Grady's vs Jot
Why They Make The Cut?
Review Summary
Flavor Profile
Grady's Cold Brew offers a unique flavor profile that sets it apart from other cold brews. The New Orleans-Style blend, infused with chicory and spices, creates a rich, smooth taste that's both bold and nuanced. Many customers rave about its velvety texture and the fact that it's enjoyable even without added milk or sugar.
The flavor is described as robust yet smooth, with no bitter aftertaste often associated with cold brews. The addition of chicory adds a subtle depth to the coffee, while the proprietary blend of spices contributes to its distinctive taste without overpowering the coffee notes.
Customers particularly appreciate the consistency of flavor across batches, indicating Grady's commitment to quality control in their brewing process.
Whenever I try a new coffee, the first thing that I want to know is the flavor. So what I did was I ordered both of the flavors that Jot offers (the Original and dark)...
And then I took two days to test both of them out. On the first morning, I tried the Original flavor, and on the second morning I tried the Dark flavor. Now, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with Jot, but when I drank my first cup of the Original coffee, I was pleasantly surprised.
Jot tasted almost exactly like normal coffee, and that’s impressive considering it only takes a few minutes to make hot or cold drinks. It had a smooth flavor that wasn’t too acidic, so I’ll give it a 7.5/10!
The next morning, I tried the dark roast. And honestly, I’m not quite as crazy about the dark roast. It might be because I’m not usually a huge fan of dark roasts, but something just tasted off about it. I’m not sure if I got a bad bottle, but it tasted like ould sour coffee.
Flavor Notes
Caffeine Content
While Grady's doesn't explicitly state the caffeine content on their packaging or website, cold brew coffee generally contains more caffeine than regular brewed coffee due to its concentrated nature. Based on customer reviews, the caffeine kick from Grady's Cold Brew is substantial, providing a strong energy boost.
It's important to note that the caffeine content can be adjusted based on how you dilute the concentrate. This flexibility allows users to control their caffeine intake according to their preferences and tolerance levels.
For those sensitive to caffeine or looking to monitor their intake, it would be beneficial if Grady's provided more specific information about the caffeine content in their product.
So, to make your coffee with Jot, you use a full tablespoon of the concentrate. And that tablespoon has 150mg of caffeine. Which compared to the other cold brews, that’s about average, most of them have between 140mg-180mg of caffeine.
However, I still stand by my opinion. The average cup of coffee has about 90 mg of caffeine inside of it, and I don’t like how these concentrates and cold brews up their caffeine dosage. I don’t know if it’s because they want to give you a bigger energy boost so that you keep drinking it. (Just like how energy drinks do)...
But I’m a bigger fan of concentrates like Javy because they don’t overload you with quite as much caffeine.
Convenience Factor
Grady's Cold Brew scores high on convenience. The concentrate format allows for easy storage and quick preparation of coffee drinks. Each 32 oz bottle provides multiple servings, reducing the need for frequent purchases.
The fact that it's readily available for home delivery or in many grocery stores adds to its convenience factor. Customers appreciate the ability to have their favorite cold brew on hand without the need to visit a coffee shop.
The concentrate's versatility is another convenience factor. It can be used to make both hot and cold coffee drinks, catering to different preferences and seasons.
However, the need for refrigeration before and after opening might be a slight inconvenience for some, especially when traveling or in situations where refrigeration isn't readily available.
Ooooookay! Here’s my problem with Jot, I’m not a big fan of how each bottle only gives you 14 cups of coffee. Considering how I drink about 2 cups per day, that means I’m going to need a new bottle every week. And since each bottle normally runs $24.99… that means I’ll be spending $100 per month on coffee!
And for that price, I might as well be going to Starbucks for my coffee! I don’t think it would be quite as bad if they gave you 30 servings per bottle, at least that would make it affordable, manageable, and also less wasteful. But the good news is, the Jot bottles don’t take up a lot of space, they’re easy to store, and you also don’t need a machine to use them with.
Ease of Use
Grady's Cold Brew is designed for easy use. The concentrate format allows for simple preparation - just mix with water or milk according to your taste preference. This ease of use is particularly appreciated by customers who want a quick, hassle-free coffee experience.
The product comes with clear instructions on the recommended ratios for mixing, making it easy even for those new to cold brew concentrates. The ability to adjust the strength by varying the amount of concentrate used adds to its user-friendly nature.
One potential area for improvement could be providing more detailed guidelines or recipes for various coffee drinks that can be made with the concentrate, which would enhance the user experience further.
Now, here’s where Jot really shines, because like the other coffee concentrates, it’s really easy to use. All you have to do is grab a cup of cold or hot water, pour 1 tablespoon of Jot, and mix it together. And BOOM- in only a few minutes, you have delicious coffee ready to drink.
Plus, they finally give you a way to quickly make coffee… without you having to suffer through metallic-tasting instant coffee. (Seriously, that stuff is HORRIBLE! Whenever I drink instant coffee, like I said I’ve tried A LOT of coffees… I want to spit it out instantly)
Scoring Breakdown
Coffee
Grady's Cold Brew
Jot
Attribute Ratings
Origin
Grady's Cold Brew
Jot
Quick Facts
Recommended Preparations
Simple mix of 1 tablespoon concentrate with hot or cold water, can be prepared in minutes.
Ideal For
Pros and Cons
Grady's Cold Brew
- Unique New Orleans-Style flavor
- All-natural and dietary-friendly
- Convenient concentrate format
- Versatile for hot and cold drinks
- Lack of specific caffeine content information
- Requires refrigeration
- Limited recipe suggestions
Jot Ultra Coffee
- Easy to use and pour
- Great packaging
- Quality customer service
- Bitter tasting coffee
- Overpriced $24 for 12 servings
- No flavor selection