GOAT STORY COLD BREW: MAKE COLD BREW AT HOME THE EASY WAY

Goat Story Cold Brew is yet another fun product from this innovative company.

Photo: Julia Bobak

I’ve been a fan of Goat Story since their original totally-weird-but-weirdly-practical goat horn mug.

They consistently deliver innovative and stylish products. But making cold brew is so easy, it’s hard to imagine even a creative brand mixing it up.

So I was curious when Goat Story announced the release of their Cold Brew Kit this year. Would it surprise me? Turns out, their cold brewer is much like any other – which isn’t a bad thing. It’s simple, practical, and affordable.

The Full Goat Story Cold Brewer Review

There are two options when purchasing the Goat Story Cold Brewer. The Cold Brew Kit consists of a glass brewing vessel, a lid, and three bags of freshly ground coffee. Alternatively, you buy the Cold Brewer, which includes a reusable mesh filter for brewing your favorite coffee. I tested both for this review and compared them with other best coffee makers for the cold brew method.

How We Rated It

• Ease of Use
• Coffee Flavor
• Capacity
• Cleaning
• Value for Money

4.3

• SEE ON GOAT STORY

Ease of Use – 4/5

Many people don’t realize that cold brew is probably the easiest way to brew coffee at home. It’s expensive at coffee shops because it requires more ground coffee than hot brew and takes more time, not because it requires barista skills.

It includes 3 filter bags of coffee already ground and weighed. Put a coffee bag in the pitcher, add water to the marked line, and simply soak it for up to 24 hours. Waiting might be the hardest part.

Using the super-fine mesh reusable filter is only marginally harder. Coarsely grind and weigh the coffee beans before adding them to the filter basket, which attaches snugly to the brewer’s lid. Add water, wait, and enjoy.

Areas For Improvement

I had a few minor quibbles when testing this product. The brewer is simply a cylinder with a spout and an airtight cover. While it has a pretty sleek aesthetic, a handle would be helpful for pouring. And it would be great to be able to pour without removing the lid.

Likewise, while the gray frosted glass looks beautiful, it means you can’t see the color of the coffee inside, which can be a useful indicator of extraction progress. I appreciate that a darker glass jar protects coffee from light, but that’s not a big issue while it lives in my fridge (1).

Coffee Flavor – 5/5

Coffee flavor depends largely on your choice of coffee, but this brewer always delivers the classic smooth, mild cold brew with a light body.

You can choose between two coffees with a Cold Brew Kit. Both are quite light and fruit-forward, so get the reusable filter if you prefer darker, chocolatey flavor notes. 

I sampled the Ethiopia Tega&Tula Gera. It was sweet and floral with a vibrant grapefruit acidity that was nicely mellowed by the cold brewing process. Science has shown that Ethiopian coffees that can be overly acidic brewed hot can be exceptional cold brews (2).

The other option is a “silky smooth Nicaragua Los Placeres with notes of Orange, Plum, and Tangerine.” I didn’t try it, but Goat Story exclusively sources premium 100% Arabica specialty coffee, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. 

There is always a concern that pre-ground coffee will arrive stale, but my coffee was very fresh. The canister is marked with a best-before date, which I’m willing to bet is 1 year after roasting – standard practice in the industry. My coffee arrived within two weeks of roasting (3).

Each coffee bag has 40 g of coffee, which Goat Story recommends you brew using 500 mL (17 ounces) of water. This yields a tasty cold brew mild enough to drink straight but flavorful enough to dilute with a little milk.

Capacity – 3.5/5

This is a relatively small cold brewer, though a little goes a long way for cold brew. It has a maximum capacity of 800 mL (27 ounces). There are markings on the brewer every 100 mL from 200 to 800 mL. If you’re brewing with the kit, the 40 g coffee sachets are designed to be brewed with 500 mL (17 ounces) of water – enough for two large or four small cups.

Cleaning – 5/5

Cleaning is particularly easy with the kit. Remove and dispose of the bag of ground coffee, and you’re ready to drink. I wouldn’t advise putting the brewer in the dishwasher as the glass is delicate.

The reusable filter is a little trickier to clean as ground coffee can stick to the sides. Use a long spoon to scrape it into the garbage or compost gently.

Value for Money – 4/5

I was pleasantly surprised by the reasonable price of the Goat Story Cold Brew gear. Cold brewing equipment is simple and should be cheap. But I worried that Goat Story would use their brand name and premium design to up the price. I was wrong. 

The Cold Brew Kit runs about $25, which is excellent value considering it includes 120 g of freshly ground specialty coffee. The brewer and filter without the coffee are about a dollar cheaper. You can buy just the filter for $12 or a 3-pack of coffee bags for $7.

I love that every piece is sold separately, so you can mix and match as your preferences change without re-purchasing anything.

After reading all this, you can also skim through our comparison table to check how this cold brew system stands against other similar options.

	Reviewed Item
Brand	Goat Story	OXO	Toddy	Takeya	Hario
Model	Cold Brew Kit	Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker	Cold Brew System	Cold Brew Pitcher	Mizudashi Cold Brew Pot
Device type	All-in-one cold brew pitcher	Coffee concentrate maker	Coffee concentrate maker	All-in-one cold brew pitcher	All-in-one cold brew pitcher
Brew style	Immersion	Immersion	Immersion	Immersion	Immersion
Maximum capacity	34 oz	40 oz	64 oz	32 oz	34 oz
Maximum brew	16 oz cold brew	24-28 oz concentrate	36-40 oz concentrate	18-22 oz concentrate	28 oz cold brew
# of servings	2-4	12-14	18-20	9-11	3-5
Filter material	Nylon mesh	Stainless steel mesh	Felt	Nylon mesh	Nylon mesh
Brewer material	Glass, BPA-Free plastic	BPA-Free plastic	BPA-Free plastic	Tritan plastic	Glass, BPA-Free plastic
Brew time	12 - 24 hours	12 - 24 hours	8 - 24 hours	12 - 24 hours	8 - 24 hours
Dimensions	3.5"D x 3.5"W x 7"H	9.53"D x 9.53"W x 14.72"H	7.25"D x 7.25"W x 12.5"H	5"D x 7.5"W x 9.5"H	4.72"D x 4.33"W x 11.81"H
Warranty	1 year	2 years	1 year	Lifetime	90 days
Current price	$27.13 (includes coffee)	$51.50	$49.00	$19.21	$21.95
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

Do Not Buy If…

• You want a higher capacity brewer: The Goat Story Cold Brewer might be too small for more than two coffee drinkers. In that case, consider the Bodum Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It comes in three sizes, the largest of which is 51 ounces.
• You want a fast cold brew: If you don’t want to wait a day for your cold brew, you’ll need an automatic cold brewer. The Cuisinart DCB-10P1 uses spin technology to speed extraction, making smooth cold brew in as little as 25 minutes. But be prepared to spend a little more.

The Verdict

Goat Story’s Cold Brew Kit is the easiest way to make delicious cold brew coffee at home. If you can turn on your tap, you have the barista skills necessary. Plus, it comes with exceptionally high-quality coffee. If you prefer to enjoy your favorite beans, the standalone Cold Brewer is nearly as straightforward and offers excellent value.

SEE ON GOAT STORY