"Zero sugar" on the front of a can is one line. The ingredient list and the Nutrition Facts panel on the back tell you the rest. Here's how to read both on a cold brew, with the rules behind the words.
What Does Zero Sugar Cold Brew Actually Mean?
"Zero sugar" is a regulated claim in the US. Under 21 CFR 101.60, a food can be labeled "sugar free," "no sugar" or "zero sugar" only if it has less than 0.5 g of sugars per reference amount and per labeled serving, and contains no ingredient that is a sugar (unless that ingredient is flagged on the label as adding a trivial amount).
That rule is about sugars. It doesn't say anything about sweeteners, flavors, gums or other ingredients, so a "zero sugar" drink can still list non-sugar sweeteners. "No added sugar" is a separate claim with its own conditions under the same regulation.
Why Sugar in Cold Brew Is Worth Checking
Black cold brew is coffee and water. Once a drink adds milk, cream, syrup or flavor, sugar often comes with it. According to the FDA:
- The Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day, based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10 percent of total calories per day.
A sweetened coffee drink every day is easy to overlook, which is why the Added Sugars line is worth a look.
Label Comparison: Sweetened vs. Unsweetened
Here's what two published labels show. Figures are per labeled serving, taken from each brand's own product page, checked October 30, 2026.
| Product | Serving | Total Sugars | Added Sugars | Calories | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Brew Cold Brew (label) | 12 fl oz can | 0g | 0g | 20 | Filtered water, Honduran Arabica coffee |
| STōK Not Too Sweet Black (label) | 12 fl oz (48 oz bottle, about 4 servings) | 12g | 12g | 70 | Coffee (filtered water, coffee), cane sugar, natural flavor |
Bare Brew is our own product. Many other brands sell unsweetened black cold brew with only coffee and water on the label, so if that's what you want, you have options. Compare caffeine per fluid ounce, format, price and taste. Labels change, so check the current one before you buy.
What to Look for on a Cold Brew Label
Check the ingredient list, not just the nutrition panel. A "zero sugar" product can still contain non-sugar sweeteners. The World Health Organization lists common ones as acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose and stevia.
Know what "natural flavor" covers. Under 21 CFR 101.22, natural flavors are extracts and similar products derived from plant or animal sources "whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional," and a label can declare them simply as "natural flavor." The ingredient list won't say which compounds were used.
Read both sugar lines. The FDA explains that Total Sugars include naturally occurring sugars plus added sugars, while Added Sugars include only sugars added during processing and sugars from syrups and honey (FDA).
Check servings per container. A large bottle can hold several servings, and the panel lists one.
Look for the caffeine number. The FDA says listing how much caffeine a drink contains is voluntary (FDA). FDA says up to 400mg a day is an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most healthy adults.
More on this in our guide to reading a sugar-free cold brew label.
Cold Brew and Acidity: What One Lab Study Found
A 2018 study in Scientific Reports by Rao and Fuller (journal page) compared hot and cold brew coffee made from the same beans. The pH of hot and cold brews was similar, while the hot brews had higher titratable acidity and higher antioxidant activity. That's a lab measurement of brewing methods, not a finding about how any drink affects the body. If coffee bothers your stomach, talk to your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "zero sugar" mean on a cold brew label?
Under 21 CFR 101.60, "zero sugar" means less than 0.5 g of sugars per reference amount and per labeled serving, with no ingredient that is a sugar unless it is flagged as adding a trivial amount.
What's the difference between zero sugar and unsweetened?
"Zero sugar" is about sugars only, so a zero sugar drink can still contain non-sugar sweeteners. To know whether a drink is unsweetened, read the ingredient list.
What's the difference between Total Sugars and Added Sugars?
According to the FDA, Total Sugars include naturally occurring sugars plus any added sugars. Added Sugars are sugars added during processing, plus sugars from syrups and honey.
How much caffeine is in Bare Brew?
Each 12 fl oz can of Bare Brew has 320mg of caffeine. FDA says up to 400mg a day is an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most healthy adults, so count it with any other caffeine you have that day.
Is cold brew less acidic than hot coffee?
In the 2018 Rao and Fuller study in Scientific Reports, hot and cold brews had similar pH, and the hot brews had higher titratable acidity. It was a lab comparison of brewing methods.
Keep Reading
- Canned Cold Brew Coffee: Brands Compared
- How Much Caffeine Is in Cold Brew?
- How Long to Steep Cold Brew
- What Matters When Choosing a Cold Brew
What's in a Can of Bare Brew
No sugar. No dairy. Bare ingredients, a special blend of coffee and water. Each 12 fl oz can lists filtered water and Honduran Arabica coffee, with 0g sugar, 20 calories, 5g total carbohydrate and 320mg caffeine. See the product page and current prices.
Sources:
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.60, nutrient content claims for calorie and sugar content.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.22, "Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives."
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label."
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?"
- World Health Organization. Non-sugar sweeteners guideline news release, May 15, 2023.
- Rao and Fuller. Study of acidity and antioxidant activity in hot and cold brew coffee. Scientific Reports, 2018.
- STōK. Not Too Sweet Black Cold Brew Coffee product page (checked October 30, 2026).
This article is general information, not medical advice. Bare Brew is a coffee drink, not a treatment for any condition. Each 12 fl oz can has 320mg of caffeine. It's not recommended for children, people who are pregnant or nursing, or anyone sensitive to caffeine. If you take medication or have a health condition, talk to your doctor about caffeine.
