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One of the best things about summer is the fact that you can drink iced coffee again without freezing your butt off. Years ago, you might have had to trek to the nearest gourmet coffee shop to get your cold brew fix, but not anymore. Now, it’s easier than ever to get your hands on legit cold brews and iced coffees, because many popular brands from around the country sell it by the bottle right at your local supermarket. Basically, you can enjoy iced treats from famed coffee makers like Stumptown or Blue Bottle—without having to wait in long, long lines like Stumptown or Blue Bottle.
There are so many iced coffees on the market now that it’s not always clear which ones are worth grabbing. Lindsey Pine, M.S., R.D., owner of Tasty Balance Nutrition, tells SELF that sweetened sweetened iced coffees usually contain more sugar than you might add yourself, so you’re better off sticking with unsweetened versions (and lightly sweetening them yourself, if you’re so inclined). Amy Gorin, M.S., R.D.N., owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition, points out that bottled or canned iced coffees that contain milk can be a good choice, since milk adds a little protein while cutting bitterness. Additionally, she says that caffeine content is something to keep in mind. “You want to aim to keep your daily caffeine intake at no more than 400 milligrams a day,” she explains, “and this can add up really quickly with cold brew coffee!” An 8-ounce cup of coffee usually has about 95 milligrams of caffeine, but a lot of cold brews are sold in a concentrated form that needs to be diluted with water. Make sure you’re reading labels and not accidentally taking in way more caffeine than you think.
Registered dietitians know all the ins and outs of iced coffee, because they love it just as much as we do. These 10 store-bought options are the ones they rely on to stay cool and energized when it’s hot out.
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Courtesy of Blue Bottle Coffee1 Blue Bottle Cold Brew
Abbey Sharp, dietitian and blogger at Abbey’s Kitchen, has always envied people who live near Blue Bottle stores because she loves their cold brew so much, but now she doesn’t have to. You can find these cold brew cans at Whole Foods or Safeway, or you can even buy them online. The brew inside is simply made from coffee beans steeped in water, and it’s not concentrated so you don’t even need to dilute it. Just crack it open and enjoy.
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Courtesy of Rise Brewing Co.2 Rise Brewing Co. Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
The difference between a traditional cold brew and a nitro cold brew all comes down to pressure. The latter is pressurized, which gives it a foamy head and makes it taste creamier. Gorin loves that it has a naturally creamy taste without any creamers, but she warns to keep an eye on how many you drink as each contains 200 milligrams of caffeine—half the daily recommend limit.
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Courtesy of Lucky Jack Coffee3 Lucky Jack Old School Nitro Cold Brew
“I like that the ingredients list [for this] is so short,” says Gorin. The same is true of Lucky Jack’s other coffee products too. All are either purely coffee and water, or lightly sweetened with cane sugar or artificial sweeteners like Stevia.
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Courtesy of La Colombe4 La Colombe Draft Latte
“If you’re in the mood for an iced latte, La Colombe’s draft latte is delicious and creamy without any added sugar,” Pine explains. “You’ll even get 7 grams of protein from one can. If I want to treat myself with a coffee, this is what I buy.”
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Courtesy of Stumptown Coffee Roasters5 Stumptown Cold Brew Coffee
Pine says that even though there’s no sugar in this coffee, it has a naturally sweeter taste because of the way it’s brewed. “Perfect if you need just a tiny bit of sweet, but don’t want the sugar,” she explains.
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Courtesy of Grady’s Cold Brew6 Grady’s New Orleans-Style Cold Brew Concentrate
New Orleans-style coffee is made from coffee beans and chicory, which lends the end product an earthy, nutty flavor. Since this version is concentrated, Gorin warns that you’ll want to be follow the instructions on the bottle to make sure you dilute it properly. Otherwise you might end up very caffeinated.
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Courtesy of Starbucks7 Starbucks Cold Brew
According to Sharp, the best thing about this cold brew is that it’s available at almost any supermarket—Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, you name it. And unlike many of famously sweet pre-packaged Starbucks options, this one is made with just water and coffee.
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Courtesy of Califia Farms8 Pure Black Cold Brew Coffee
In addition to this pure cold brew, Pine also enjoys Califia’s sweetened options, because she says they have way less sugar than most sweetened coffee products—only about 7 grams per 12-ounce serving.
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Chameleon Cold Brew9 Chameleon Ready to Enjoy Black Coffee
“As a black coffee drinker myself,” says Pine, “the quality of Chameleon’s cold brew is fantastic.” She also likes that it’s made from organic, ethically-sourced beans, and that it has a subtle sweetness without any added sugar.
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Courtesy of Amazon10 Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
You get a lot of bang for your buck with this Trader Joe’s product, because it’s super concentrated. Be sure to follow the instructions on the back of the bottle, which instruct you to combine one part coffee concentrate with two parts milk or water.
