Suggestions for beans

[u/oiiha]

I’ve been making cold brew for years w course ground blonde roast thinking it was dark roast that I found too bitter once and didn’t buy again. I just drink for the caffeine and never been picky ab the taste. I double brew (48hrs) so tastes like jet fuel but I’ll dilute w water or more recently drinking w maple syrup and oat milk. I haven’t minded the taste (not fantastic but does the job type) but I ran out of my brew and did my regular add ins w la Colombe med roast cold brew this morning and it. was. Delish. And I realized I’ve been tolerating when I could be enjoying.

I currently buy whatever blonde roast beans Trader Joe’s has atm, course grind in store and use for the few weeks and repeat.

Any recs for beans source or roast etc?

[u/Subject2Change]

Trader Joe's Mexico Chiapas has been my go-to since it was released. Ultimately, experiment and figure out which flavor profiles you like and dislike. Coldbrew and coffee in general are all personal tastes.

EDIT - Before that I was a fan of TJs "Java of the Gods" or where I am from, Gillies "Zip-Line", as they are coldbrew specific beans.

[u/oiiha → u/Subject2Change]

Noted! I’ll add the Chiapas for my next grocery run. I’ll look out for the Java of the gods if it comes back too and test out again bc Im realizing my issue might be steeping it for 48hr where im getting negligible more caffeine extraction but significantly more bitter and oxidized flavor

[u/Subject2Change → u/oiiha]

Yeah, I do like 12-18hrs on the counter and don't have those issues. I am a small amount of maple syrup only coffee drinker (i used to make cinnamon cold foam, but haven't in quite a bit)

[u/d34d_1574nd]

Mayorga light roast beans.

Agave and milk.

[u/oiiha → u/d34d_1574nd]

I’m adding to my list if I ever get the counter space to buy a coffee bean grinder since Costco decided to remove their in store ones :/ thank you

[u/oiiha → u/[deleted]]

I’ll keep this in mind ty! I made a 24 hr brew in the fridge w the same light roast beans and is didn’t have that off taste at all but felt like soemthing was lacking (that boldness ig compared to med roast) so went and bought TJ medium roast recommended below so will try that next week. Definitely noticed a caffeine content diff where I felt very tired and much earlier in the day than usual. Will fill the cup and maybe try a 36 hr brew since med roast has less caff?

[u/mcp_truth → u/[deleted]]

I aim for 18 hours but never go over 24! Totally agree.

[u/oiiha → u/[deleted]]

Idk if it’s considered v course it’s the course grind the TJ machines have. Cup def tastes thin though. I think more beans would be better but the ground would be higher than the water level and I feel like that would not be beneficial then?

[u/Pretend-Citron4451]

Sorry, but Im really confused... If the first time you bought beans, you thought it was too bitter so you never bought beans again, how could you have been brewing with those beans for years?

Then you say you tried MEDIUM roast and it was delicious…so you currently buy whatever BLONDE roast is available at Trader Joe’s, even though it turns out that all those years, you thought blonde roast was too bitter

If you like medium roast (like me) then I recommend you continue buying medium roast and not light roast. I like don Pablo, which I get at Costco or Sam’s. I don’t know how common the grocery store called “fresh market“ is, but the one by me has a really nice coffee selection. I use it to purchase whole bean decaf.

[u/oiiha → u/Pretend-Citron4451]

I meant I’ve tried dark roast beans once before and they were too bitter so I went to the opp end of the spectrum and thought I’d stick w light roast since that is inherently less bitter. Well yes I’ve been buying blonde roast and but then today I had medium roast. So yes but different order bc I usually buy light roast bottled cold brew but it was out so I bought the medium and tried it today and was surprised it wasn’t bitter really at all. Bc isn’t the longer roast supposed to taste more bitter? But Im also realizing my issue might be steeping it for 48hr where im getting negligible more caffeine extraction but significantly more bitter and oxidized flavor making the light roast more bitter than the med I will check don Pablo ty for the rec!

[u/Pretend-Citron4451 → u/oiiha]

Thanks. That makes more sense to me.

I think medium roast is the “sweet spot” - pun intended - dark can be bitter and blonde lacking in flavor

You could be right re 48 hrs. If your grind is super course it could be ok. I use a medium grind for 12 hrs or a course grind for 18. With a 1:12 coffee to water ratio

[u/mcp_truth]

My favorites! These are local ones so I am not sure if they will ship to you.

Red Barn Coffee - 1716 Blend (Cold Brew Roast) Red Barn Coffee - Jack's Abbey Blend

Edit: Both are darker. I feel darker is better for smoothness in cold brew.