Grady's vs Stok
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.
Okay, so here’s the most redeeming part about Stok. It’s the fact that they have a wide variety of delicious flavors for you to choose from.
Un-Sweet.
Extra Bold.
Un-Sweet Bright Mellow.
Not Too Sweet.
Protein.
Pumpkin.
Mocha.
Vanilla.
Now, I haven’t tried all of their flavors yet, but the Mocha, Un-Sweet, and the Extra Bold flavors are delicious! It’s nice that they have different flavors for different types of coffee drinkers. However, just keep in mind, Stok does have a few reviews of people claiming that their coffee tasted expired, so maybe try a single bottle before buying a bigger package.
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.
Okay, I’ll be honest here, Stok comes LOADED with caffeine. Each bottle comes with 145 mg of pure energy-kicking caffeine...
And that can be a good thing, or a bad thing. If you’re used to drinking normal black coffee, it’s going to feel like a bit much for you. So the first time you drink it, you might get an EXTRA BIG kick, and that might be what you want.
However, the problem is, if you go back to drinking normal coffee, it’s not going to feel exactly the same. And that’s because you’re going to get used to having 145 mg of caffeine in each serving, so the next time you drink regular coffee, you might not feel quite as energized.
Now, what I do is if I’m ever feeling extra tired, or if I'm in a pinch. I’ll grab one of the cold brews, because I know that it will give me an extra big boost. However, I try not to drink them on a regular basis, so that I can still drink regular coffee while getting the energy boost I need.
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.
Ughhhhhh…
This is where I have a problem with Stok, and other cold brew coffees who make similar products. You see, each serving of coffee that you want comes packaged in it’s own bottle. So every time that you want to drink a new serving of Stok…
You have to open up a new bottle, which means you either have to drive to WalMart to pick one up, or you have to order a bulk package on Amazon. And I don’t know about you, but that’s SUPER annoying to me! Plus, can you imagine how much plastic you would waste in a single year if you drank Stok consistently?
And while this isn’t an environmentally-themed review, I just want to point that out. So let’s move onto something more positive for Stok, and talk about how easy it is to use.
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.
This is probably the biggest selling point for Stok as well as other products like it. Because when you want to drink coffee, you don’t have to worry about mixing, heating up water, or doing any work at all…
All you have to do is tear the plastic seal at the top of the bottle, twist the lid off, and your coffee is ready to drink! It really doesn’t get easier than that, and you can see why so many people like drinking cold brew from a bottle.
However, for me, it doesn’t make sense for me to stock up on 20-30 bottles of Stock in my pantry. I just don’t have the room. So unless you’ve got room to spare, I recommend that you find a more space efficient way to drink coffee.
Scoring Breakdown
Coffee
Grady's Cold Brew
Stok Cold Brew
Attribute Ratings
Origin
Grady's Cold Brew
Stok Cold Brew
Quick Facts
Recommended Preparations
Ready to drink straight from the bottle, best served cold. No preparation needed.
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
Stok Cold Brew
- Smooth flavor
- Available in grocery stores
- Convenient for cold brew coffee
- Only a few servings per bottle
- Limited flavors