Wandering Bear vs. La Colombe vs. Javvy vs. Others: We Tested the Top Cold Brews and Found a Clear Winner
We blind-tested 12+ packaged cold brews. One came out on top.
By Brandon Thompson, Coffee Editor
Reviewed by HSH Editorial · Tested by Alyse Romero
Updated March 13, 2026
8 min read
Affiliate disclosure: HomeSweetHacks is reader-supported. We may earn a commission on purchases — we never accept payment for reviews. See our methodology.
As featured in
We screened 12+ packaged cold brews and narrowed it to 4 finalists: Wandering Bear, La Colombe, Stumptown, and Javvy. With cold brew expert Brandon Thompson, we ranked them on taste, flavors, packaging, convenience, and price.
After screening 12+ brands, our top 4 finalists: Wandering Bear, La Colombe, Stumptown, and Javvy.
Top Cold Brew Coffees, Compared
Wandering BearWinnerTap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- Best Overall
- Taste
- Smooth, Rich
- Flavors
- 13 Real
- Organic
- Yes
- Brew Type
- Cold Brew
- Packaging
- Recyclable Box
- Ready to Drink
- Yes
- Price/Serving
- $2.12
La ColombeTap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- Mild Sippers
- Taste
- Mild
- Flavors
- Black Only
- Organic
- No
- Brew Type
- Cold Brew
- Packaging
- Plastic
- Ready to Drink
- Yes
- Price/Serving
- $1.58
StumptownTap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- Dark Roast
- Taste
- Harsh
- Flavors
- 2 Options
- Organic
- No
- Brew Type
- Cold Brew
- Packaging
- Plastic
- Ready to Drink
- Yes
- Price/Serving
- $2.49
JavvyTap ▾Hide ▴
- Best For
- Lowest Price
- Taste
- Bitter
- Flavors
- Artificial
- Organic
- No
- Brew Type
- Concentrate
- Packaging
- Plastic
- Ready to Drink
- Needs Prep
- Price/Serving
- $1.24
| Wandering Bear | La Colombe | Stumptown | Javvy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Best Overall | Mild Sippers | Dark Roast | Lowest Price |
| Taste | Smooth, Rich | Mild | Harsh | Bitter |
| Flavors | 13 Real | Black Only | 2 Options | Artificial |
| Organic | Yes | No | No | No |
| Brew Type | Cold Brew | Cold Brew | Cold Brew | Concentrate |
| Packaging | Recyclable Box | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
| Ready to Drink | Yes | Yes | Yes | Needs Prep |
| Price/Serving | $2.12 | $1.58 | $2.49 | $1.24 |
Scorecards
Each finalist scored 1-10 across five weighted criteria. Overall = Taste 40% + Ingredients 20% + Convenience 15% + Packaging 15% + Price 10%.
Wandering Bear, Cold Brew On Tap
taste
9.4
ingredients
9.8
convenience
9.2
packaging
9.5
price
7.0
Pros
- Smooth, low-acid, chocolatey
- USDA Organic Arabica
- 13 real flavors
- Light- and air-blocking box
Cons
- Premium price per serving
- Built-in tap takes fridge space
La Colombe, Draft Latte Cold Brew
taste
7.0
ingredients
5.5
convenience
8.5
packaging
4.0
price
8.0
Pros
- Smooth, mild flavor
- Widely available
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Not organic
- Plastic packaging
- Black only, no flavors
Stumptown, Original Cold Brew
taste
6.5
ingredients
5.5
convenience
8.5
packaging
4.0
price
5.0
Pros
- Bold, dark roast profile
- Widely available
Cons
- Harsh, slightly burnt finish
- Not organic
- Only 2 product options
- Most expensive per serving
Javvy, Cold Brew Concentrate
taste
4.5
ingredients
5.0
convenience
5.0
packaging
4.0
price
9.5
Pros
- Cheapest per serving
- Wide flavor variety
Cons
- Bitter, acidic
- Artificial flavors
- Plastic bottle
- Requires measuring & diluting
Taste: Wandering Bear Wins
We blind-tasted each finalist's straight black option. Wandering Bear's USDA Organic Arabica was smooth, low-acid, and chocolatey. La Colombe was mild but lacked depth; Stumptown was bold but harsh; Javvy — a concentrate — was bitter and acidic.
Wandering Bear won Alyse's blind taste test.
🥇 Wandering Bear, smooth, rich, and bold.
Alyse: "Rich chocolatey and nutty notes, zero bitterness, smooth, strong, easy to drink."
Flavors: 13 Real vs. Artificial
Wandering Bear offers 13 real, organic flavors (Banana Bread, Dirty Vanilla Chai, Raspberry Mocha). Javvy has 18 flavors but they taste artificial. La Colombe is black only; Stumptown has just 2 options.
13 flavors made with real, organic ingredients.
Packaging: Boxed Beats Plastic
Wandering Bear's recyclable bag-in-box blocks light and air, keeping coffee fresh for 30 days after opening. The other three ship in transparent plastic bottles.
Price: Javvy is Cheapest
A 12oz coffee-shop cold brew runs ~$5.501. Per serving at coffee-shop strength: Javvy $1.24 · La Colombe $1.58 · Wandering Bear $2.12 with discount · Stumptown $2.49. Wandering Bear is the best value — the only coffee-shop-quality option in the lineup.
The Winner: Wandering Bear
After 12+ brands tested, Wandering Bear is the clear winner, winning on taste, ingredients, packaging, flavor variety, and convenience.
Thompson: "Memorable, quality cold brew. I recommend it to customers, friends, and family."
Ready to try Wandering Bear? Save on your first order with HomeSweetHacks' discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best store-bought cold brew?
Is Wandering Bear actually organic?
How long does Wandering Bear last after opening?
Is cold brew concentrate cheaper than ready-to-drink?
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