Black cold-brew shoppers
If you want cold brew that is ready to drink without milk or sweetener, check the ingredients as well as the sugars line. Coffee Friend UK lists Sandows as coffee and filtered water, with 0 g sugars per 100 ml.
Who each format suits
Households buying chilled lattes
A larger fridge pack may suit several at-home servings if a milk coffee is what you want. Waitrose lists Starbucks Multiserve Skinny Latte in a 750 ml pack with lactose-free milk and no added sugar; it also contains naturally occurring sugars.
People happy to mix drinks at home
Concentrate suits a shop for multiple prepared drinks if you are willing to add a mixer each time. Nescafé states that its 500 ml unsweetened concentrate makes 16 servings of 30 ml each; the finished drink depends on what you add.
What to check before buying
Decide whether cold brew itself matters, then compare the ingredients, sugars information and number of drinks you can make from the pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Read both the no-added-sugar claim and the sugars line. Starbucks Chilled Coffee lists 3.5 g sugars per 100 ml for its Doubleshot Espresso No Added Sugar; Coffee Friend UK lists 0 g per 100 ml for Sandows. | I want to know the total sugars in the drink, not just whether sugar was added. |
| Coffee style | Check whether the product is ready-to-drink cold brew, espresso-based iced coffee or a concentrate that needs diluting. Also check its ingredients if milk or sweeteners matter. | Cold brew is part of what I’m shopping for, rather than simply any coffee served cold. |
| Milk and sweeteners | Check the ingredient and allergen information. Sandows lists coffee and water; Waitrose describes Starbucks Multiserve as made with lactose-free milk, while Starbucks lists acesulfame K in its Doubleshot Espresso No Added Sugar. | I may want black coffee, a milk coffee or a drink without a non-sugar sweetener. |
| Servings and preparation | Compare pack size with stated servings, and check whether the drink needs mixing. Nescafé states 16 servings from its 500 ml concentrate; Waitrose lists a 750 ml Starbucks Multiserve pack, while Coffee Friend UK lists Sandows as two 200 ml bottles. | For the week, I want enough drinks in a format I’ll actually prepare or take with me. |
| Finished drink | For concentrate, compare nutrition using the mixer and serving size you plan to use. Tesco lists 7.4 g sugars per glass for 30 ml Nescafé concentrate prepared with 150 ml semi-skimmed milk. | If I’m adding milk or another liquid, I want to compare the drink in my glass with a ready-to-drink bottle. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugars”
Sugars can still be present in a milk coffee. Starbucks Chilled Coffee lists 3.5 g sugars per 100 ml for its Doubleshot Espresso No Added Sugar and describes the sugars as naturally occurring.
Compare the sugars line per 100 ml and per serving, then check the ingredients if milk or sweeteners affect your choice.
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Assuming every cold brew has no added sugar
Marks & Spencer identifies its Classic Latte as cold brew, but also lists sugar in the ingredients and 3.8 g sugars per 100 g.
Check the brewing description and the ingredients separately; one does not establish the other.
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Comparing concentrate with a finished bottle
Nutrition for a prepared drink includes what you mix into it. Tesco’s example of Nescafé concentrate with semi-skimmed milk lists 7.4 g sugars per glass.
Use the same prepared serving basis when comparing it with a ready-to-drink coffee.
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Using an online listing instead of the pack
The pack you buy is the place to confirm its current ingredients, allergens and nutrition information, particularly when a dietary requirement is strict.
Read the physical label before purchase rather than relying only on an earlier online description.
Relevant brand references
These examples illustrate different cold-coffee formats; a brand’s inclusion does not mean every product it makes has the same ingredients.
Sandows
A ready-to-drink black cold-brew example.
- Coffee Friend UK lists coffee and filtered water as the ingredients, with 0 g sugars and 40.5 mg caffeine per 100 ml.
- The listed pack contains two 200 ml bottles rather than one multi-serve bottle.
Starbucks Chilled Coffee
Espresso-based chilled milk coffees for shoppers considering a no-added-sugar latte rather than cold brew.
- Waitrose lists the Multiserve Skinny Latte in a 750 ml pack made with lactose-free milk.
- The Multiserve latte contains naturally occurring sugars. Starbucks lists milk, naturally occurring sugars and acesulfame K for its separate 200 ml Doubleshot Espresso No Added Sugar.
Nescafé
An unsweetened espresso concentrate for making iced coffee at home.
- Nescafé states that its 500 ml Espresso Concentrated makes 16 servings of 30 ml each.
- It needs mixing and is not ready-to-drink cold brew. The sugars in the finished glass depend on the liquid added.
M&S
An example showing why cold-brew labelling needs a separate ingredients check.
- Marks & Spencer describes its 250 ml Classic Latte as a cold-brew coffee with semi-skimmed milk.
- Its ingredients include sugar, so this latte does not fit a strict no-added-sugar shortlist.
Joybuy product options
This portioned coffee liquid is an option for making several black coffees at home. It needs diluting, so check the brewing method if cold brew itself is essential to your choice.
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J.ZAO Extra-Strong Americano Cold Brew Coffee Liquid, 10 × 25 ml pouches
The individual pouches offer a portioned option for drinks made at home. Dilute before drinking; the product is labelled zero sugar, but any mixer you add affects the finished drink. If the extraction method matters to you, confirm it before buying rather than relying on “cold brew” in the title alone.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean an iced coffee has no sugars?
No. Check the sugars line as well as the claim: Starbucks Chilled Coffee lists 3.5 g sugars per 100 ml for its Doubleshot Espresso No Added Sugar and says the sugars are naturally occurring. Coffee Friend UK lists 0 g sugars per 100 ml for Sandows cold brew.
How do I distinguish cold brew from other iced coffees?
Check the product description and preparation method rather than relying on the fact that a drink is served cold. Coffee Friend UK describes Sandows as ready-to-drink cold brew; Waitrose describes Starbucks Multiserve as an espresso-and-milk iced coffee, while Nescafé’s espresso concentrate must be mixed before drinking. Marks & Spencer’s Classic Latte is cold brew, but its ingredients include sugar.
Will unsweetened concentrate make a sugar-free finished drink?
Not automatically: what you add matters. Tesco lists 7.4 g sugars per prepared glass when 30 ml Nescafé concentrate is mixed with 150 ml semi-skimmed milk. Check your chosen mixer and serving size to assess the finished drink.
What should I check on the pack before buying?
For a no-added-sugar cold coffee, read the current ingredients, allergen information, sugars line and serving instructions alongside any front-of-pack claim. UK government guidance says prepacked food labels must carry mandatory information and must not be misleading; checking the physical pack helps you assess the product you are buying.