STiR coffee and tea 37
on-the-go, and café businesses. "It's not directly overlapping with the K-Cup,
but over the last ten years, quality in canned coffee has increased pretty dra-
matically." There are numerous coffee companies that offer canned coffee
drinks, and the best options can vary depending on individual tastes and pref-
erences. However, some of the top-rated and most popular canned coffee
brands include:
• Wegmans Vanilla Latte
• Rise Brewing Co.
• Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweetened
• La Colombe Oatmilk Vanilla Latte
• Stumptown Hair Bender Nitro Cold Brew
• Blue Bottle Coffee Single Origin Bright Cold Brew
• Sail away Nitro Classic Black
These brands rank highly among experts and enthusiasts for their
smooth, rich flavors, and overall quality. Some of these options, like Sail
Away Nitro Cold Brew Coffee, are particularly praised for their smoothness
and reduced acidity.
Of course, there are many other great canned coffee options on the mar-
ket, so it's worth experimenting with different brands to find the perfect taste
profile. What results is an ongoing struggle to get something that is not just
better than a K-Cup but something that expresses what is really special about
specialty coffee.
Environmental Impact Concerns
Many pods are made of non-recyclable materials, leading to massive waste ac-
cumulation. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
United States generated 35.7 million tons of plastic waste in 2018, with only
4.47% recycled (EPA, 2020).
Cold-brewing coffee reduces acidity by 60%, and
infusing it with nitrogen imbues a natural creaminess,
eliminating the need for added milk or fat.
Photo courtesy Sail Away Coffee
