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The 8 Best Canned Coffees, According to Taste Tests

Stock up and your caffeine fix will only be just one sip away.

Headshot of Trish Clasen MarsanicoBy Trish Clasen Marsanico
a photo gallery of canned coffeespinterest icon

In the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, our ideal a.m. scenario involves starting the day with a leisurely cup of coffee — grinding the best coffee beans, patiently waiting for a good pot of coffee to brew and/or making a homemade latte. But sadly, not all mornings can be that slow-paced (sigh). Some days it's impossible to make coffee at home; we don't have time to turn on our coffee makers, let alone make a fancy espresso drink. The solution: stocking up on the best canned coffee.

Good news: There are so many canned coffee brands available online and at the supermarket now, you never have to skip getting an instant coffee fix. Just crack one open as you're rushing out the door. Or, pack a few cans in your cooler if you know you're headed somewhere that won't have a good cup of Joe (think: the beach, camping, even your kids' soccer game).

And with many of the ready-to-drink coffees actually tasting good, you don't have to sacrifice on flavor or quality either. Plus, you can find tons of different types of single-serve coffees from cold brew and nitro coffee to creamy cappuccinos and dairy-free oat milk lattes. (Just check nutrition labels: Some are loaded with added sugars — one brand has 64% of your daily value in just one 13-oz. bottle! — but you can find low-sugar and low-calorie canned coffees no problem.)

Our top picks:

  • 1
    Organic Cold Brew Coffee Variety Pack

    Best Organic Canned Coffee

    Lavazza Organic Cold Brew Coffee Variety Pack

    $14 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Bold Cold Brewed Coffee

    Best Canned Cold Brew

    Blue Bottle Coffee Bold Cold Brewed Coffee

    Read more
  • 3
    Brazilian Cold Brew

    Best Single-Origin Canned Coffee

    La Colombe Brazilian Cold Brew

    Read more
  • 4
    Organic Straight Black Cold Brew Coffee

    Best Shelf-Stable Canned Coffee

    Wandering Bear Organic Straight Black Cold Brew Coffee

    Read more
  • 5
    Creamy Cappuccino Plus Protein

    Best Canned Latte or Cappuccino

    High Brew Coffee Creamy Cappuccino Plus Protein

    Read more

So which cans should you stock up on? The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen team taste-tested 35 coffees in a can to find the best canned coffees and bottled and boxed brews worth filling your fridge with. Now, who's ready to start the day?

1
Best Organic Canned Coffee

Lavazza Organic Cold Brew Coffee Variety Pack

Organic Cold Brew Coffee Variety Pack
1
Best Organic Canned Coffee

Lavazza Organic Cold Brew Coffee Variety Pack

$14 at Amazon
Credit: Lavazza

These cans were a favorite in Good Housekeeping's 2022 Kitchen Gear and Coffee Awards! This Italian brand has been making espresso for more than 125 years. Now, you can enjoy some of its signature blends, sans the espresso machine, with this line of single-serve organic coffees. Including a canned cappuccino cold brew, nitro, classic and a double-shot oat milk cold brew (a great dairy-free latte option!), there are plenty of different strengths and sweetness levels to choose from.

Lavazza Double-Shot Oat Milk

Size8 fluid ounces
CaffeineAbout 135 milligrams
SweetenedYes (6 grams)
Contains DairyNo
IngredientsCold brew coffee, organic oat milk, organic cane sugar, organic sunflower oil, gum arabic, natural flavors, potassium citrate, sea salt, gellan gum, organic locus bean gum
2
Best Canned Cold Brew

Blue Bottle Coffee Bold Cold Brewed Coffee

On Sale
Bold Cold Brewed Coffee
2
Best Canned Cold Brew

Blue Bottle Coffee Bold Cold Brewed Coffee

Now 36% Off
Credit: Blue Bottle Coffee

While Blue Bottle has dozens of cafes in a few cities throughout the country, these cute cans make it convenient to enjoy its signature cold brew without leaving the house (or making a special trip). The Bold option was a favorite for its strong, deep, nice roast. Some tasters recommended serving it over ice with a splash of milk.

Size8 fluid ounces
CaffeineAbout 210 milligrams
SweetenedNo
Contains DairyNo
IngredientsWater, organic roasted coffee
3
Best Single-Origin Canned Coffee

La Colombe Brazilian Cold Brew

Brazilian Cold Brew
3
Best Single-Origin Canned Coffee

La Colombe Brazilian Cold Brew

Credit: La Colombe

With over 15 different types of canned cold brews and lattes —ranging from salted caramel and peppermint mocha to nitro extra bold — La Colombe Coffee knows a thing or two about canned coffee. Tasters liked the single-origin, double-filtered cold brew that's made with 100% Arabica beans, especially when sipped straight out of the can.

Psst! We tried using one of these classic cans to make an Espresso Martini and discovered that it's a great, tasty shortcut: Just sub in for the 1 ounce espresso — no brewing required.

Size9 fluid ounces
Caffeine180 milligrams
SweetenedNo
Contains DairyNo
IngredientsCold-pressed coffee, chicory root fiber, sodium phosphates
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4
Best Shelf-Stable Canned Coffee

Wandering Bear Organic Straight Black Cold Brew Coffee

Organic Straight Black Cold Brew Coffee
4
Best Shelf-Stable Canned Coffee

Wandering Bear Organic Straight Black Cold Brew Coffee

Credit: Wandering Bear

Looking to start your day with a stronger dose of caffeine? Wandering Bear cartons contain nearly 1.5x or 2x the amount of caffeine than other canned cold brews, but it doesn't taste overwhelmingly strong or bitter — it's a great energy drink when you're looking for a boost. Plus, this smooth brew can be stored at room temperature before it's opened. So it's smart to stock up! Keep one or two cartons in the fridge (this means they'll be at an optimal temperature to grab and drink), and the rest in your pantry. Bonus: they offer a subscription for the die-hard caffeine fans.

RELATED: The 15 Best Coffee Subscription Boxes, According to Experts

Size11 fluid ounces
Caffeine300 milligrams
SweetenedNo
Contains DairyNo
IngredientsFiltered water, organic coffee
5
Best Canned Latte or Cappuccino

High Brew Coffee Creamy Cappuccino Plus Protein

Creamy Cappuccino Plus Protein
5
Best Canned Latte or Cappuccino

High Brew Coffee Creamy Cappuccino Plus Protein

Credit: High Brew Coffee

For a grab-and-go that’s complete with cream and a touch of cane sugar, here's a good bet. Each can boasts coffee-forward flavor with a sweetness that's not too cloying and a silky-smooth texture. Plus, you will find 12 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in each 8 fluid ounce serving, so consider this if you're looking for more nutritional oomph from your morning cup of Joe.

Size8 fluid ounces
Caffeine130-150 milligrams
SweetenedYes (11 grams)
Contains DairyYes (reduced-fat milk)
IngredientsCold-brewed coffee, reduced-fat milk, milk protein isolate, cane sugar, calcium caseinate, chicory root extract, natural flavors, potassium phosphates, pectin, sea salt
6
Best Alternative Milk Latte

Loco Life Brew Vanilla Honey Oat Milk Latte

Vanilla Honey Oat Milk Latte
6
Best Alternative Milk Latte

Loco Life Brew Vanilla Honey Oat Milk Latte

Credit: Loco Life Brew

While coffee purists look for bold, forward coffee flavors, others want their caffeine with a good dose of sweetness. This dairy-free option is for that second group of people. It has a fraction of the added sugars that you'll find in other flavored canned coffees, but still delivers an easy-to-drink experience with enough sweetness to keep you coming back for another sip.

Size11 fluid ounces
Caffeine180 milligrams
SweetenedYes (10 grams)
Contains DairyNo
IngredientsCoffee, oatmilk, cane sugar, evaporated coconut water, natural flavors, cellulose gum, salt
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7
Best Nitro Canned Coffee

RISE Brewing Co. Original Black Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

Original Black Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
7
Best Nitro Canned Coffee

RISE Brewing Co. Original Black Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

Credit: RISE Brewing Co.

Thanks to the nitrogen brewing method, this can pours beautifully into a glass like a draft beer — foam and all (but yes, you can enjoy drinking it out of the can, too). Tasters found each sip to be smooth and creamy, which is another byproduct of infusing the cold brew with nitrogen during the brewing process.

Size7 fluid ounces
Caffeine180 milligrams
SweetenedNo
Contains DairyNo
IngredientsPurified water, organic coffee
8
Best Cold-Brew Concentrate

Chameleon Cold Brew Espresso Black Cold-Brew Coffee

Espresso Black Cold-Brew Coffee
8
Best Cold-Brew Concentrate

Chameleon Cold Brew Espresso Black Cold-Brew Coffee

Now 44% Off
Credit: Chameleon

If ice is an essential part of your coffee equation, this Texas-based brand is worth checking out. Chameleon sells bottles and boxes of its organic cold-brew concentrate that's perfect for pouring into a travel mug filled with ice and a splash of water. For a truly ready-to-drink experience, though, you can grab one of these refrigerated glass bottles to sip as is. Tasters appreciated that the espresso coffee is not too acidic or bitter, yet bold and strong enough to handle being served over ice or with milk.

Size10 fluid ounces
Caffeine200 milligrams
SweetenedNo
Contains DairyNo
IngredientsFiltered water, organic coffee

How we tested canned coffee

linebreak

To find the best canned coffees, we cracked open dozens of cans (cartons and bottles!) for our editors and food experts to taste. In the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, we sorted coffees into categories, grouping similar types of coffee or flavors together.

Next, we poured each into glasses for a blind taste test, so editors could select their favorites in each category without being biased by the brands. Then, we distributed cans of coffee to editors to test drinking straight from the can. Editors took the cans home and/or drank them at their desk, providing feedback as to which were the most convenient and which were most delicious.

Because there are so many types of coffee drinkers out there, we tried to include a mix of coffee drinkers — from coffee purists who typically have their coffee black with no milk or sugar to the over-the-top latte lovers who crave something sweeter.

Headshot of Trish Clasen Marsanico
Trish Clasen Marsanico
Deputy Food Editor

Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.

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