Secret Squirrel Cold Brew

Ive consumed a lot of coffee in my time and a lot of cold brew in the last few years. I’d say it was cool to find but Im not sure Im totally down with the flavors that come out in this particular roast. Now Im all for small mom and pop type business but at the end of the day taste is the most important! 3.75 stars

I purchased this cold brew yesterday from whole foods. I was excited about it so as soon as I got it home, I cracked it open! It was so sour even with the 2 parts milk, one part coffee. I get that it’s a concentrate and therefore «much stronger than other coffee». I’m so sad because it was much more expensive than my favorite chameleon cold brew (double in price). Quite disappointed. I would like to edit this because after I exchanged emails with someone, I can say I’m even more disappointed. I was spoken to as I have never tried a cold brew before and was made to feel that my opinion did not matter because for someone to dislike the taste of this particular coffee is «unusual». I’m really disappointed in the customer service. It’s not even about the refund or exchange, now it’s about having intelligence insulted and my value as a customer being completely ignored. I’m usually much more understanding considering this is a local LA place but frankly, they could brush up on how to ask the right questions without making it seem like it’s the customers fault.
I will edit this one more time. The customer service person I spoke with did offer me a 30% off code to order more of the cold brew if I wanted to try it. Additionally, he was apologetic about the interactions we had. For this, I might be willing to some day try again. Thanks for trying Secret Squirrel.

Simply said about the owners and the product… FIVE starts all the way!
Thanks to Unique LA I can across them. I don’t know where I would be had it not been for that day.
Product: The quality is superb to anything I have ever tasted. If you love iced coffee, there is nothing that compares to it. It funny, after having SS Cold Brew — Sbucks iced coffee is disgusting. Whats even better; its organic, less acidic, and 2x the caffeine.
Customer Service: Its great. I’ll tell you why — two people who are very passionate about what they do and sell. You don’t have to deal with much. I’ve ordered online and picked up at the Studio City Farmers Market. Super simply and convenient.
So what are you waiting for? Just buy some already!

What an interesting concept, basically a cold-​brewed concentrate (they say double filtration forms the concentrate, but I’d imagine evaporation does). Won’t find them anywhere regularly but the Sunday (8:00am-2:00pm) Studio City Farmers’ market. Here’s why… They have no store, but they did recently have a kickstarter focused on bottling non-​concentrated versions of their signature cold brews. So you may see this catching on in stores soon.
Frankly when my girlfriend who loves her iced lattes recommended this to me, I laughed to myself and asked, «how can you possibly get good tasting cold brewed coffee like a kyoto or a toddy or whatever in the middle of a farmers’ market?» So I came with her once to try and I’ve been going back with her weekly ever since. My previous experience with cold brewed coffees has been a tepid one. My first experience was at Demitasse in Little Tokyo. Several other stops along the way have lead me to know that certain flavors tend to be a bit more muted in the cold brews (acids) and some sweet and bitter (caffeine?) flavors tend to be emphasized. So what could make these drinks so good? Frankly I’ll leave that to a food chemist to determine, right now I’ll just tell you what I like about them.
They make a series of drinks with their concentrate. One combines the concentrate with condensed milk for a take on a vietnamese iced coffee. It’s rather good and does generally get that flavor. Though, I tend to like the Vietnamese coffee for it’s balance with the condensed milk and acidity. However, if you reduce the amount of coffee with condensed milk and balance it with a little more black concentrate, you get a really drinkable coffee. Frankly this half black-​vietnamese iced coffee may be my favorite. May be, because my girlfriend introduced me to another of their specialties…
The almond milk latte. They use Califa almond milk, which for some reason plays excitingly well with their concentrate over ice. Together they form a unique balance of flavor. Usually I’m not the biggest almond milk fan, but attempts to have other coffees with almond milk don’t really compare (Peet’s is just starting to use it and I’m really displeased by G&B’s use of it for the almond cappuccino). Many places don’t even carry almond milk, so it’s a real treat to have discovered this. I’ve never once been disappointed in the quality, in fact I think there is something to learn from their process of making the concentrate. Due to the regularity of producing a consistent large amount of one thing, they can have a very consistent flavor between drinks. This is significantly different from making a few shots of espresso at a time and hoping your latte will come out right.
Occasionally, don’t let anybody know, but if we miss them in our first leg of walking the market, we get panicked that they might not be there. As a result, we run frantically around hoping that we missed their booth trying to get our hands on some almond milk iced lattes. It’s so secret it’s secret.

I have not been to this store in person but rather I ordered from them online. The coffee is amazing but the customer service extremely poor, at best.
First there were several shipping errors but most importantly they shipped on the last possible day of the week, Wednesday, so that it would arrive by Friday because the product is supposed to be kept refrigerated at all times as it says on the bottle. Instead of the 2 – 3 days they claimed, instead it took 6 days to arrive so it sat over the weekend in at least 100 degree temperatures. So this «cold brew» coffee was officially not cold brew anymore. lol. The guy said he would send me another package so I could try the product as it was intended and now this is the 3^rd day (takes them at most 2 days to brew coffee) and he has stopped responding to emails entirely and has, as of now, sent absolutely no tracking number. Assuming the new coffee actually comes it will have been approximately 16 days since I ordered the product. (a couple days added by a middle man called UrbanDaddy).
I also had the gall to request that an extra bottle be added to my order or a t-​shirt or something to make up for all the hassle but no response at all so evidently they don’t care about me as a customer tarnishing their reputation. I have heard rumors of Unilocal removing reviews for Secret Squirrel. When you go to a 4 or 5 star restaurant and your food takes a long time to come out they would give you a free appetizer so for them to act like I am simply trying to get something for free is absurd and pathetic. I will update this review assuming they make things right but as of now I never want to do business with them again in my life which is unfortunate considering the coffee is awesome. I guess i will buy my own cold coffee press. lol

Cold Brew Iced Latte w/​Almond Milk — quite possibly the most smooth and delish latte you will ever sip!

This is amazing… try it!
Just wish they stocked it on the east side of LA…

I’m such a fan! And I’m not much of a coffee drinker, can you believe that?
I «Like» this product so much, I won a couple bottles through their Facebook contest! Yay! Honestly, this product is so smooth, no acidity at all. Just mix 2 parts milk and 1 part brew and add over ice. Note: this product is freshly made, the shelf life is around 1 month. Also one bottle costs around $ 13 and yields 7 cups. That’s less than $ 2 so definitely worth getting for those summer parties when you’re having dessert.
My first experience with their product was at the Unilocal event last summer. I’ve been wanting to go to the Studio City Farmer’s market ever since because coming from OC, there’s really no distribution in the county nor in the brick and mortar shops nearby. But it is definitely good to hear they are expanding.
So you OC peeps, what good news can I offer you? After winning these bottles and talking to Rebecca, she told me they will be doing demos at Surfas in Costa Mesa soon. Yay!

If you are a third wave coffee shop or roaster, I’ve tried your brew. And this is the best iced coffee I have ever tasted. I am embarrassed to admit (but feel it necessary for this review) that I’ve become a bit of a coffee snob. I wouldn’t walk into a Starbucks if their espresso cured cancer, and don’t even think about handing me a cup of coffee poured from your mother’s Keurig. The Secret Squirrel is the real deal and every drop is worth every penny you spend on it. Just a pour yourself a small glass, add milk, and you’ve got yourself one smooth and brilliant cup.

If you have ever been to Europe, you’ve noticed how great coffee tastes while you were there. Whether it’s «American”-style brewed at the hotel or made from an espresso machine with steamed milk, the coffee just tastes smooth and decadent. After a week in Milan for an ophthalmology congress, (drinking 3 cappuccinos a day because it was so good) I was yearning for the beloved coffee. Squirrel Coffee fit the bill oh so well. Their coffee is smooth and chocolaty and made with fair trade, organic beans.

The most delicious cold-​brewed coffee I’ve ever had, and I’ve had many. I’m not sure what the «secret» is, but I’m glad the squirrel shares!

I had given up coffee, and then this came along. It’s good. TOO good. I have a new addiction.

i tried this at a Unilocal event and was really impressed. the iced latte sample i tried was so smooth and creamy, with such a great coffee taste. i was amazed to see they weren’t using whole milk — the brew just has the nicest, creamiest consistency on its own.
i’ve since bought several bottles from atwater village farm and will continue to buy them. mixing some of the brew with milk is a faster alternative to making my own lattes. it even tastes delicious mixed with water in place of ice! no milk/​sugar needed.

Every Sunday that I go to the Studio City Farmer’s Market, I buy one of Secret Squirrel’s Iced Coffee’s. They’re so tasty, and generally gone in 5 minutes. I can’t help it! It’s so smooth, and wonderful to have on the hot summer days.

I picked up a mini brew from Secret Squirrel at a recent Unilocal event. One bottle made a couple of tasty iced lattes for myself and the hubster! Very yummy stuff, and we’re hard to please as infrequent coffee drinkers.
I’ll make sure to stop by their stand at the farmer’s market sometime soon!

Love the flavor and easy on the tummy. Thank you Secret Squirrel!

This is truly some fantastic coffee without the acidity. So smooth and fresh! I love it!
FYI, I was told that « Unilocal» was deleting many of the Good Reviews Secret Squirrel was receiving. Why I wondered ?
It will be interesting to note if my reviews stay or go away.
Go by on Sundays at Studio City market and bring your Good NRG!

I was at the Farmers Market and thought what a new idea — cold brew coffee. I had to taste it. It was delicious with no acid taste. The people who own it are warm and friendly. I highly recommend you checking it out if you love a good cup of coffee.

Secret Squirrel Cold Brew is a phenomenal drink! My wife and I tried it for the first time at Farmer’s Market (Studio City, CA). The people are friendly and from what we learned are using quality ingredients.
HIGHLGY RECOMMENDED! Check out the iced latte! A welcome fresh alternative.

I cannot stand acidic coffee… I know as a singer, I am extra sensitive when it comes to the voice… but geeezz… some coffee just burns going down. Which (in my opinion, really takes away from the actual brilliant taste of the coffee) These guys recently popped up at the Studio City Farmer’s Market… and since I just can’t help myself to grab some every time I am there.
The business was created by Rebecca & Trevor Smith… they greet you with shining smiles and unforced kindness… offering samples of both hot & cold brew. The process is impressive and unique and truly activates the natural flavorings in the brew… hints of chocolate & creamy texture… you end up feeling more like you are at a wine tasting. I don’t recall all the details on the brewing process except that it is not heated. (obviously— since it is COLD-​brew. hehe) Which is even MORE reason to drop by their stand and as the couple yourselves.
All I know, is the result of this process is the smoothest, most delectable cup of amazing coffee… Hoping to see Secret Squirrel Cold Brew concentrate in Whole Foods or a local coffee shop soon… But for now— EVERY SUNDAY in Studio City will just have to do.
Their FB page: