23 Store-Bought Iced Coffees, Ranked Worst To Best

Taking a break from Starbucks or Dunkin' runs? Whether you want to be more aware of the ingredients in your coffee or just want to keep some iced coffee stocked for a treat, your local grocery store is likely offers tons of tasty options for your coffee cravings. With dozens of different brands and flavors to choose from, it can be tough — and expensive — to sniff out your favorites.

What about when you're just looking for a simple, ready-made iced coffee? Some varieties are cold brew, which is coffee grounds steeped for an extended amount of time in cold water. Some are iced cafe lattes, which is espresso and milk, and some are just regular, old brewed coffee that's been chilled — or combined with milk, cream, and flavor. 

Don't let yourself spin out in the aisle! We tried 23 grocery store iced coffees so you don't have to. We found some new favorites, revisited some classics, and even tried one or two that turned our stomachs. Here's the rundown of what we'll be putting in our carts again and what we'll leave to collect dust on the shelves. 

The PurAqua sparkling coffee-flavored water is more of an honorable mention in this ranking of grocery shelf iced coffees, since it fits the taste bill but not the chemistry. However, if true coffee gives you heartburn, upsets your stomach, or otherwise causes you grief, this water could be a way to get the cafe taste without paying the price. The PurAqua water, an Aldi product, is scarcely caffeinated with just 3.13 milligrams per fluid ounce, according to its packaging. No caffeine jitters here.

We were expecting a weak, thin coffee flavor. But, PurAqua was surprisingly intense and even, somehow, had a milky, caramel-like flavor — sort of like what you'd taste three hours after finishing a caramel macchiato from Starbucks but without the dairy or the calories. If it's a creamy coffee beverage you want, though, you could pour this in a glass with a splash of cream for an Italian soda version of an iced latte. 

The time has finally come that we voluntarily didn't finish a coffee. Maybe it was the collagen, MCT oil, or butter that Bulletproof coffee added into its Cold Brew Latte, but we think something in this drink went awfully wrong. As aficionados of black coffee in all its forms, we understand that coffee in its purest form can sometimes be quite bitter. For some — like us — this taste is easy to become acclimated to and appreciate over time, but this latte's bitterness flooded our tastebuds. This canned iced coffee was difficult to savor a sip long enough to get any flavor notes ... besides, maybe, jet fuel. 

What's worse is the texture of the canned Bulletproof cold brew, likely due to the butter and the MCT oil, which is a coconut-derived oil that is very high in saturated fats. This coffee's greasy and slick, seen in the way it slides down the glass we poured it in. 

The claims and anecdotes behind Bulletproof coffee are well understood. But if you want a keto-friendly coffee to kick-start your morning, we recommend half-and-half or, even better for a keto-friendly butter replacement, a heavy whipping cream-based drink. Maybe we got a bad can, but if you'd really like to give Bulletproof a go, try one of its flavored vanilla or dark chocolate versions. Be advised: Bulletproof Cold Brew Latte has 167 milligrams of caffeine in each 8-ounce can — about 20.5 miligrams per ounce. 

Bold and unique, citrusy and almost berry-like in flavor, the Java Monster Cold Brew Nitro-Infused Coffee is one of those drinks that you're either going to love or hate. Monster uses a medium roast for this brew, so it has that hint of smokiness and touch of brightness. Because of its name, we were expecting a sugary coffee, but the sweetness was pleasantly mild, allowing for a full-bodied coffee flavor.

However, we were unimpressed with Java Monster's nitro claims. Placed against other leading nitrogen-infused cold brews, the Sweet Black Cold Brew does not have any of the creaminess that coffee lovers know and expect from nitro, even in the absence of dairy. In fact, when we poured this coffee into a glass, we noticed bubbles and fizzling like a carbonated drink, and no frothy head typical of a nitro-infused drink. 

Despite the anticlimactic texture, the flavor of this coffee is unique and complex. Java Monster packs 14.81 milligrams of caffeine into each fluid ounce of this cold brew, according to its label — and the Monster Energy website claims the drink is made with "a full load of our legendary energy blend" as well — so we recommend this coffee for the third-shifters, midnight-oil-burners, and sleep-is-for-the-weakers. 

We were skeptical about this one. We love mushrooms in dishes like moo goo gai pan and on top of our steaks ... but in coffee? That's a new level. We decided some research was in order before snagging the Odyssey Mushroom Elixir Cold Brew Oat Latte. A study in the National Library of Medicine states that medicinal mushrooms like the Cordyceps and Lion's Mane — both of which are in Odyssey's cold brew oat latte — are regarded as "antibacterial immune system enhancers and cholesterol lowering agents." Which is all well and great, but is the latte good?

Despite giving the can a good shake, this drink quickly showed some separation after we poured it, as visible in the picture. We were worried what this meant about the drink's texture, but it was surprisingly smooth. Taste-wise, Odyssey's Mushroom Elixir could pass as a mushroom-free cold brew oat latte. The coffee and oat milk were well-balanced, and the drink was slightly sweet. 

We had no complaints about this drink's flavor, and at just 11.49 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce, it falls in the middle of the road for caffeination. However, the mushrooms might cause some stomach upset if you're not used to medicinal supplements; on your first time trying this latte, proceed with caution if you think your might be sensitive. 

Trader Joe's makes a great affordable cold brew. The Trader Joe's Organic Cold Brew Coffee Nitrogen-Infused is made with a pure Arabica blend that tastes plummy and berry-like. This light roast is perfect for coffee drinkers that find darker brews to be bitter. The nitro pour was anticlimactic, however, with a paper-thin foam forming after pouring. We also have a grievance with TJ's pull-tab cap on this bottle. Maybe it was just user error, or maybe we got a bad bottle in the batch, but this pull tab did not come off nearly as easy as other bottled cold brews reviewed here. We spilled some coffee just in the process of trying to get the bottle open. 

This coffee also seemed a bit weak or watered down. We expected a much stronger coffee from a pure cold brew, especially since the packaging claims to add espresso, technically elevating this cold brew into somewhat of an iced version of a red-eye which, by definition, is one of the different types of coffee that should be very strong. If it's only flavor in consideration, though, Trader Joe's is a great performer. Despite its underwhelming pour, the nitro-infused cold brew was smooth and silky. 

Disclosure of caffeine content does not seem to be available for Trader Joe's products, so please proceed with this beverage with caution — cold brew and espresso together could make for an intense caffeine kick. 

Starbucks has a large offering of bottled and canned iced coffee drinks. The bottled Starbucks Frappuccino plain coffee flavor is a sweet and creamy iced coffee. We enjoy many other popular Starbucks drinks, but this one falls lower on our list of favorites. The coffee taste in this one is very weak (probably because there is no espresso or cold brew) and an astounding 34 grams of added sugar. At just a quarter of the way through the can, the sweetness had become exhausting. While the Starbucks Frappuccino coffee flavor does have the slightest discernible hint of coffee, we were disappointed that the flavor was all but erased — this one would have been more appropriately named sweet cream.  

If you like milk and sugar with just a splash of coffee, we think you'll like this one. Its dessert-like taste will yield you 300 calories, if that is something you are concerned about. The bottled Frappuccino comes in three other standard flavors: caramel, vanilla, and mocha, but Starbucks will release new Frappuccino flavors on occasion. This Starbucks drink is lower in caffeine at 8.03 milligrams per fluid ounce. 

Standalone coconut cream does not seem to be popular in the coffee world, but Trader Joe's has made a noble attempt at creating a vegan coconut latte. This dairy-free Cold Brew Coconut Cream Latte is very mild and palatable in flavor. Even without mocha or any other taste additions, the coconut is a great companion to the cold brew. 

Coconut cream is a vegan half-and-half substitute because it contains 19 to 22% fat. So, this canned iced coffee contains some of the silky smoothness we appreciate in a creamy beverage; although, it was still thinner and more watery than we'd hoped. Trader Joe's cold brew is made with Arabica beans, giving it the trademark sweet and fruity flavor we expect. Overall, this coconut latte is balanced, if not a bit underwhelming. If you prefer coconut mochas, simply pour it into a glass with your favorite sauce or syrup — or you can hunt for the other flavor of this drink, the Caramel Spice Coconut Cream Latte. 

Unfortunately, the caffeine disclosure for this latte could not be found on the packaging or online, so those who are highly sensitive to caffeine may want to be careful with this one.

Cheers to Chobani for offering a sorta-sweet, kinda coffee-ish drink for those of us that want a little bit of everything. We know what you're thinking: Chobani, the Greek yogurt people? If you haven't noticed Chobani ready-to-drink coffees on your grocery store shelves yet, it may be because the drinks just launched in 2021(via CNBC). Chobani's Arabica cold brew is shy and mild, so the Chobani Cold Brew Coffee with Sweet Creamer is creamy, easy to drink with enough sugar to turn down the coffee volume.

The sweet cream is the predominant taste at first drink, but the medium roast Arabica will eventually announce its presence in the aftertaste. Overall, the cold brew latte is balanced in flavor, if perhaps a bit boring after a while. It could easily be spiced up with a dash of cinnamon, caramel, or coffee syrup flavoring — we'd suggest raspberry and white mocha together. If this one is too sweet for your liking, Chobani also offers pure black cold brew and oat milk cold brew. With prices for 32 ounces comparable for a single drink at Starbucks, we might try them all.

There is no caffeine disclosure on the container, but according to the brand's site, Chobani Cold Brew Coffee with Sweet Creamer is only mildly caffeinated at 7.08 milligrams per fluid ounce — or a standard 85 milligrams per serving — for those who appreciate a gentler kick in the morning.

Smooth and citrusy, Chameleon Cold-Brew Organic Black Coffee is as robust as a cold brew and as gentle on the palate as a regular brewed coffee. We picked up cherry and white wine, followed by the faintest hint of graham cracker. Chameleon uses either a full city roast or medium roast for this brew, which is owed credit for its dynamic flavor. 

Does Chameleon hold up to other cold brews like Stumptown and Rise? We think it vies for a close and well-deserved third place among the three. This silky, low-acidity brew is really good, but we had to hunt for the flavors in Chameleon's drink, whereas the notes in Rise and Stumptown bottled iced coffees blossomed instantly. While Chameleon bottled cold brew not as complex as its two competitors, this is a high-caliber cold brew through the quality of its speciality-grade, USDA Organic beans. Pacemakers beware: the 10-ounce bottle of cold brew offers 23 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce, according to Coffee Affection. 

A cousin to the plain 'bold and smooth' beverage, the SToK Not Too Sweet Cold Brew Coffee is still smooth with caramel notes, but a bit flat and weak on the coffee side. A total of 12 grams of sugar per serving give this cold brew its "not too sweet" status, as a counteraction to the medium roast. This brew is pleasant on its own over ice, but SToK's coffees are great building blocks for people who love dressing up their coffee with syrups, sauces, milk, or some creamy foam (which is our favorite with the SToK Not Too Sweet). 

However, if we are going to stock a cold brew by the jug in our home kitchen, we'd rather it be Califia. SToK's brews seem to lack some of the complexity that makes a quality coffee interesting, even though it gets the job done when mixed. This cold brew also contains the same amount of caffeine as the unsweet bold and smooth — around 10.8 milligrams per fluid ounce (via Amazon). 

Have you ever wondered what a protein shake tastes like in iced coffee form? That's what it feels like to drink a can of Kitu Coconut Mocha Super Coffee. This drink is packed with supplemental benefits: 10 grams of plant protein, no added sugars, and MCT oil. While the can's packaging makes no mention of being vegan, it is plant-based and dairy-free, making Kitu a great option for those with dietary restrictions. 

However, if you are strict in your preferences of only wanting traditionally-tasting coffee, you will not like the taste of Kitu. The undeniable yet indescribable taste of protein powder (Kitu uses pea protein) is strong. Also, the coconut flavor is drowned out by the protein, and the mocha is on the bitter side. The iced coffee is not a strong flavor player in this beverage. Overall though, the drink is pleasantly sweet thanks to the added monk fruit. 

Some diets call for packing in as much protein as you can find. If that's how you roll, Kitu's iced coffee may suit you. But, if you drink coffee for other reasons, you may not enjoy this one. It packs a punch, too — you'll get 18.18 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce, according to the product's packaging. 

Regular coffee drinkers may find it annoying to keep a bunch of individual bottles on hand for their daily java fix. SToK is one of many ready-made coffee brands to remedy that by offering cold brew by the jug for around $5 at most grocers like Target. This brand caters to many coffee palates, offering a bright and mellow light roast, a bold and smooth medium roast, an extra-bold dark roast, as well as a sweetened option. 

SToK steeps its grounds for less time than other brands — 10 hours, whereas cold brew typically steeps 12 or 24 hours. Its flavor is not remarkably unique and its mouthfeel is not particularly smooth, indicative that the filtration for this brand may be of a lower caliber than competitors. SToK's bold and smooth brew is still plenty enjoyable with a robust coffee taste and slight caramel note. If you're looking for a moderately caffeinated, affordable cold brew, SToK's coffee will do with 12.08 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce. 

This brand is truly a maker of classic, high-standard cold brew. The Lucky Jack Old School Nitro Cold Brew is vibrant and bright with strong notes of caramel and chocolate. It's also a full city roast, arguably the perfect degree to which coffee beans should be roasted. When poured, this nitro-infused cold brew produced a beautiful, buoyant froth.

Lucky Jack's cold brew has a touch of citrusy overtones, but not strong enough for us to believe it's a 100% Arabica roast, and a peek at the brand's roasting claims confirms that Lucky Jack sources a blend from high-altitude climates all around the world. Leaving coffee beans to ripen slowly at high climates, in full shade, or both, makes significant impacts on the flavor, body, and depth as they have more time to mature before harvest. 

For a cold brew purist, Lucky Jack's black old-school brew will be easily enjoyable from the first frothy sip to the last. However, if strong coffee isn't your favorite, give this cold brew a healthy dollop of half-and-half and liquid cane syrup. The flavor will still shine, but it will be softened through the lens of the syrup. Lucky Jack offers 26.67 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce, says the brand. 

We were excited to try the Black Stag Iced Vanilla Latte because of its proud claim to contain 40% less sugar than its leading competitor of comparable size. While the leading brand was not disclosed, we assumed Starbucks for argument's sake. We looked up the nutritional information of the Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccino bottle, which contains 3.35 grams of sugar per ounce. Black Stag Iced Vanilla Latte, on the other hand, contains around 2 grams per fluid ounce — the claims are true. 

However, don't think you'll be getting a lightly-sweetened latte with this one. The drink is still very sweet. The strong Arabica roast negates some of the sugary flavor, but coffee drinkers without a sweet tooth still might have a hard time stomaching the whole bottle. The vanilla flavor, sadly, was bulldozed. 

Black Stag might have the perfect amount of sweetness for you, though. In that case, try the brand's other flavors, but expect no all-nighters from Black Stag Iced Coffee — it contains a modest 5.5 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce. 

Now here is a classic nitrogen cold brew. At the first crack of opening a Ferris Coffee Co. Single Origin Cold Brew, the nitro-infused drink bubbles and foams, alluding to the smooth and rich texture of the coffee inside. Ferris' nitro cold brew comes with instant-infusing widgets, which burst with nitrogen when you open the drink. This brand doesn't disclose where its single-origin roast is grown, but the quality of the one-source bean is evident through the brew's delightfully sophisticated flavor. 

At first drink, we are greeted with a citrus flavor, but it was the undercurrents of caramel and nuttiness that convinced us to stay. Creating a palatable black coffee is a basic technique. Creating a black coffee that is intricate and multi-flavored without the aid of any cream, sugar, or flavors is a craft. This is a cold brew that can be thoroughly enjoyed all on its own — adding creamer would feel like putting ketchup on a fillet. 

As much as we love Ferris' creation here, we must warn you to beware of the caffeine content. Do not be fooled by this humble little 10-ounce can. According to Ferris, it picks nearly 20 milligrams of caffeine into every fluid ounce. Proceed with caution, or with plans to occupy your night, because you won't be sleeping. 

Iced mochas are plenty common on grocery store shelves, but iced mochas that are more coffee-forward than sweet, are not. For this reason, we are in love with the simple can of La Colombe's Mocha Draft Latte. The cold brew packs a strong coffee kick, which is mellowed out by the nitrous-infused milk, and offers a lovely undercurrent of mocha, where the cocoa flavor is allowed to shine unhindered by heaps of sugar. 

If you prefer a whisper of coffee and loads of other flavors, this drink may not be sweet enough for you. The latte is miles from bitter, but it presents all three components: strong coffee, rich mocha, and creamy milk, all on an equal playing field. The texture is also frothy and smooth with a mouthfeel like chocolate milk. This La Colombe's canned iced latte contains 12.8 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce, according to its 9-ounce label.

Not a fan of mocha? La Colombe offers this iced latte in vanilla, caramel, and unflavored, as well. La Colombe makes dairy-free iced coffee, so intolerant coffee lovers of the world are welcomed to enjoy this brand too. La Colombe sources its coffee beans ethically, from all over the world, paying above Fair Trade wages and as an organic-certified coffee producer.

Rise Brewing Co. knows how to make a darn good nitro cold brew. Rise's Nitro Cold Brew canned iced coffee easily competes with nitro coffee on draft. As soon as the nitrogen widget bursts, the coffee froths and rises for a creamy head. At first drink, we noted hints of caramel and then, as the coffee bloomed on our palate, an undeniable cocoa flavor indicative of a full city roast. We estimate, based on this tasting, that Rise Brewing Co. roasts its beans just a few ticks beyond medium roast, but not quite to a dark roast stage, giving its coffee beans a flavor that is both emboldened and shyly sweet. 

We recommend Rise's cold brew for coffee drinkers that don't enjoy the tangy citrus bite of a light roast, nor the earthy smokiness of a dark roast. Falling in a happy medium, this cold brew is spirited without crossing into offensive. This canned iced coffee will hold up to cream or flavor add-ins while maintaining its personality or, for all the black coffee babes, just crack the can and pour into a tall glass to watch its frothy head blossom. 

This nitro cold brew may be one of the best store-bought iced coffees in our lineup, but monitor your intake wisely. Rise Brewing's Nitro Cold Brew contains 25.71 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce and is typically sold in 7-ounce cans. It's also USDA-certified organic.

In a world dominated by the nitro trend, who doesn't appreciate a good, classic, non-infused cold brew? Thanks to Chameleon Organic Cold-Brew Vanilla Coffee, we get just that. Without the nitrogen texture or foaminess, we get to focus entirely on this iced coffee's flavor here, which is bold and punchy, followed by the robust wave of vanilla. We appreciated the touch of sugar that Chameleon put in this coffee. Plus, 10 ounces of this store-bought cold brew can be difficult to drink for some, and this vanilla coffee is ideal for people who have a hard time enjoying straight black coffee. The slight sweetness softens the coffee well, but this low-acidity roast is already smoother than many other varieties.

Between its heady vanilla flavor and top-notch coffee beans, Chameleon's cold brew is high caliber. And at 23 milligrams of caffeine for each fluid ounce, it'll keep you going from sunrise to sunset (via Coffee Affection). 

The taste of the Caribou Coffee Caramel Crafted Cold Brew can only be described as surprising. The standard expectation of a caramel artisan coffee is sweet, creamy, and decadent — and this coffee shattered expectations. The Caribou brew was barely sweetened, letting the natural caramel flavor shine through without being bogged down. 

This Caribou canned iced coffee uses demerara sugar for its additive, and this raw, minimally-processed sugar is perfect for softening coffee without overloading it. Caribou's cold brew tastes like a medium roast: smokier and earthier than the roasts used in other cold brews we've reviewed. We loved this caramel cold brew, but the intense taste, almost like coffee liqueur, definitely isn't for everyone. But, if a not-so-sweet, authentic strong caramel brew is the one for you, you'll enjoy a moderate 15.39 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce in this artfully crafted canned coffee. Or, look out for the brand's other canned cold brew in plain black. 

While a far cry from a traditional macchiato, the International Delight Caramel Macchiato Iced Coffee is a sweet coffee lovers' heaven. This beverage is remarkably smooth, likely because of the brand's proud claim to use real milk and cream. Packaged in a 64-ounce carton, International Delight makes enjoying a specialty coffee drink daily more affordable than cracking an artisan canned latte every morning. 

However, this iced coffee is just a few steps shy of actually being iced caramel-flavored milk. International Delight uses Arabica coffee beans, known for being mild and light. This drink is truly caramel's party, and coffee is just the guest. So, if a stronger store-bought iced coffee is what you're looking for, International Delight is not the brand for you. But, for all the sweet-tooth-havers out there, you'll enjoy every last drop of this creamy, caramel goodness.

With how affordable this coffee is and how much many coffee lovers appreciate sweet, easily-palatable specialty drinks, we just couldn't bear to take away any more points from this brand. We couldn't locate caffeine information on the carton, but Caffeine Informer says that International Delight contains around 7.33 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce. But don't worry, if the relatively low caffeine content of this iced coffee doesn't give you a buzz, the sugar content sure will. 

High Brew Coffee joins us from Austin, Texas, with this balanced and bright cold brew. The High Brew Mexican Vanilla canned coffee is hearty and potent, harmonizing perfectly with the cane sugar, to create a moderately sweet and dynamically flavored brew. High Brew contains only a splash of reduced-fat milk, so it's one of the less creamy coffees we've tried here. You can easy amp it up by pouring this brew into a glass with more milk or cream. 

The coffee in High Brew's cold brew is light and slightly acidic, with notes of golden raisin and graham. This store-bought beverage is one of the more rare coffee drinks that puts its flavor and sweetener on the same level as the brew — no taste outweighs another — and the vanilla component is more authentically flavored than many other cold brews we've had.

High Brew offers other varieties to explore too, including bourbon vanilla, toasted coconut, chocolate mocha, and sweet cream, as well as a full lineup of unflavored espresso and cold brew drinks, including a unique self-heating can of black coffee. In the Mexican vanilla variety, you'll get 17.5 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce. 

When coffee beans roast from light to medium, transitioning during a longer roasting period, they take on more of a smoky flavor and begin to lose some of the fruity, citrusy tastes that the coffee cherry naturally contains. When the roast reaches the zenith of a (subjectively) perfect level of doneness, it'll balance between these two flavor profiles. Califia Farms' Medium Roast Cold Brew Black Coffee seems to do that without fault. 

While there is an apple-like tang to this coffee, this store-bought coffee's flavor profile mostly reminds us of s'mores: Off the bat, graham cracker and marshmallow, followed by a smoky dark chocolate and remnant of caramel as the initial notes fade away. This highly affordable coffee is remarkably smooth and artfully made with Arabica beans that are Rainforest Alliance certified. We find this coffee to be silky enough to enjoy straight and full-bodied enough to stand out with sugar or cream added. Califia Farm's coffee will also load you up with 22.5 milligrams of caffeine content per fluid ounce.

Leave it to Portland, Oregon, to give us one of the best store-bought iced coffees we've ever had. Stumptown Original Cold Brew Coffee has truly blown us away with a full-palate experience. The first meeting between our tastebuds and this absolute labyrinth of a brew resulted in a bright twang of lemon and plum, followed by a warm, mocha-like essence that married chocolate and hazelnut. It all melted into a smokiness that lingered for ages on the tongue.

This cold brew is incredibly smooth, likely because of the twice-filtration steeping method, containing none of the filmy heaviness that plagues some lower-grade brews (we're looking at you, dark roast coffees). If you want a coffee with more plot twists than an epic fantasy novel, pick up the original cold brew from Stumptown. However, if the taste of acidic beans comes off as bitter on your palate, be prepared to add some sweetener or cream, or check out the Stumptown Nitro Cold Brew in a can. We think most everyone will love it in its purest form, though. 

Keep in mind, Stumptown Original Cold Brew Coffee's 10.5 fluid ounce bottle features one of the highest milligrams of caffeine per ounce, at 26.57, according to Coffee Affection.