Why is cold coffee such a sought-after beverage? What makes it THAT GOOD?
It’s the deadly combination of caffeine and sugar- served as a milky, creamy beverage.
Consumers crave caffeine with convenience, and brands haven’t let us down. Of the multiple options in the market today, we selected seven (criteria explained below), and put them to the test to find the best cold coffee brand in India.
Spilling the beans in 3,2,1…
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison of Cold Coffee Brands
Details on our contenders have been listed below.
| Cold Coffee Brands | Mishry Rating | Buy Now |
| Bru – Mishry Top Pick | 4.5 | On Amazon |
| Cotha’s– Mishry Top Pick (Intense) | 4.5 | On Amazon |
| Sleepy Owl– Also Recommended | 4.25 | On Amazon |
| JUST | 3.75 | – |
| Nescafe | 3.5 | On Amazon |
| Cavin’s | 3 | On Amazon |
| Cravova | 2.5 | On Amazon |
| Mother Dairy | 2 | On Amazon |
Our Qualifiers- How Did We Select The Contenders?
The contenders must NOT be black aka, the coffee must contain milk because we are reviewing cold coffees not iced coffees.
Next, these beverages cannot be coffee-flavored. They must contain some amount of coffee, either concentrate, solids or granules. And finally, no contender must be flavored like hazelnut, vanilla, or cinnamon. The contenders of this review must be original, unflavored.
After carefully scanning the market, we found eight contenders that checked all our qualifiers. A few brands had to be left out due to unavailability on multiple platforms.
Our Review Factors
While finding the best cold coffee brands in India, we took into account factors like the flavor, consistency, and the quality, as a whole.
More details on what we looked for in each sub-parameter explained in the section below.
1. Taste
We were looking for canned cold coffee that essentially had a bold, pronounced coffee flavor, without it being bitter. Rounded sweetness would be appreciated, and an absence of stale or industrial flavors. Essentially, how is the balance between sugar, coffee and milk?
2. Consistency
What we gauged here first and foremost was the consistency (thick or watery). Premium coffee has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, it goes down easily. Which contender nailed the consistency aspect?
3. Secondary Parameters
Other parameters like price, packaging, and shelf life were recorded here.
Our Review Process
Our review process was fairly simple. It started with comparing brand-provided information like the price, ingredients, and shelf life. Then we moved to a visual assessment, followed by a taste test.
Cold Coffee Brands– Detailed Review
Our experience with all eight contenders has been detailed in the following section.
1. Bru Cold Coffee – Mishry Top Pick (Best Overall)
Our Experience
Bru cold coffee is our Top Pick for its rich, intense coffee flavor without it bordering towards bitter. It was well-rounded in both- flavor and consistency.
The roasted, nutty flavor of coffee was prominent but not overwhelming. Similarly, the sweetness was balanced. We quite liked the consistency here. It felt quite premium, owing to the smooth and thick, milky sips.
But what we appreciate most is the lack of any artificial flavors. As for aroma, it was a mix of coffee and milk. Purely pleasing!
Product Details
Bru cold coffee is made using Double toned milk (79%), Sugar, Milk solids, Coffee (1%), Stabilisers (INS 460 (i), INS 466, INS 407), Acidity regulator (INS 304(ii)), Nature identical flavoring substances.
One can holds 230 ml of cold coffee and is priced at Rs 120/-. It has a shelf life of six months.
- Fresh taste
- Striking balance of coffee flavor and sweetness
- Desirable milky consistency
- Smooth, creamy mouthfeel
Hot summer afternoon, a road trip, just craving some caffeine on the go- we recommend Bru Cold Coffee.
2. Cothas Classic Cold Coffee – Mishry Top Pick (Intense)
Our Experience
The aroma had us excited. With a wave of robust, strong coffee aroma (similar to that of freshly brewed filter coffee), this had a fairly bold taste. That said, this cold coffee was sweet, but the roasted, coffee-like bitterness was more prominent than the sweetness. Like our other top pick, the consistency here too was smooth and milky.
The fact that this contender had the highest coffee content and the cleanest ingredient list deserves a shoutout.
Product Details
One can holds 250 ml of coffee and is priced at Rs 80/- It has a shelf life of 120 days and is made using ingredients like toned milk, sugar, coffee extract (3%) and acidity regulator (INS 339(iii)).
- Highest coffee content
- Cleanest ingredient list
- Strong coffee flavor
- Low on sweetness
- Uniform consistency
This is for those who like their coffee strong.
3. Sleepy Owl Classic Cold Coffee – Also Recommended
Our Experience
Right off the bat, if you have tried Sleepy Owl’s hot/cold brew or their instant coffees, this tastes similar to the ‘original’ variant.
In a comparative view, the coffee intensity here was lower than that in Bru’s cold coffee. Overall, this made for a refreshing coffee with a strong flavor of the bean that was sweetened aptly.
Sleepy Owl’s cold coffee stood out for its smooth, premium, non-acidic taste and consistency.
Product Details
This is made using Double toned milk, water, sugar, coffee powder, acidity regulator (INS340 (ii)), Stabiliser )INS 407 412 and 471) and Flavors (Nature identical flavoring substances)
A white-red can holds 230 ml of coffee and is priced at Rs 125/-. It has a shelf life of six months
- Refreshing taste
- Super smooth
- Balanced coffee to sugar ratio
- Premium-looking packaging
- The coffee intensity is lower than our top picks
Craving some cafe-style, smooth coffee? You got it in a can.
4. Just Original Cold Coffee
Our Experience
JUST cold coffee was slightly thicker and milkier than the contenders on the podium. However, it was not one of the top three picks as the coffee intensity was quite low. To better explain this, sugar and milk were more pronounced than coffee.
That being said, this was refreshing and good-tasting.
Product Details
Milk, Milk solids, Sugar, Coffee solids, Color (INS 150A), Acidity regulator (INS339 (ii)), Stabilisers (INS 407, 412), Emulsifier (INS471), Nature identical flavoring substances are the ingredients that go in the making. One can holds 240 ml and is priced at Rs 120/- The shelf life is six months.
- Decent tasting coffee
- Quite milky
- Coffee intensity is on the lower end
We recommend this for those who like milkier cold coffees.
5. Nescafe Iced Latte
Our Experience
Hands-down the most easily available, Nescafe cold coffee showcased a fairly decent consistency and flavor. It was not as milky as the contenders mentioned above, nor was this watery like an iced cappuccino. The sweetness was unarguably on the higher side, but not to the point where it felt un-drinkable. All-in-all, this had an average flavor with an impressive refreshing factor.
Iced coffee and cold coffee, are they different?
Yes, when you order an iced coffee, the beverage you’d be served, will most likely be different (in composition) than cold coffee. Both beverages use coffee, sugar, and milk.
The key difference lies here- iced coffee = coffee + little milk + ice cubes
Whereas, cold coffee = coffee + large quantity of chilled milk + sugar.
The addition of ice impacts the consistency, the beverage is relatively frothy.
Product Details
The ingredients used are Milk, Sugar, Coffee (0.7%), Acidity Regulator (340(ii)) & Stabilizer (407). Contains Added Nature Identical Flavouring Substances. A can with 180 ml is priced at Rs 70/- and has a shelf life of nine months.
6. Cavins Cold Coffee
Our Experience
The consistency of Cavin’s cold coffee was immaculate, without a doubt. Thick and luscious, rich and creamy, this was like those milkshakes/beverages made with scoops of ice cream in them.
But what did not work at all was the flavor. This was quite sweet with a very very mild flavor of coffee.
Product Details
A tetra pack holds 200 ml of cold coffee and is priced at Rs 40/- The ingredients that go in the making are Double Toned Milk (91%), Sugar, Coffee powder (0.3%), Stabilizer (INS 412, INS 471, INS 407, INS 410, INS 415, INS 339(ii)), Flavour (Nature identical and Artificial (Coffee) flavouring substances), Acidity regulator (INS 331(iii)), Emulsifier (INS 436)
This has a shelf life of eight months.
7. Cravova Classic Cold Coffee
Our Experience
Our experience with Cravova cold coffee was similar to that of Cavin’s. The consistency was average, but the taste? A big thumbs down.
This was thick, milky, and creamy. Its flavor was the horse of a different color. There was a pertinent medicinal flavor, like that of artificial sweeteners.
In fact, the first sip felt so distasteful that we didn’t want to go back for another sip. Even when tasted again, the tasting notes did not differ.
Product Details
200 ml of this cold coffee is retailed for Rs 60/- with a shelf life of six months. The ingredients are Double toned milk (90%), Sugar, Milk solids, Coffee (1%), Nature identical flavoring substances (coffee), Acidity regulators (INS339(ii)), Stabiliser (INS407).
- Industrial tasting
8. Mothers Dairy Cold Coffee
Our Experience
This cold coffee had a bearable taste but a questionable consistency. Here’s why.
We ordered two packs of Mother Dairy cold coffee. When poured in the glass for visual data collection, they had a white layer floating right at the center. In order to give this contender a fair chance, we ordered another pack for a quick commerce portal, but to the same result, unfortunately. We were skeptical to proceed with the tasting as such floating layers are usually indicative of milk gone bad.
Regardless, up on tasting, this had flavors exactly like coffee-flavored toffees. Higher on sweetness and lower on the flavor of coffee- it tasted pretty average, but the consistency brought down the entire experience, which is why this was eliminated instantly.
Product Details
A tetra pack holding 200 ml is priced at Rs 30/- This has a shelf life of four months. The ingredients that go in the making include Milk, Water, Sugar, Milk solids, Coffee (0.4%), Acidity regulator (339(ii)), Food color (150a), Nature identical flavoring substances and stabilizer (407).
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
Not one or two, but three! We found three great contenders in our cold coffee brands in India review.
The all-rounder top pick is Bru which featured great taste and an equally great consistency. Followed by Cotha’s, which was as milky as Bru with a bolder, more pronounced flavor of coffee. And finally, Sleepy Owl- the sweetness was well-balanced but what we loved was the smooth consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on cold coffee brands in India.
1. Do these brands use artificial flavors in their cold coffee products?
Yes, these contain natural and added flavoring substances. Only Cotha’s does not have any natural/added flavor.
2. Do these brands offer any sugar-free options for cold coffee?
No, all contenders contain sugar.
3. Are these packaged cold coffees healthy to drink?
These are healthier than sodas as the presence of milk slows down digestion while caffeine helps suppress appetite. However, too much will make this unhealthy.
4. Can these cold coffee be enjoyed both hot and cold?
No, the true flavors are enhanced when these are consumed chilled.
5. Are there any specific storage recommendations for the cold coffee?
Yes, these must be stored under refrigeration.
Conclusion
Are we caffeinated? Are we experiencing a rush? Were the coffee aficionados in our team jumping with joy? Yes, yes, and YES!
After testing eight brands of packaged cold coffees, we found not one, but three favorites. Bru, Cotha’s, and Sleepy Owl- these three contenders showcased beautiful flavors, struck an impressive balance between the flavor of the bean and sugar, with a milky rich consistency, and were overall just very refreshing.
Iced tea or iced coffee, what’s your preference?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.