Blue Bottle vs Cappio
Why They Make The Cut?
Review Summary
Flavor Profile
The flavor profile of the Three Africas blend is truly exceptional. It offers a complex mix of jammy notes from the natural Ethiopian coffee, pleasant acidity from the washed Ethiopian, and body and sweetness from the washed Central African. When cold brewed, it produces a drink with impressive depth and luminosity that spans the coffee spectrum.
I found the cold brew to be smooth and well-balanced, with a nice interplay of fruit notes and deep sweetness. It's refreshing and easy to drink, yet still complex enough to satisfy more discerning palates.
Alright, so this is probably the only redeeming part of drinking Capio Coffee. The flavor isn’t too horrible, however, it does have a very slight sour taste to it. I think that’s a byproduct of their unique extraction process…
And if I had to compare it to the other cold brew concentrates I’ve tried, it probably fits right in the middle. However, some of the other coffee drinkers I’ve talked to have different opinions. A few of them say it’s the best coffee they’ve ever tasted.
And the other coffee aficionados, well… let’s put it in their own words:
“It tastes very bitter, like old sludge from the coffee pot at Grandma’s house.”
Now, I think that’s the problem with having this patented and trademarked process. Because it locks you into following the same exact process for DECADES, even when better-tasting brewing, roasting, and mixing methods come out.
Flavor Notes
Caffeine Content
Blue Bottle doesn't provide specific caffeine content for their cold brew set. However, cold brew generally contains more caffeine than regular coffee due to its concentrated nature. Based on my experience, it provided a good energy boost without feeling jittery.
It's worth noting that you can adjust the strength (and thus caffeine content) by changing the coffee-to-water ratio or diluting the final product to your liking.
Here’s another place where Capio dropped the ball. Because in my opinion, it should be illegal for a company that sells a stimulant (yes, coffee is a stimulant) to NOT publish how much caffeine is in the product.
I’ve tried to email and call Capio’s customer service time to find this information (as we’ll talk about in the customer service review section)... but they haven’t given me a straight answer.
The fact that I can’t know how much caffeine is in their cold brew concentrate is straight up RIDICULOUS! Other people have complained about this problem online too, and I can’t believe that they still haven’t published this crucial information.
Convenience Factor
The Blue Bottle Cold Brew Set is quite convenient, especially for those who enjoy making cold brew at home. The set comes with everything you need to get started, including the coffee and brewing instructions.
One minor inconvenience is that you need to plan ahead, as cold brew typically needs to steep for 12-24 hours. However, once brewed, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, which is great for having coffee ready to go.
Alrighty then, let’s move onto the next point. When you think of a coffee concentrate, you think of a really powerful form of coffee, where you just have to add a small amount of it to water in order to make your cup of goodness. (Like Javy or Jot where you just need 1tsp - 1tbsp)...
However, with Capio’s cold brew concentrate, that’s NOT what you get. If you follow their directions, using 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water… yeah you’ll get coffee. But from my taste test, it was WEAK, so I had to add in a lot more concentrate to my coffee…
Basically, I had to use almost half a bottle to make a 12oz cup of coffee. And considering the fact that each bottle runs about $10, that’s a rip off! So if you want to regularly make your coffee with Capio, you better stock up on A LOT of bottles. And you better be ready to give them hundreds of dollars every month.
Ease of Use
The cold brew set is straightforward to use, even for those new to making cold brew. Blue Bottle provides clear instructions on their website and with the product.
The process involves combining ground coffee with cold water, letting it steep in the refrigerator, and then filtering. While it's not as instant as some concentrate options, the process is simple and yields great results.
I’ve mentioned this in a few of my other reviews, but I can’t stand it when concentrates use the “1 part concentrate 2 parts water” stuff. When I’m making my coffee in the morning, I’m already DEAD tired, and I don’t want to be doing math at 6:30 in the morning…
So, what I started doing after a few days, was just eyeballing how much concentrate I poured into my mug. Is that scientifically accurate? NO! But it’s a heck of a lot easier than grabbing a bunch of measuring cups and trying to get the perfect ratio of concentrate to water.
Scoring Breakdown
Coffee
Blue Bottle Coffee Cold Brew Set
Cappio Cold Brew
Attribute Ratings
Origin
Blue Bottle Coffee Cold Brew Set
Cappio Cold Brew
Quick Facts
Recommended Preparations
Best prepared as a cold brew by combining ground coffee with cold water and steeping for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator. Can be diluted to taste and served over ice. The concentrate can be stored for up to two weeks when refrigerated.
1 part concentrate to 2 parts water (though reviewer suggests using more concentrate for better taste)
Ideal For
Pros and Cons
Blue Bottle Coffee Cold Brew Set
- Exceptional flavor profile
- High-quality, freshly roasted beans
- Versatile brewing options
- Requires advance preparation
- More expensive than some alternatives
- Lack of specific caffeine content information
Cappio Cold Brew
- Convenient to use
- Available in grocery stores
- Only a few servings per bottle
- Bitter tasting
- Bulky in a fridge