Cincinnati’s Brü Brothers Coffee fresh-roasts its signature beans and turns them into small-batch nitro cold brew, a strong, smooth drink the company says has twice the caffeine and half the acidity of hot coffee. With no brick-and-mortar shop, Brü Brothers brings its coffee to local pop-ups, retail partners, offices and major sports and music festivals through mobile service and wholesale programs.
Sail Away Coffee CoBorn and brewed on Long Island, Sail Away Coffee Co. makes ready-to-drink cold brew and oat-milk lattes built around a proprietary Central American blend. The brand grew from founder Christopher Vetter’s touring-musician years and kitchen experiments into a New York beverage company whose cold brew has been sold through farmers’ markets, grocery shelves, foodservice accounts, and concert arenas for more than 10 years. Its canned brews are known for a smooth, chocolate-toned finish and lower acidity than standard hot coffee.DEER PARK, NY
Upstate's Cold BrewFounded by Kha and Mel in 2015, Upstate’s Cold Brew makes smooth cold brew concentrate and nitro coffee in small weekly batches in Upstate New York. The company builds its coffee business around community support and empowerment, and its founders also created Jola Cafe as a space for socially conscious entrepreneurs to find encouragement and resources.RENSSELAER, NY
Backroom Coffee RoastersBorn in 2010 in the backroom of a cyclist’s bike shop, Backroom Coffee Roasters now makes small-batch, fresh-roasted coffee in Central Ohio. The Galena roaster keeps its cycling roots visible in its name and signature blends while building local connections through a coffee fundraising platform for schools, teams, nonprofits and other community groups. Owner Trent Lundberg leads the operation, carrying the original emphasis on improvement, quality and consistency forward.COLUMBUS, OH
Joan + Joe CoffeeBorn from a church fundraising concert where Veron and Duncan realized no one was serving coffee, Joan + Joe Coffee makes organic cold-brewed coffee and serves it alongside all-day breakfast and lunch in Charles Town and Morgantown, West Virginia. The couple built the business around conversation and hospitality, with coffee prepared from specialty-grade organic Arabica beans and cold-brewed overnight for a smooth, lower-acidity cup. Their retail beans are also 100% Non-GMO Project Verified and Kosher, and the company offers refillable glass growlers for take-home cold brew.CHARLES TOWN, WV