My new series: Getting Caffeinated…Is my pursuit to continue to support veterans, and now first responders. Bottom line…I’m searching for great coffee.
In this new series of blog post called Getting Caffeinated, I’m going to review and highlight these companies as I find them, acknowledging their dedication to keeping this country caffeinated and ready to rule the day.
This edition is special, as I’m focusing on cold brew options. I’m not preparing a cold brew, but searching for ready-to-drink cold brew options. With the summer months upon us, hot coffee first thing in the morning might not be the most popular option for many parts of the country. So, how do you get that coffee fix when you wake up to 80+ degrees outside? COLD BREW
On Deck for the COLD BREW edition: Black Rifle Coffee and Trident Coffee
Black Rifle Coffee
I imagine everybody has heard or knows about Black Rifle Coffee Company. They are incredibly popular and arguably on top of the coffee game. A drastic departure from commercialized coffee, BRCC took on the major coffee corporations as well as major coffee chains (that will not be mentioned) with a viral approach to marketing that focused on having fun and connecting with their target audience: military, veterans, and first responders. AKA American’s Heros
Trident Coffee
Trident Coffee is a new company that I ran across while doing research on veteran owned companies. Based out of California, Trident Coffee was founded by Naval Officer Eric Johnson. Eric started brewing his own coffee during his final tour in Iraq, becoming very popular within the military community.
Founding Trident Coffee Eric focused on great recipes and something other craft coffee companies hadn’t really broke in to yet…cold brew. Fueling an active lifestyle and an unrelenting spirit that would help drive a positive impact between all walks of life. The mission of Trident is to connect people and ideas in order to live out their fullest potential.
With the unique approach to coffee, Trident has opened two taprooms, one in Coronado and another in Imperial Beach.
The Brews:
Cold Brew from BRCC: Espresso Mocha
BRCC has offered this edition of their cold brew in two flavors: Espresso Mocha and Espresso With Cream. I ordered the mocha, as BRCC doesn’t offer a regular cold brew without sweeteners.
I was hesitant, as I am no longer big on adding things to my coffee. I prefer to stay away from the larger amounts of sugar, and rarely sweeten my coffee. This brew however, once arrived, was pretty good.
The can itself resembles a RedBull can, slim and tall. It’s made with the right amount of sweetness to balance the coffee forward flavors while maintaining a low sugar content. For me, It was pretty good. I wasn’t taken back by the sugar content, and it was the right amount of sweetness that still tasted like coffee. It was a great shot to get my morning going, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Cold Brew from Trident: Trident Organic Nitro
The Trident symbolizes the power to connect all people, it gave Poseidon the ability to create earthquakes and control the seas. The Trident cold brew is an organic coffee with beans originating from Brazil Carmo de Minas, featuring what Trident calls a “Full City Roast” on a medium level.
I ordered a 6 pack and it came in great packaging, very similar to the high quality that BRCC ships in. The labels and branding all screamed Trident, with a golden Trident highly featured in their logo and packaging. The can is a typical can, just like a beer or soda can.
The cold brew is fantastic. It’s a no-frills basic cold brew without any artificial flavors or additives. It’s organic, and just straight beans brewed cold and ready to crush on a hot summer morning. It was perfect, and a nice and refreshing way to enjoy a nonsugary start to your morning.
Takeaway:
Both options are great. I love the organic Trident a little more, as it doesn’t have sugar or artificial flavors. It is just cold brew straight coffee. The BRCC option was great too, and will be perfect for people who like a flavored shot of adrenaline first thing in the AM. Trident offers flavored options to their cold brew, so I might have to check them out for comparison.
Regardless, both companies are doing great things for veterans, and I suggest you check them out online, as well as social media.
www.blackriflecoffee.com. or www.tridentcoffee.com