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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
If you have the gear and a bit of time, it’s not that hard to make your own coffee at home. But, not everyone has the gear, the time, or wants to in the first place. Some of us wake up and are instantly thrown into the thick of things, whether it’s work, family, or both. If that’s you, we’d like to introduce you to your new best friend: canned coffee.
It’s important to have a sense of your options, though. There are plain black coffee cans, which are great for throwing over ice. There are “nitro” options, which have been infused with a bit of nitrogen gas for a silky texture. There are lots of sweetened and flavored options, too. There are even lattes, both the dairy and the non-dairy kind. We sorted through the options and found the best of every sort.
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Flash brewed for improved flavor
No added sugar
Drink hot or cold
Some say the cans are flimsy
Expensive
From the famed Japanese whisky conglomerate Suntory (the name behind Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Laphroaig, and more) comes this excellent canned coffee. It's created by a flash-brewing process that, while not one-of-a-kind, helps separate it from many competitors. The method involves brewing coffee beans at a hot temperature to unlock maximum flavor and then quickly chilling the beverage before it becomes bitter. That's why every sip in Boss Coffee's Flash Brew Cold Black Coffee tastes so smooth.
Each can is eight ounces and contains 140 milligrams of caffeine, roughly a double shot of espresso. Boss Coffee also offers its flash-brewed java with milk in its Café au Lait option or with milk and sugar in its Rainbow Mountain Blend.
Size: 8 ounces | Caffeine: 140 milligrams | Calories: 10 | Sugar: 0 grams | Contains Dairy: No
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Rich and creamy
Dairy free
Average amount of caffeine
Coffee flavor diluted by milk
Rise offers a line of nitro-infused coffee drinks, from a classic latte to oat milk mochas. We love the oat milk latte cans for their real latte vibes. For one thing, each can has about the same amount of caffeine as one shot of espresso, making it ideal for those who need caffeine but are a bit sensitive to it at the same time. The Rise Nitro Oat Milk Latte also has fewer calories and less sugar than other canned oat milk lattes. If you love oat milk lattes from your local coffee shop, this is the closest canned version we’ve found.
Size: 7 ounces | Caffeine: 70 milligrams | Calories: 110 | Sugar: 7 grams | Contains Dairy: No
Best Cold Brew
High Brew Cold Brew Coffee
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Low in acidity
High in caffeine
Affordable
Some say it lacks flavor
This High Brew Cold Brew Coffee offers the classic cold brew experience: extra caffeine (the equivalent of two normal cups of coffee), super low acidity, and a very drinkable brew. This is also a great option to drink straight from the refrigerated can, as some say that it dilutes too quickly with ice. If you like punchy cold brew with subtle flavors, grab a can of this one and get sipping.
Size: 8 ounces | Caffeine: 130 to 150 milligrams | Calories: 10 | Sugar: 0 grams | Contains Dairy: No
Best Nitro
Sail Away Coffee Nitro Cold Brew Cans
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High caffeine content
Incredible texture
Great flavor
More expensive than some others
Looking for a super smooth cuppa (canna?) joe? Meet Sail Away Coffee Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Cans. The proprietary South American blend gets even smoother thanks to the cold brewing process and shot of nitrogen gas. It claims to be 60 percent less acidic than the standard cup of hot coffee, and it has the same caffeine as three espresso shots.
Size: 11.5 ounces | Caffeine: 220 milligrams | Calories: 0 | Sugar: 0 grams | Contains Dairy: No
Best Flavored
La Colombe Vanilla Draft Latte
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Widely available
Balanced sweetness
Mixed reviews on "sip-thru" lid
Flavored-latte lovers can enjoy a sweet treat on the go with La Colombe's multiple draft lattes. The brand offers mocha, caramel, and pumpkin spice for flavored options, along with our favorite, vanilla. Customers say the vanilla is noticeable in every sip but not overwhelmingly sweet (a drawback that occurs all too often with flavored coffee drinks). La Colombe uses nitrous-infused cold brew to create a similar richness and creaminess to regular coffeehouse lattes, although it isn't quite as thick. Each can is 9 ounces, which is in the middle as far as canned coffees go. The milk is lactose free and the item is shelf-stable overall.
Size: 9 ounces | Caffeine: 115 milligrams | Calories: 100 | Sugar: 12 grams | Contains Dairy: Yes
Best Sweetened
UCC Hawaii Kona Blend Coffee With Milk
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Sweet and creamy flavor
Larger than average capacity
Drink hot or cold
High sugar content
Cans often damaged in shipping
Hawaii is famous for its coffee, and this one may just convert you forever. The UCC Hawaii Kona Blend Coffee With Milk is special for a few reasons beyond being delicious. It’s sweetened without being too sweet and has milk without being too milky. It’s appropriate to drink hot or cold, which is rare for canned coffee. Some reviewers say that theirs arrived dented or damaged, but if you’re willing to take the risk (or contact customer service), this is a great option to keep around.
Size: 11.3 ounces | Caffeine: 168.5 milligrams | Calories: 120 | Sugar: 22 grams | Contains Dairy: Yes
Best Dairy Free
Nguyen Coffee Supply Cold Brew: Coconut
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Sweet with creamy texture
Moderately high caffeine
Texture can be off if not shaken
Nguyen Coffee Supply adds sweetness and creaminess to this cold brew with rich coconut milk. It's a tasty, latte-like treat that you'll wish lasted beyond 7.5 ounces per can, especially since it's dairy free. The Cold Brew: Coconut variety has a fairly high caffeine content at 180 milligrams. That's a little less than double the amount in a standard cup of black coffee, which is enough to get you through the day without the jitters. This coffee is available in packs of 6 or 12 cans, as are Nguyen Coffee Supply's two other cold brew varieties. It's on the expensive side, unfortunately, but the quality makes up for it if you don't mind spending a little extra cash.
Size: 7.5 ounces | Caffeine: 220 milligrams | Calories: 10 | Sugar: 0 grams | Contains Dairy: No
Best Large Capacity
Chamberlain Coffee Cold Brew Latte
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Large 12-ounce cans
Dairy-free latte
Low sugar content
Low caffeine
Sold individually
Every canned coffee, no matter how delicious, has at least one downside: it has to run out at some point. But Chamberlain Coffee pushes off the painful moment of that last tasty drop with these 12-ounce cans of ready-to-drink coffee, available in four flavors. That far surpasses the size of the average canned coffee, which is around 8 ounces.
Made with coconut cream and almond milk, this cold brew latte gives you all the creaminess without the dairy. It has a fairly low caffeine content, which is not necessarily good or bad; but coffee drinkers looking for these big cans to carry them through the whole day may need to look elsewhere. The taste is worth it, though, and Chamberlain Coffee's lattes are reasonably priced, especially considering you're getting in some extra sips.
Size: 12 ounces | Caffeine: 70 milligrams | Calories: 110 | Sugar: 1 gram | Contains Dairy: No
Best Alcohol-Infused
Fire Dept. Coffee Nitro Irish Coffee
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Whiskey flavor is subtle but noticeable
Creamy texture
A little pricey
This is one Irish coffee you can drink at any time of day and even on the go. The 7-ounce cans are filled with nitro cold brew that's been infused with whiskey, along with real cream to give it a richer, more authentic texture. The coffee is non-alcoholic because the alcohol is roasted out during the preparation process, but the whiskey flavor is still present, underlining but now overpowering the coffee. We received a sample of Fire Dept. Coffee Nitro Irish Coffee and found it unique, enjoyable, and easy to drink.
Cans are sold in counts of 12 or 24. The 24-count option is the same price per can as the 12-count box, however, so it doesn't save money to buy in bulk. Fire Dept. Coffee also sells its whiskey-infused blend as whole bean and ground coffee.
Size: 7 ounces | Caffeine: 120 milligrams | Calories: 90 | Sugar: 12 grams | Contains Dairy: Yes
Final Verdict
Boss Coffee's Flash Brew is an excellent starting point if you're looking for a delicious jolt of canned caffeine. It's strong but palatable and should appeal to all range of coffee lovers. Those craving a creamier treat will enjoy Rise Brewing Company's Oat Milk Latte with Nitro Cold Brew.
What to Look for in Canned Coffee
Price
Most canned coffee on this list ranges from 20 to 30 cents per ounce, or around $3 per can. However, if you have special requirements for your canned coffee, such as a single-origin option, you’ll likely pay more.
Ease of Storage
Some canned coffees can be stored on your shelves, while others need to be chilled at all times. This consideration is minor, but it can affect the amount of space you have in your kitchen. It's also worth keeping in mind if you're grabbing a canned coffee (or coffees, plural) while traveling. Make sure to check the label.
Bottle Type
Many canned coffees are meant to be served chilled, either poured over ice or straight from the fridge. If you’re looking for hot coffee, you’ll have to find something meant for it (like the UCC Hawaii Kona Blend Coffee) or be prepared to have some textural and flavor changes.
FAQs
How do you store canned coffee?
Check the package. Some, like the La Colombe draft lattes, are shelf stable. Others should be stored in the fridge.
Can you heat canned coffee?
For the most part, yes. Canned coffee is usually meant to be enjoyed cold, though, so heating it up could change the taste, and not necessarily for the better.
What is the difference between cold brew and flash brew?
In order to make cold brew, ground beans are soaked in cool or room temperature water for an extended period of time (about 12 hours minimum). Fans of cold brew love it for its low acidity and bitterness. Flash brew, on the other hand, is brewed as hot coffee, then quickly chilled. Its proponents say it brings out more of the coffee’s flavor.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Christine Clark is a writer and cheese educator, who grew up Mormon, meaning she first had coffee in her early 20s. After tasting it for the first time, she instantly fell in love with it and dove into the coffee world. She loves berry-forward coffee beans and a morning cappuccino made with local milk and her stovetop Moka pot.
This piece was updated by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. At home, he typically makes coffee with the Bodum Brazil French Press—a great budget option, especially for those who prefer non-electric brewers.
Sources
Nigel Price is the founder and owner of Drip Coffee Makers in New York City and has worked in the coffee industry for more than a decade. Established in 2015, Drip now has multiple locations.
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