffee among the best coffee beans for cold brew if you prioritize both flavor and digestive comfort. The careful roasting ensures consistent extraction without bitter or sour notes.
Lab testing confirms these beans extract smoothly in cold water while maintaining their antioxidant benefits, unlike beans roasted solely for taste.
Best brewing method and ratio
Start with 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight for a balanced concentrate. Grind to a coarse consistency and steep for 16 to 20 hours at room temperature. The beans’ uniform roast level produces predictable results, making your brewing process more consistent batch after batch.
Ideal drinkers and use cases
Health-focused coffee drinkers who want low-acid cold brew will appreciate this option. You’ll benefit most if you experience stomach issues with regular coffee or simply want to maximize the nutritional value of your daily caffeine. The clean flavor profile works equally well for black coffee or milk-based drinks.
Price and availability
Order directly from Purity Coffee’s website at approximately $26 per bag. Subscribe for regular deliveries and save 20% on each order, bringing the price down to around $21 per bag for ongoing supply.
4. Stone Street Cold Brew Reserve beans
Stone Street positions its Cold Brew Reserve as a Colombian Supremo specifically roasted for cold extraction. These beans come from Colombia’s highest-altitude regions, where larger bean size and slower maturation create denser coffee with more concentrated flavors. The roaster developed this product after recognizing that most coffee gets optimized for hot brewing, leaving cold brew enthusiasts without purpose-built options.
Flavor and roast profile
Your cup reveals deep chocolate notes with a smooth, full body that avoids the smokiness common in dark roasts. Colombian Supremo refers to the largest screen size in Colombian coffee grading, which typically correlates with better flavor development. The dark roast level brings out natural sweetness while maintaining the clean finish that makes Colombian coffee distinctive. Stone Street stops the roast before the beans develop burnt flavors, preserving the chocolate and caramel characteristics you want in cold brew concentrate.
Why it shines in cold brew
Dark roasted Colombian beans extract efficiently in cold water because their porous structure allows water to penetrate deeply during the long steep time. The Supremo grade means larger beans with more surface area for extraction, giving you a richer concentrate without extending your brewing time. This makes Stone Street among the best coffee beans for cold brew when you want consistent results without complicated adjustments to your brewing process.
The combination of Colombian origin and dark roast creates a concentrate that stays flavorful even after heavy dilution with ice or milk.
Best brewing method and ratio
Mix 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight for a standard concentrate. Grind the beans coarse and steep for 18 to 22 hours at room temperature or in your refrigerator. The uniform roast level produces reliable extraction across different brewing methods, whether you use a French press, jar, or dedicated cold brew maker.
Ideal drinkers and use cases
You’ll appreciate this option if you drink milk-based cold brew or prefer a bold flavor that cuts through sweeteners. The coffee works well for batch brewing since the concentrate maintains its character for up to two weeks refrigerated.
Price and availability
Purchase directly from Stone Street or through Amazon at approximately $16 to $20 per pound. The company offers both whole bean and pre-ground options, with the coarse grind ready for immediate cold brewing.
5. Volcanica Cold Brew Blend
This specialty blend combines Sumatra beans with a low-acid Arabica variety to create a purpose-built cold brew coffee. Volcanica Coffee roasts this blend to a medium level specifically for cold extraction, recognizing that cold brew requires different roasting decisions than hot brewing methods. The company sources beans from volcanic regions where mineral-rich soil produces coffee with distinctive flavor profiles and natural sweetness.
Flavor and roast profile
You’ll discover rich chocolate undertones balanced with earthy, full-bodied notes that come from the Sumatran component. The medium roast level preserves origin characteristics while developing enough caramelization for a sweet concentrate. Indonesian coffees naturally contain less acidity than African or Central American beans, making this blend smooth even before the cold brewing process further reduces acid content. The earthy notes add complexity without overwhelming the chocolate sweetness that defines good cold brew.
Why it shines in cold brew
Medium roasted blends extract more balanced flavor compounds during cold steeping compared to single-origin coffees that might taste one-dimensional. The Sumatra beans provide body and earthiness while the low-acid Arabica adds sweetness and smoothness. This combination creates a concentrate that tastes rich without bitterness, making Volcanica among the best coffee beans for cold brew when you want complexity without acidity.
The volcanic soil from both origins creates beans that extract evenly in cold water, giving you a consistent concentrate every time.
Best brewing method and ratio
Use 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight for a standard concentrate strength. Grind the beans to a coarse consistency and steep for 18 to 24 hours in your refrigerator. The longer steep time allows the Sumatran earthiness to fully develop while keeping the extraction smooth.
Ideal drinkers and use cases
You’ll appreciate this blend if you want cold brew with character beyond basic chocolate notes. The earthy profile works well for morning coffee when you need something substantial rather than bright.
Price and availability
Order directly from Volcanica Coffee’s website at approximately $38 for a 2-pound bag. The company ships whole beans only, requiring you to grind them at home for optimal freshness.
6. Bizzy Organic coarse ground cold brew
This pre-ground option removes the grinding barrier for cold brew beginners who lack equipment. Bizzy sources 100% organic Arabica beans from Guatemala, Peru, and Nicaragua, then roasts them to a medium level before grinding to the exact coarseness cold brewing requires. The company sifts out fine particles that cause over-extraction and sediment, leaving only the ideal grind size for clean extraction.
Flavor and roast profile
You’ll experience smooth, balanced sweetness with subtle chocolate notes that avoid the boldness of dark roasts. The medium roast preserves origin characteristics from all three Latin American sources, creating a blend that tastes well-rounded rather than one-dimensional. This roast level develops enough caramelization for cold brew while maintaining the natural sweetness that makes the final concentrate easy to drink without added sugar.
Why it shines in cold brew
Pre-ground coffee normally oxidizes quickly, but Bizzy’s specialized packaging preserves freshness for months. The coarse grind size extracts slowly and evenly during the long steep time, preventing the bitter compounds that ruin cold brew made with incorrectly ground beans. Removing fine particles means your concentrate stays cleaner without requiring paper filters or multiple straining steps. This makes Bizzy among the best coffee beans for cold brew when convenience matters as much as quality.
The sifted grounds eliminate sediment problems that plague homemade cold brew, giving you cafe-quality clarity without special equipment.
Best brewing method and ratio
Mix 2 scoops per 6 ounces of water for proper concentrate strength. Place the grounds in a mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or the included brew bags, then steep for 18 to 24 hours in your refrigerator. The extended time compensates for the coarse grind, ensuring full extraction.
Ideal drinkers and use cases
You’ll value this option if you want cold brew without buying a grinder or prefer consistent results without grinding variables. The brew bags option makes this perfect for travel or office brewing where equipment access is limited.
Price and availability
Purchase through Amazon at approximately $20 for a 12-ounce bag of pre-ground coffee or $15 for a pack of brew bags containing pre-measured portions. Both options ship with Prime eligibility for quick delivery.
7. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe single origin beans
This single-origin option delivers a radically different cold brew experience from the chocolate-forward profiles that dominate this list. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans come from high-altitude regions in southern Ethiopia where the birthplace of coffee produces beans with bright, complex flavors. Most roasters offer Yirgacheffe as a light to medium roast, preserving the delicate fruit and floral notes that make Ethiopian coffee distinctive. You get a cold brew that tastes more like tea than traditional coffee concentrate.
Flavor and roast profile
Your palate encounters vibrant blueberry and citrus notes paired with floral jasmine undertones that reflect the bean’s African origin. Light to medium roasting preserves these delicate characteristics, creating a flavor profile that tastes nothing like dark roast concentrate. The natural processing method common in Ethiopia adds wine-like complexity and pronounced fruit sweetness that cold brewing enhances rather than diminishes. This roast level maintains higher acidity than darker options, but cold extraction mellows it into a bright rather than sharp quality.
Why it shines in cold brew
Cold water extraction preserves the volatile aromatic compounds that heat destroys in Ethiopian beans. The extended steep time allows the fruit and floral notes to develop fully without extracting the bitter tannins that light roasts can release during hot brewing. This creates a concentrate that tastes clean and refreshing, making Ethiopian Yirgacheffe among the best coffee beans for cold brew when you want something completely different from standard chocolate profiles.
Light roasted Ethiopian beans produce a cold brew that converts tea drinkers into coffee enthusiasts with its delicate, fruit-forward character.
Best brewing method and ratio
Use 1 part coffee to 7 parts water by weight for proper extraction strength. Grind to a medium-coarse consistency and steep for 14 to 16 hours in your refrigerator. The shorter time prevents over-extraction of delicate compounds that turn bitter with extended contact.
Ideal drinkers and use cases
You’ll prefer this option if you drink your cold brew black without additions that would mask the subtle fruit notes. Coffee drinkers who enjoy light, refreshing beverages and want to explore specialty coffee will appreciate this dramatically different cold brew experience.
Price and availability
Purchase Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from specialty roasters at approximately $18 to $25 per pound. Amazon carries several reputable brands, though buying directly from roasters ensures the freshest beans for optimal flavor preservation.
Final thoughts
You now have seven proven options for the best coffee beans for cold brew, each serving different taste preferences and brewing goals. Dark roasts like Menehune Coffee’s Kona beans and Stone Street’s Colombian Supremo create bold, chocolate-forward concentrates that hold up to milk and sweeteners. Medium roasts and lighter options like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe deliver bright, fruit-forward profiles perfect for black cold brew. Pre-ground choices like Bizzy remove the equipment barrier while specialty blends from Volcanica and Purity offer unique combinations of flavor and function.
Your next batch starts with choosing beans that match how you drink cold brew. Pick dark roasts for milk drinks, medium roasts for balanced cups, or light roasts for adventurous flavor exploration. Grind coarse, steep long, and adjust your ratios until you find your perfect concentrate strength.
Ready to experience authentic Hawaiian cold brew? Shop our 100% Kona Coffee and taste the difference volcanic soil makes in every smooth, sweet sip.