It’s hot outside. I mean, it’s really, really hot. It’s the kind of heat that has me glistening with sweat by the time I make my three-block walk to the office. It’s also the kind of heat that has me leaving my hot coffee behind until October, looking for something much colder. I’ve found relief in cold brew coffee, and I’ve made it my mission to find out what makes the refresher different from regular iced coffee and more importantly who has the best in Dallas.
Will Riggs, of Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters and Davis Street Espresso, shared the intricacies of cold brew.
“One of the huge benefits of cold-brewed coffee is its low acidity,” Riggs says. “Not using hot water for a quicker extraction helps us extract a lot of the flavor out of the coffee without extracting some of the more acidic qualities of hot-brewed coffee. This lends cold brewed coffee to be very smooth and sweet on the palate.”
Aside from being packed with caffeine, what sets cold brew apart is its functionality.
“It’s great by itself on the rocks or wonderful with milk added, similar to an iced latte,” Riggs explains. “[Also,] the stuff keeps a while in the fridge so brew yourself a batch and nurse it all week long.”
Here’s a guide to the best cold brews in Dallas.
IF YOU NEED A CROISSANT WITH YOUR COFFEE: Sip | Stir Café
Uptown’s Sip | Stir Café is cozy and inviting, and their cold brew gadget is one of the first things you see when you walk in the door. It looks like a science experiment but creates a velvety smooth and strong concoction. Their pretty pastry counter doesn’t hurt either.
Roaster: Dark roasted beans from Jeremy Gursey out of L.A.
Pro tip: Talk about a perfect cold-brew addition- weekend mornings at Sip | Stir include Hypnotic Donuts on Saturdays and Tacodeli breakfast tacos on Sundays.
IF YOU’RE FEELING FANCY: Weekend Coffee
Located on Main Street, Weekend Coffee is nestled in the corner of the beautiful Joule hotel. This was the best cup of cold brew I have ever had. It packed a punch, but wasn’t bitter. I drank every drop during the 10-minute walk back to the D office.
Roaster: Victrola Coffee Roasters out of Seattle
Pro Tip: The coffee shop itself is quite small, so take your cold brew on a walk.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY A WHILE: Davis Street Espresso
Positioned on the edge of the Bishop Arts District, Davis Street Espresso steeps their cold brew at 78 degrees for exactly 14 hours. Then, it’s bottled in recycled TopoChico bottles to keep it extra cold. Their cold brew is incredibly smooth and rich. Crack open your bottled brew and settle in with a book or a friend.
Roaster: Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters
Pro Tip: This summer, Davis Street is also offering a Kilowatt, which is a Kyoto-style cold brew made with a geisha coffee from Panama, tonic water, a single ice cube made from cascara (the skin and pulp of the coffee fruit), and muddled mango.
IF YOU NEED TO WAKE UP … LIKE, NOW: Cultivar
One of the best advantages of cold brew is that it’s super caffeinated–and when its brewed correctly, it isn’t at all bitter. Cultivar’s strong and easy cold brew is equal parts wake-up magic and deliciousness.
Roaster: Cultivar
Pro Tip: Cultivar’s Peavy location shares space with Goodfriend Package Store.
IF YOU NEED A GOOD CUP … FAST: White Rock Coffee
White Rock Coffee has been brewing cold brew since they opened 11 years ago, and they’ve got it down to a science. Their cold-brew is beautifully dark and chocolaty with a texture like velvet. White Rock also has a drive-thru at their Abrams and Northwest Highway locations.
Roaster: White Rock Coffee Roasters
Pro Tip: If you’re not much for a plain, black cold-brew, White Rock also offers blended drinks like the Caramel Slam and Blended Mocha–their cold brew coffee mingled with milk, syrup, and ice.
IF YOU WANT COMMUNITY WITH YOUR COFFEE: Ascension
Ascension, settled in the Design District, has a wonderfully cozy atmosphere and even better coffee. Their cold brew is deep, rich, and dark–just the way it should be. Ascension is far from your typical coffee shop–their bistro-style tables and delicious menu (hello, avocado toast) make it the best place to spread out and enjoy the company of friends and family.
Roaster: Ascension
Pro Tip: Parking at Ascension gets a little tricky with such a small lot. You can either park down the street from Meddlesome Moth and walk or valet (tip-only).
IF YOU LOVE CHATTING WITH YOUR BARISTAS: Houndstooth
Located on Henderson Avenue, Houndstooth is cozy and inviting. If you’re looking for a delicious cold brew crafted and poured by delightfully friendly baristas, this is your spot.
Roaster: Tweed Coffee Roasters
Pro Tip: Houndstooth has opened a second Dallas location at Sylvan | Thirty.
Susannah Hutcheson is a D Magazine intern.
