What makes a coffee good for cold brew

Cold water extracts acids and aromatics slowly and incompletely, so cold brew tastes smoother, sweeter and flatter than hot coffee from the same beans. Coffees with natural sweetness and body – Brazilian naturals for chocolate and nut, African naturals and honeys for fruit – keep their character best. Our cold brew buyer's guide has a full brewing walkthrough.

Roasting for cold brew

Most roasters go medium to medium-dark for cold brew, because without heat a light roast can taste thin and grassy. Fruit-forward naturals can stay a little lighter if you want a fruitier result. Grind coarse and steep for roughly 12–18 hours.

Cold brew vs other immersion methods

Cold brew is the gentlest immersion method. For hot immersion with more body, see French press; for a cleaner, faster cup, see Aeropress.

Green Coffee Beans for Cold Brew

Unroasted green coffee for cold brew. A long, cold steep pulls out sweetness and body but very little acidity, so these lots are chosen for chocolate, nut and fruit that survive without heat – natural Brazils and Ugandans, fruity Kenyan and Rwandan coffees, and honeys for a rounder cup. Buy from 0.5kg with samples on most lots – and for a fruit-forward cold brew, try our Rwandan green coffee beans. Not sure which suits your brew? Compare them across our green coffee beans. Looking for roasted coffee? These are raw beans you roast yourself – here's how to start.

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Your guide to Green Coffee Beans for Cold Brew

What makes a coffee good for cold brew
Cold water extracts acids and aromatics slowly and incompletely, so cold brew tastes smoother, sweeter and flatter than hot coffee from the same beans. Coffees with natural sweetness and body – Brazilian naturals for chocolate and nut, African naturals and honeys for fruit – keep their character best. Our cold brew buyer's guide has a full brewing walkthrough.
Roasting for cold brew
Most roasters go medium to medium-dark for cold brew, because without heat a light roast can taste thin and grassy. Fruit-forward naturals can stay a little lighter if you want a fruitier result. Grind coarse and steep for roughly 12–18 hours.
Cold brew vs other immersion methods
Cold brew is the gentlest immersion method. For hot immersion with more body, see French press; for a cleaner, faster cup, see Aeropress.

Other options to explore

Green Coffee Beans for Pour Over
Delicate, high-acidity green coffees that shine in pour over brews with clarity and elegance.
Green Coffee Beans for Aeropress
Green coffees that bring out the Aeropress’s best – fuller body, deep sweetness, and complexity.
Green Coffee Beans for Fruity Filter Coffee
Fruit-driven green coffees with bright acidity and sweetness, selected for standout performance in filter brewing.
Kenyan Green Coffee Beans
Distinctive Kenyan coffees with juicy acidity, refined structure, and strong regional and varietal character.
Rwandan Green Coffee Beans
Rwandan coffees with bright acidity and balance, shaped by smallholders and a national push for quality.
Green Coffee Beans for Black Espresso
Green coffees that stand out on their own – bold, sweet, complex, and full of character.

Your questions, answered

What are the best green coffee beans for cold brew?

Sweet, full-bodied lots – natural Brazils and Ugandans for chocolate and nut, African naturals and honeys for fruit.

What roast level is best for cold brew?

Usually medium to medium-dark. Light roasts can taste thin without heat, though fruity naturals can work a shade lighter.

Can you make cold brew from unroasted green coffee beans?

Not in the usual sense. Cold brew coffee is made from roasted, ground beans. Steeping raw green beans gives a grassy, tea-like drink that tastes nothing like coffee.

Do fruity coffees work for cold brew?

Yes – natural process lots from Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia can make a vivid, berry-led cold brew. Bright washed coffees tend to lose more.

Do you offer samples or trial batches before committing to larger orders?

Yes, we offer samples for most of our coffees. If you need a larger sample than what’s typically available, we recommend trying one of the smaller quantity options listed on our site. That way, you can test the coffee before committing to a larger order.

What sizes or quantities can I order?

All our green coffee beans come in 0.5kg, 1kg and 5kg bags. Approved wholesale accounts can also order 10kg and 20kg at lower per-kilo prices, and for full sacks or anything larger, just get in touch – we'll help you put a custom order together.

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Looking to make a saving?

Your guide to Green Coffee Beans for Cold Brew

What makes a coffee good for cold brew

Roasting for cold brew

Cold brew vs other immersion methods

Other options to explore

Green Coffee Beans for Pour Over

Green Coffee Beans for Aeropress

Green Coffee Beans for Fruity Filter Coffee

Kenyan Green Coffee Beans

Rwandan Green Coffee Beans

Green Coffee Beans for Black Espresso

Your questions, answered

What are the best green coffee beans for cold brew?

What roast level is best for cold brew?

Can you make cold brew from unroasted green coffee beans?

Do fruity coffees work for cold brew?

Do you offer samples or trial batches before committing to larger orders?

What sizes or quantities can I order?

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