What’s in a Caribou Coffee Crafted Cold Brew?
It’s a light, sweet and smooth drinking experience you can only find at Caribou.
The Crafted Cold Brew (formerly known as the Crafted Press) is one of our signature drinks at Caribou Coffee® — and even better, it’s exclusively available at Caribou coffeehouses. You can’t find the unique balanced, perfectly blended ratio of cold-brewed coffee, milk and sugar anywhere else, which is why Caribou fans keep coming back for more.
Even the most ardent latte lovers and mocha superfans will fall under the spell of a delicious iced or hot Crafted Cold Brew, trust us. It’s customizable and craveable, and just the thing to start your day on a bright note or perk up the afternoon.
“So many people prefer to drink iced coffee all year, no matter the weather, and the Crafted Cold Brew is like an elevated version of iced coffee,” says Senior Beverage Category Manager Gretchen Hashemi-Rad. “The cold-brewed coffee base is always smooth, never burnt or bitter, and the blend of ingredients tastes delicious without being too sweet or overpowering. It’s like the Goldilocks of iced coffee drinks: not too sweet, not too strong, just right. And if you prefer hot coffee, it’s available hot too!”
What’s in a Caribou Coffee Crafted Cold Brew?
If you’re confused about what a Crafted Cold Brew actually is and how it differs from our Cold Brew coffee or an iced coffee or latte in general, that’s totally OK. We’re here to help clear up that confusion.
The base of a Crafted Cold Brew is our delicious cold-pressed coffee, which is roasted and brewed to perfection. According to Green Coffee Sourcing Manager Brian Aliffi, our coffee is roasted in a way that prioritizes sweetness, so you’ll find that our cold-brewed coffee is less bitter or burnt-tasting than other cold coffees. (We’ve been perfecting the process for over 20 years.) It starts by soaking freshly ground coffee in cold water for several hours, and the final result is a cold-pressed coffee that is easy to drink, crisp and refreshing. This creates the ideal foundation for the smooth-sipping, light and frothy Crafted Cold Brew experience.
Next up is your choice of milk: the default Crafted Cold Brew base is a special blend of dairy milk and cream, but you can customize yours with oatmilk, almondmilk, you name it. This splash of milk provides a creamy deliciousness, which is enhanced by the addition of just a pinch of sugar and salt. All of these ingredients are expertly blended together sans ice; ice is added as the last step if you’re drinking an Iced Crafted Cold Brew, and this step helps preserve the frothiness.
If you order a hot Crafted Cold Brew, your drink is steamed, not blended, but the light, balanced flavor profile is the same as its iced counterpart.
Why should I try a Crafted Cold Brew?
There are so many reasons to experience the Crafted Cold Brew difference for yourself.
- It’s a lighter, lower-calorie option. Our Crafted Cold Brew has fewer calories than a traditional latte or mocha, for example.
- You can order it hot or iced. The iced version is sweet, airy and oh-so-drinkable, and the hot Crafted Cold Brew has a wonderful, easy texture that makes it a pleasure to sip slowly.
- There’s a teeny bit of salt included in the recipe, which helps bring out all the delicious flavor aspects, including the smooth, cold-brewed coffee base, the richness of milk and cream and whichever flavor you choose to add. There’s a reason salt is the cool new ingredient in coffee drinks!
How to customize a Crafted Cold Brew
A classic hot or iced Crafted Cold Brew is simply delicious on its own, but the joy of a Crafted Cold Brew is that it can be almost anything you want it to be!
- Add a flavor shot. A hint of vanilla, chocolate, or caramel (for starters) can add luxurious flavor to your Crafted Cold Brew, but you can also add honey or malt powder, with malt powder being a go-to guest fave.
- Add a cloud of our fluffy Cold Foam for a delightful texture and taste.
- Try it blended! Instead of adding the ice at the end, we blend it all up for an icy, chilly twist on a Cooler.
- Enjoy the limited-edition flavors. In the fall, we love a Pumpkin Crafted Cold Brew, and our holiday menu featured a Cranberry Dark Chocolate Crafted Cold Brew.
- Ask your BOUrista. No one knows their way around a Crafted Cold Brew like our talented, friendly BOUristas, who have all the best tips, tricks and hacks for taking the Crafted Cold Brew up a notch.
- Use the app! The Caribou Coffee app makes it super easy to customize your drink and see all the options available, and then you can set your preferred pickup details too. Easy peasy.
Ready to give your coffee-drinking routine a refresh with the Crafted Cold Brew? There’s no time like the present, and it may just become your new go-to. See you in the drive-thru!