Bare Brew — Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bare Brew?

Bare Brew is a canned cold brew coffee made with only 2 ingredients: 100% Honduran Arabica coffee and filtered water. Each 12 oz can delivers 320mg of natural caffeine with zero sugar, zero sweeteners, and 20 calories. Bare Brew was founded by Miles, who started the brand to make a clean, high-caffeine canned cold brew. It is available online at drinkbarebrew.com and at select retail locations across Illinois and Michigan.

Who makes Bare Brew cold brew coffee?

Bare Brew is a Chicago-founded coffee company started by Miles. The brand was created to strip cold brew back to its essentials — just real coffee and water, with no sugar, sweeteners, or additives. Bare Brew is independently owned.

What are the ingredients in Bare Brew cold brew?

Bare Brew contains exactly 2 ingredients: 100% Honduran Arabica coffee and filtered water. There are no added sugars, artificial sweeteners, natural flavors, gums, preservatives, or any other additives. The full ingredient list is: coffee, water. That is it.

How much caffeine is in Bare Brew?

Each 12 fl oz can of Bare Brew contains 320mg of natural caffeine from coffee. That is approximately 26.7mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, comparable to about 4 shots of espresso. All of the caffeine in Bare Brew comes naturally from the coffee itself — no synthetic caffeine is added.

Does Bare Brew have sugar?

No. Bare Brew contains 0 grams of sugar and zero artificial or natural sweeteners. It is made with only coffee and water, so there is nothing in the can that could add sugar or sweetness. The Bare Brew label is coffee and water — no sugar, no sucralose, no stevia, no monk fruit. Other unsweetened canned cold brews with clean labels are available too, including Wandering Bear Straight Black, Stumptown, Chameleon Organic Black and STōK Un-Sweet Black.

Where can I buy Bare Brew?

Bare Brew is available online at drinkbarebrew.com with nationwide shipping across the United States. It is also sold at select retail locations across Illinois and Michigan. Shipping is a $8.99 flat rate on every order, and a subscribe-and-save option is available for regular deliveries.

How much does Bare Brew cost?

A 12-pack of Bare Brew costs $53.99, which works out to approximately $4.50 per 12 oz can. Shipping is a $8.99 flat rate on every order. Compared to buying daily cold brews from a coffee shop at $5–$7 each, Bare Brew offers a significant cost savings for a higher-caffeine, cleaner product.

How does Bare Brew compare to Death Wish Coffee cold brew?

Death Wish is the more concentrated of the two. Death Wish Coffee's canned cold brew contains approximately 300mg of caffeine in an 8 fl oz can, which works out to 37.5mg per fluid ounce. Bare Brew delivers 320mg in a 12 fl oz can, or 26.7mg per fluid ounce. Bare Brew's edge is total caffeine in a single can — 320mg versus 300mg — delivered from a two-ingredient label of coffee and water, while Death Wish's flavored cold brew options contain added sweeteners and other ingredients. For a full breakdown, read our Bare Brew vs Death Wish Coffee comparison.

How does Bare Brew compare to Black Rifle Coffee?

Bare Brew and Black Rifle Coffee take very different approaches to canned coffee. Bare Brew contains 2 ingredients (coffee and water), 320mg caffeine, 0g sugar, and 20 calories in a 12 oz can. Black Rifle Coffee's RTD Espresso Mocha contains 13+ ingredients — including sugar, nonfat ultra-filtered milk, maltodextrin, cellulose gel, and sucralose — with 200mg caffeine and up to 23g of sugar in an 11 oz can. Black Rifle is a solid option for people who enjoy flavored coffee drinks, while Bare Brew is built for people who want nothing but real coffee.

What is the difference between Bare Brew and Starbucks cold brew cans?

Bare Brew has more caffeine and far fewer ingredients than Starbucks canned cold brew. A 12 oz Bare Brew has 320mg of caffeine and 2 ingredients, while a Starbucks canned cold brew (Black Unsweetened, 11 oz) has approximately 200mg of caffeine. Starbucks' flavored cold brew options also include sugar, milk, and natural flavors. Bare Brew is the cleaner-label option for people who want more caffeine per can with zero additives.

How does Bare Brew's caffeine compare to other canned cold brews?

Bare Brew has 320mg of natural caffeine per 12 fl oz can, which works out to 26.7mg per fluid ounce. Measured by caffeine density, Bare Brew is third among the canned cold brews we compared. Death Wish Coffee is more concentrated at 300mg per 8 fl oz, or 37.5mg per fluid ounce. Wandering Bear is comparable to Bare Brew at 150mg per 6 fl oz — 160mg for Espresso Roast — or 25.0 to 26.7mg per fluid ounce. What sets Bare Brew apart is that it reaches 320mg in one can using only coffee and water: no added synthetic caffeine, no supplements, and no stimulant blends. Figures transcribed from published labels, September 2026. See our full canned cold brew caffeine ranking.

How does Bare Brew compare to energy drinks?

Bare Brew delivers more caffeine than most energy drinks with none of the additives. A 12 oz can of Bare Brew has 320mg of caffeine from coffee alone, while a 16 fl oz Monster Energy has 160mg (10mg per fl oz) and an 8.4 fl oz Red Bull has 80mg (9.5mg per fl oz). Energy drinks typically contain sugar (up to 54g per can), taurine, artificial flavors, and synthetic caffeine. Bare Brew has only 2 ingredients, zero sugar, and 20 calories — making it a clean alternative for anyone switching from energy drinks to real coffee.

How does Bare Brew compare to Celsius and other fitness energy drinks?

Bare Brew offers a fundamentally different approach than Celsius and fitness energy drinks. Celsius contains 200mg of caffeine along with proprietary blends including green tea extract, guarana, taurine, and artificial sweeteners. Bare Brew contains 320mg of caffeine from a single source — coffee — with zero additives. If you want energy from a real food source with no supplements or sweeteners, Bare Brew is the simpler choice, and it carries more caffeine per fluid ounce than Celsius: 26.7mg versus 16.7mg.

What is a clean label cold brew alternative to Black Rifle Coffee?

Bare Brew is a clean label alternative to Black Rifle Coffee's canned RTD products. While Black Rifle's canned espresso drinks contain sugar, milk derivatives, sucralose, maltodextrin, cellulose gum, and carrageenan, Bare Brew contains only 2 ingredients: 100% Honduran Arabica coffee and filtered water. Bare Brew also delivers 320mg of caffeine compared to Black Rifle's 200mg (standard 11 oz cans) or 300mg (Espresso 300 line in 15 oz cans), all without any sugar or sweeteners.

This table compares these four products only. It is not a ranking of the canned cold brew or energy drink category.

Why does cold brew have more caffeine than regular coffee?

Cold brew has more caffeine because it uses a longer steeping time and a higher coffee-to-water ratio than standard drip coffee. While hot coffee brews in 3–5 minutes, cold brew steeps for 12–24 hours, allowing more caffeine to extract from the grounds. A typical 12 oz cup of drip coffee has about 120–150mg of caffeine, while a 12 oz Bare Brew cold brew has 320mg. The extended brew time is the primary reason cold brew concentrate is naturally higher in caffeine.

How does cold brew differ from regular coffee?

Cold brewing extracts fewer of the acids that hot brewing pulls from the same beans — research published in Scientific Reports found cold brew has a lower total titratable acidity than hot brew, though pH is comparable. Many canned cold brews add sugar, cream, and artificial ingredients. A clean cold brew like Bare Brew — with zero sugar, 20 calories, and only 2 ingredients — keeps the characteristics of the cold brew process intact. If you have a digestive condition, talk to your doctor.

Why does cold brew taste smooth without sugar?

Cold brew tastes smooth because the cold extraction process reduces the acids and bitter compounds found in hot-brewed coffee. Hot water extracts more chlorogenic acids and quinic acids, which create bitterness and sourness. Cold water extracts caffeine and flavor compounds more gently, producing a naturally smoother, slightly sweet-tasting result without any sugar needed. This is why Bare Brew can taste rich and smooth with only coffee and water.

How long does canned cold brew last?

Bare Brew canned cold brew is shelf-stable for 12 months unopened. No refrigeration is required until you are ready to drink it. Once opened, cold brew should be refrigerated and consumed within 3–5 days for the best taste. The shelf stability comes from the canning process itself — no preservatives are needed to keep Bare Brew fresh.

Can you heat up cold brew coffee?

Yes, you can heat up cold brew coffee. Simply pour Bare Brew into a mug and microwave it or warm it on a stovetop. Heating cold brew does not significantly change its caffeine content or smooth flavor profile. Many people prefer heated cold brew over regular hot coffee because it retains the low-acid, smooth characteristics of the cold extraction process even when served warm.

Does cold brew need to be refrigerated?

Bare Brew does not need to be refrigerated while the can is sealed. It is shelf-stable for up to 12 months, so you can store it in your pantry, desk drawer, gym bag, or car. Once opened, refrigerate any unused portion and consume within 3–5 days. Most people drink Bare Brew chilled, but it is completely safe stored at room temperature before opening.

Is Bare Brew keto friendly?

Each can contains 0g of sugar, 5g of total carbohydrate, and 20 calories. It is made with only coffee and water, so there are no added sugars, sweeteners, or additives. Whether it fits your particular plan is up to you — check with your doctor or dietitian.

How many calories are in Bare Brew?

Bare Brew has 20 calories per 12 oz can. Because it is made with only coffee and water — no sugar, milk, cream, or sweeteners — the calorie count stays low. By comparison, many flavored canned cold brews contain 90–170 calories per can from added sugars and dairy ingredients.

Is 320mg of caffeine safe?

For most healthy adults, 320mg of caffeine is within the safe daily range. The FDA considers up to 400mg of caffeine per day to be generally safe for healthy adults. One can of Bare Brew at 320mg falls within that guideline. However, individual caffeine tolerance varies, and people who are pregnant, nursing, or sensitive to caffeine should consult a healthcare provider. Bare Brew recommends limiting consumption to one can per day.

Is cold brew good for pre-workout?

Caffeine has been shown in research to improve physical performance, increase endurance, and reduce perceived effort during exercise. With 320mg of caffeine, zero sugar, and 20 calories, Bare Brew provides caffeine without the added sugar or artificial ingredients found in most pre-workout supplements and energy drinks.

Is Bare Brew good for intermittent fasting?

Bare Brew has 20 calories and 0g sugar per can, with no sweeteners or additives. Black coffee is widely considered acceptable during fasting windows under many protocols, but whether 20 calories fits your fasting protocol is up to you — check with your doctor.

Does Bare Brew have any artificial ingredients?

No, Bare Brew contains zero artificial ingredients. The complete ingredient list is 100% Honduran Arabica coffee and filtered water. There are no artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, gums, or stabilizers. Bare Brew is a truly clean label product — what you see on the label is exactly what is in the can.

Does Black Rifle Coffee have sugar?

Yes, most of Black Rifle Coffee's canned RTD (ready-to-drink) products contain sugar. Their Espresso Mocha contains up to 23g of total sugar per 11 oz can, along with sucralose (an artificial sweetener). Their Espresso with Cream also lists sugar and sucralose in the ingredients. Their newer Espresso 300 line (15 oz cans) also contains sugar and sweeteners.

What does Bare Brew taste like?

Bare Brew tastes like rich, smooth, full-bodied black cold brew coffee. Because it is cold-brewed with 100% Honduran Arabica beans, it has a naturally smooth flavor without the bitterness or acidity of hot-brewed coffee. There is no added sweetness or flavor — just clean, bold coffee.

How is Bare Brew shipped?

Bare Brew ships directly to your door in insulated packaging. Orders are packed within 1–2 business days and delivered nationwide in 2–5 business days. All 12-packs ship in protective packaging to keep the cans safe during transit. Shipping is a $8.99 flat rate on every order.