Hi! I'm Olivia 👋
I was spending too much money on sugary Starbucks lattes, and was getting bored of my pod machine coffee! My friends recommended coffee concentrate so I decided to give a few brands a try.
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Updated May 2025
Best (and Worst) Coffee Concentrates 2025
I absolutely need coffee in the morning. but started to add up all my coffee runs and realized I was spending an hundreds of dollars a month on fancy coffees.
And while I love my pod machines (shout out to Nespresso and Kurig) they aren't as cheap as you think. Not to mention the time needed to get that coffee shop vibe I was looking for.
My coffee loving friends recommended trying "coffee concentrates" as an affordable and easy to make alternative. I was hesitant since I don't love black coffee and assumed they wouldn't taste good. But I am a total concentrate convert after testing several brands!
I purchased 9 brands and scored each based on flavor, prep time, caffeine content, and price. Take a look at my pros & cons for each!
And while I love my pod machines (shout out to Nespresso and Kurig) they aren't as cheap as you think. Not to mention the time needed to get that coffee shop vibe I was looking for.
My coffee loving friends recommended trying "coffee concentrates" as an affordable and easy to make alternative. I was hesitant since I don't love black coffee and assumed they wouldn't taste good. But I am a total concentrate convert after testing several brands!
I purchased 9 brands and scored each based on flavor, prep time, caffeine content, and price. Take a look at my pros & cons for each!
🏆 Winner - Best Overall 🏆
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Javvy
4.8/5
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All the brands I tried
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What was important to me in a coffee concentrate.
Taste
I knew that if I didn’t absolutely love the flavor, I’d just go back to my old habits and continue spending tons of money on coffee.
Convenience
I am usually short on time, and need to rush out the door to make it to work. I was not down for a multi-step process or complicated measuring. I needed something simple and easy
Affordability
The main reason I started looking into coffee concentrates was because I needed a cheaper alternative to my current coffee routine.
Other things I looked for:
❤️ Ingredient Quality + Calories: I definitely didn’t want a sugar bomb in the morning, and while I didn’t need my concentrate to be organic I also didn’t want junk in there either.
☕️ Caffeine content: I definitely need a boost in the morning but wanted to avoid anything that made me feel jittery or just crashed me in the middle of the day.
😋 Flavors: I figured if I loved a brand and they had a bunch of flavors it would make my morning coffee routine more fun.
What I wanted to AVOID in a coffee concentrate.
A midday crash 📉
Some concentrates can be REALLY strong and while that may feel great for the first few hours, I didn’t want to feel jittery or crash by 2p.
Artificial ingredients or preservatives 🧪
While I didn’t particularly care if my coffee was organic, I found out many popular concentrate brands use artificial flavorings or preservatives to extend shelf life and generally I try to avoid these types of ingredients in my diet.
Added sugars 🍭
Many mass-market concentrates include added sugars or artificial sweeteners to mask poor bean quality. These additives detract from the natural coffee flavor and add unnecessary calories
How I tested each brand
1. Daily taste test - Each day, I prepared and tested a different concentrate according to each brand’s prep instructions. I tried the products in the morning took extensive notes on all the factors I cared about. I limited myself to two cups total per day.
3. Energy level test - I measured my energy levels throughout the day and paid close attention to whether I felt over caffeinated.
4. Ingredient quality test - I researched all of the ingredients and compared their priced to Starbucks and pods.
5. Scored each product to find a winner - I scored them on the factors that mattered most to me, and compiled the ranking below!
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👍 What I love
Ridiculously Good Flavor: Hands-down the tastiest concentrate I’ve tried—smooth, rich coffee that’s lightly flavored and totally bitterness-free.
Perfectly Balanced Kick: Each serving packs 60 mg of caffeine, so I’m awake and focused without the jitters or a 3 p.m. slump.
No Sugar, No Junk: Zero sugar, zero artificial dyes or ingredients—just real, high-quality coffee in every drop.
Instant Barista Mode: One or two teaspoons, hot or iced, and I’m sipping café-level coffee in under 30 seconds.
Crazy-Affordable: Costs way less per cup than pods or Keurig brews—plus subscription pricing slashes the bill even further.
👎 What could be better
Limited Availability: Not being on Amazon is a tad inconvenient at first, because you have to plan a bit more. You have to order directly from their website, though they do offer free shipping and the process is pretty easy overall.
Can't buy at retail stores: The product is great but sometimes I wish I could just pop into a store and grab more.
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RUNNER UP
Pop & Bottle
4.3/5
4.6
Pros
Really good vanilla flavor options
Easy to make, just add 1 tbsp
Just under a $1 per serving
Steady no jitter caffeine boost
Made from organic coffee
0g of sugar
No artificial ingredients
Can be made iced or hot
Cons
One of my bottles arrived broken.
Didn’t love their other flavors
Limited flavor options
CHECK PRICE
Flavors
4
Caffeine per serving
90mg
Price per serving
$0.80
Servings per bottle
15
Flavor Profile
Slightly bitter, medium roast, with notes of vanilla
#2
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👍 What I love
Vanilla That Actually Hits: Their vanilla concentrate tastes like the real bean—rich, creamy, zero fake-syrup after taste.
Budget-Friendly: Just under a buck per serving, so it crushes pods, Keurig cups, and definitely the daily coffee-shop run.
Clean & Smooth Energy: Made from organic coffee with 0 g sugar and no artificial junk, it delivers a steady caffeine boost minus the jitters.
👎 What could be better
Packaging Arrived Broken: One bottle showed up cracked in transit and got coffee syrup all over me. This was the only brand this happened with.
Flavor Lineup Needs Love: Their vanilla flavor is really tasty, but the other flavors didn’t wow me, and the overall selection is pretty slim.
Stok
4.3/5
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4.2
Pros
Smooth unique smokey flavor.
Easily found in most grocery stores
Made from high quality coffee beans
Decent number of flavor options
Good option if you are VERY tired
Reasonably priced at X per serving
Cons
Only 4 servings per bottle
Hard to make, ratios are confusing
VERY high caffeine content, 145mg per serving
Better for those who like traditional black coffee
Making a fancier flavored version would take long
Flavors
8
Caffeine per serving
145mg
Price per serving
$1.75
Servings per bottle
4
Flavor Profile
Bold, traditional black coffee
#3
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👍 What I love
Bold, Smoky Flavor: Smooth with a subtle smoky twist—perfect if you like your coffee to taste like coffee but with a tiny campfire vibe.
Grab-and-Go Availability: You can snag a bottle at pretty much any grocery store, so no online waiting game.
Big Caffeine, Small Price: Roughly a buck-ish per serving and a hefty 145 mg of caffeine—great for the I-slept-four-hours mornings.
👎 What could be better
Only 4 servings per bottle: I don't know about you all but I drink at least 2 cups of coffee per day so at only 4 servings per bottle, I'd have to be buying a ton of product. The bottle aren't small so a bit incinvenient to store so many.
Fussy Mixing: The concentrate-to-water ratio can feel like a math test—too easy to overshoot.
Flavor Flex Is Limited: Basic coffee profile means it’s not ideal for fancy flavored drinks (and doctoring it up takes extra time).
Cometeer
4.0/5
4.2
Overall Grade: Excellent
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Pros
This is very good, American style coffee
Medium roast was smooth, low acidity
Offers options from well known coffee brands
Made from high quality coffee
Can be made hot or cold
Offers decaf options
Cons
Expensive! More of a splurge purchase
A bit annoying to prepare since it’s frozen
Would require more prep to get the fancy coffee vibe
Found the darker roasts on the acidic side
No unique flavors this is just plain coffee
Flavors
No specialty flavors
Caffeine per serving
Varies by brand
Price per serving
$2 (varies by brand)
Servings per container
8
Flavor Profile
Medium roast, smooth with fruity and chocolate notes
#4
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Waiting for the foam to subside lol
👍 What I love
High Quality Flavor: This is fancy coffee and tastes like a barista pulled it— the medium roast is smooth, low-acid, and straight-up delicious American-style coffee.
Big-Name Variety: You get pods from well-known specialty roasters (plus a solid decaf lineup), all using top-tier beans.
Hot-or-Iced Flex: Drop the frozen puck into hot water or leave it out over night to melt over ice—no machine required, just pick your temp and sip.
👎 What could be better
Pricey Treat: Definitely a splurge compared with concentrates, pods, or grocery-store cold brew.
Frozen Fuss: Prepping a puck takes thaw time and a little extra cleanup—more steps if you’re chasing a fancy latte vibe.
Straight-Up Coffee Only: No flavored options, and the darker roasts can edge toward harsh.
Jot
3.8/5
4.1
Pros
Best for those who like VERY strong taste
Easy to make, just add 1 tbsp and mix
Offer many different flavors
Reasonable subscription discount
Glass bottle preserves freshness
Cons
Expensive at $2 per serving
Only 15 servings per bottle
Very high caffeine content at 150mg per serving
Return window is only 20 days
Personally felt very jittery for several hours
Flavors
12
Caffeine per serving
150mg
Price per servings
$1.8
Servings per bottle
14
Flavor Profile
Dark roast, bold stronger acidic profile
#5
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👍 What I love
Classic-Coffee Taste, Fancy Bottle: Smooth, traditional flavor that coffee purists dig—plus it comes in a gorgeous glass bottle that slots neatly into the fridge door.
Flavor Lineup & Sub-Savings: Plenty of fun seasonal flavors, and the subscription deal knocks the price down nicely.
👎 What could be better
Pricey: About $2 a serving, and the bottle only pours 14 cups. That's more expensive than Nespresso!
Potent & Acidic: 150 mg caffeine can be a lot, and the dark roast leans acidic.
Short Return Window: You’ve got just 20 days to send it back if it’s not your jam
Only 14 servings per bottle: Not only is this pricey but there are only 14 servings per bottle so you'll definitely need to restock frequently if you drink more than 2 coffees per day.
Only 14 servings per bottle: Not only is this pricey but there are only 14 servings per bottle so you'll definitely need to restock frequently if you drink more than 2 coffees per day.
Why I chose Javvy
Javvy coffee concentrate won out on all fronts for taste, convenience, and price!
Not only is 10x cheaper than going to Starbucks everyday it's also cheaper than the pods I have been buying for my machines. Not to mention it's SO incredibly tasty.
I have saved over $1500 per year on coffee shops and couldn't be happier.
Not only is 10x cheaper than going to Starbucks everyday it's also cheaper than the pods I have been buying for my machines. Not to mention it's SO incredibly tasty.
I have saved over $1500 per year on coffee shops and couldn't be happier.
Thanks for reading!
Olivia A. - Blogger and Coffee Lover