Who might choose each style?

Holidaymakers wanting a ready-to-drink coffee

If a stated double shot appeals, Marks & Spencer describes one in its Classic Latte Cold Brew. Sainsbury's and Waitrose also list Jimmy's Iced Coffee Strong, though its name is not a measure of caffeine content.

Drinkers avoiding dairy

Marks & Spencer describes its Oat Latte Cold Brew as dairy-free. For a black coffee instead of an oat latte, Coffee Friend UK lists Sandows cold brew as dairy-free, with coffee and filtered water as its ingredients. Check the exact pack for other allergens.

Travellers who prefer black coffee

Coffee Friend UK lists Sandows as a ready-to-drink cold brew made with coffee and filtered water. It is an alternative to a milk-based iced coffee when you want a drink that needs no mixing.

What should you check before buying?

Choose the drink format first, then check the ingredients and serving information that matter for your trip. A double-shot or Strong designation does not provide a like-for-like caffeine comparison.

PriorityWhat to checkYour needs
Coffee character Look for the stated format: double-shot latte, Strong-labelled iced coffee or black cold brew. Compare caffeine per serving separately if that is what you mean by strength. I want a more pronounced coffee taste, but I do not want a bold-sounding name to stand in for a caffeine figure.
Preparation Check whether the drink is ready to drink or needs diluting. For a concentrate, check its mixing directions and what you will need to serve it. A bottle is convenient when I cannot mix a drink; a concentrate makes more sense when I have water and a cup.
Ingredients Read the exact pack for milk, oats, wheat-related allergen advice and sugars per 100 ml or 100 g, as labelled. I may want an oat latte or a black coffee rather than a dairy latte, and I need to know what is in the one I buy.
Caffeine Compare milligrams per serving only when the serving sizes are clear. Include other caffeinated drinks or supplements when planning what to take on the trip. If I am choosing by caffeine content, I need a figure for the amount I will actually drink.
Travel storage Check the current pack for storage instructions and its best-before date. Consider whether you can follow those instructions while travelling. I need a drink I can store as directed throughout the journey, not just carry on departure day.

Common buying mistakes

  • Treating “strong” as a caffeine ranking

    Marks & Spencer states that its two cold-brew lattes have a double shot, while retailers list a Jimmy's Strong variant. Those are different product descriptions, not comparable caffeine figures.

    If caffeine is the deciding factor, compare the current packs using milligrams per clearly defined serving.

  • Assuming every cold brew has the same ingredients

    Marks & Spencer's Classic Latte contains semi-skimmed milk; its Oat Latte is described as dairy-free. Coffee Friend UK lists Sandows as a black cold brew made with coffee and filtered water.

    Check the exact pack's ingredient and allergen information, particularly if dairy, oats or wheat affect your choice.

  • Confusing coffee liqueur with a coffee drink

    Sainsbury's lists Tia Maria Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur at 20% alcohol by volume. The words “cold brew coffee” do not make it a non-alcoholic iced coffee.

    Check the product category and alcohol content before putting it alongside drinks intended for a non-alcoholic coffee choice.

  • Relying on an online description alone

    Ingredients, allergen advice and storage instructions on the pack are the details you will use while travelling.

    Read the current label when you buy, especially if you are choosing a multipack for the whole holiday.

Brands and retailers to consider

These references cover different drink formats; a retailer listing does not establish stock at a particular shop or provide a common measure of strength.

M&S

Marks & Spencer describes double-shot Classic Latte and Oat Latte cold-brew drinks.

  • The Classic Latte combines cold brew, espresso and semi-skimmed milk, according to Marks & Spencer.
  • The Oat Latte is described as dairy-free; check its pack for oat and other allergen advice.

Waitrose

Waitrose lists Jimmy's Iced Coffee Strong and Nescafé espresso iced-coffee concentrates in its iced-coffee range.

  • The range gives shoppers a choice between a Strong-labelled drink and a mix-at-home format.
  • The category listing does not provide a like-for-like caffeine comparison.

Tesco

Tesco lists espresso iced-coffee concentrates among its iced-coffee options.

  • A concentrate is worth considering if you will have water and a cup for mixing.
  • The category listing does not establish the caffeine content of a prepared serving.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's lists Jimmy's Iced Coffee Strong in its iced-coffee range.

  • The Strong variant has a distinct name that helps identify it on the shelf.
  • Check the product pack for ingredients and caffeine information rather than interpreting the name as a measured strength scale.

Sandows

Coffee Friend UK lists Sandows as a ready-to-drink black cold brew.

  • The retailer lists fresh coffee and filtered water as its ingredients and describes it as sugar-free and dairy-free.
  • Check the caffeine figure and its serving basis on the pack before comparing it with a latte.

Joybuy options for these choices

These options cover a cold-brew concentrate to dilute and a bottled double-shot espresso iced coffee. The bottled espresso drink is not identified here as cold-brewed.

J.ZAO Extra-Strong Americano Cold Brew Coffee Liquid, 25 ml × 10 pouches

J.ZAO Extra-Strong Americano Cold Brew Coffee Liquid, 25 ml × 10 pouches

Consider this if you can mix a cold coffee while travelling rather than carry a ready-to-drink bottle. The pack is labelled as 10 servings in 25 ml pouches and zero sugar; follow its dilution directions and check the current label if caffeine per prepared serving matters.

View on Joybuy
Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Iced Coffee, 12 × 200 ml

Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Iced Coffee, 12 × 200 ml

Consider this bottled iced espresso coffee if you prefer a drink that needs no mixing. The pack contains 12 × 200 ml; check its milk and sugar information, chilled-storage instructions and caffeine per bottle before taking it on a trip. Its name does not establish that it is cold-brewed.

View on Joybuy

Questions about strong cold coffee

How can I compare the strength of cold coffees?

Decide whether you mean coffee taste or caffeine content. A double-shot statement or Strong product name can help you shortlist drinks, but a caffeine comparison needs milligrams per serving and a clear serving size on each current pack.

Which of these drinks avoids dairy?

Marks & Spencer describes its Oat Latte Cold Brew as dairy-free, while Coffee Friend UK lists Sandows black cold brew as dairy-free and made with coffee and filtered water. Check the exact pack for other ingredients and allergen advice.

Does a stronger coffee flavour mean more caffeine?

No. Descriptions such as robust, Strong and double shot do not establish a like-for-like caffeine amount. Compare labelled caffeine figures on the same serving basis if caffeine is your deciding factor.

What if I also have other caffeinated drinks on holiday?

Check the caffeine amount per serving for each drink or supplement you plan to use, and account for the servings you actually have. Do not use a coffee's flavour description as its caffeine figure.

Is cold-brew coffee liqueur the same as a cold-brew coffee drink?

No. Sainsbury's lists Tia Maria Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur at 20% alcohol by volume. Check for alcohol on the label when choosing a non-alcoholic cold coffee.