Cold Black Coffee: Simplicity Rules the Post-Pandemic RTD Landscape

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Dried apricot, baking chocolate, lemon verbena, marjoram, frankincense. Juicy, sweet-tart structure with lively acidity; satiny-smooth mouthfeel. The balanced finish is equal parts dark chocolate and dried apricot. Chocolate notes are further amplified in milk, as sweet marjoram and resiny frankincense notes.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Dried guava, dark chocolate, frangipane, vanilla, cedar. Sweet-tart structure with crisp, juicy acidity; refreshingly silky mouthfeel. Guava and dark chocolate lead in the finish, with undertones of cedar and vanilla. Like sweet guava ice cream with a cedar edge in milk.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Cocoa nib, hazelnut, dried persimmon, honeysuckle, fresh-cut oak. Sweet-toned structure with malic acidity; viscous, lightly syrupy mouthfeel. Chocolaty, nut-toned finish with hints of persimmon and sweet florals. Adding milk amps up the cocoa tones and deepens the rich nut and fruit flavors.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Dark chocolate fudge, raspberry coulis, molasses, almond butter, redwood. Richly sweet structure with brisk acidity; velvety-smooth mouthfeel. The finish is chocolaty, through and through — in milk, dessert-like, reminiscent of a chocolate-raspberry truffle.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Baking chocolate, hazelnut, rose hips, raspberry, cedar. Sweet-toned structure with citrusy acidity; pleasingly dry mouthfeel (think good dry vermouth). Resonant, long, flavor-saturated finish. Milk softens all the dramatic edges of this compelling blend, emphasizing a gentle sweet-tart creaminess.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Red currant, toffee, lemon-thyme, magnolia, bergamot. Richly sweet-savory structure with balanced, high-toned acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. The finish consolidates to notes of red currant and toffee. Milk enhances the toffee and bergamot notes beautifully.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Black cherry, cocoa nib, lilac, toffee, sassafras. Sweet-savory structure with juicy acidity; crisp, delicate mouthfeel. The savory-sweet theme continues into the finish with notes of lilac and sassafras. The volume is turned down in milk in exchange for a mellow, toffee-driven vibe.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Date, almond, caramel, freesia, bergamot. Sweet-toned with gentle, round acidity; velvety-smooth mouthfeel. Richly sweet, gentle finish. Combined with milk, this cold brew is caramelly and nut-toned with a hint of spice.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Red plum, cocoa nib, maple syrup, tangerine, oak. Crisply sweet-tart structure with lively, apple-toned acidity; delicate, silky mouthfeel. Cocoa-toned finish with notes of maple syrup and tangerine. In milk, the tart lime is softened and the cocoa and maple syrup intensify.

A ready-to-drink black coffee, tested cold. Apricot, baking chocolate, freesia, lemon-thyme, fresh-cut cedar. Sweetly tart structure with lively acidity; crisp, satiny mouthfeel. Aromatic cedar-like wood notes frame the gently fruit-toned, chocolaty finish. The milk shot softens the brightness and suggests a candy bar from childhood; perhaps a KitKat?