For most of us working professionals, a cup of coffee is never far from our caffeine-dependent hands. Beyond providing a hit of energy to get us through the workday, coffee drinking has become something of a ritual for some of us.
During this COVID-19 situation and the ensuing ‘Circuit Breaker’ period, many of us coffee lovers have been cut off from our usual routine of picking up a cuppa before work. No more dine-in means no business meetings over handcrafted cappuccinos, and no afternoon iced latte tête-à-têtes to decompress.
But what if you can get fresh cold brew coffee and tea delivered straight to your doorstep? Enter: Bootstrap Beverages. Specialising in cold brew coffee, they use 100% Arabica beans sourced from family-run farms in Bali and Singapore, then brewed and bottled fresh in Singapore.
As a coffee fiend who can’t do without my daily cuppa, I was delighted to review Bootstrap Beverages’ Bootstrap Mix Pack (S$35). This mix pack of six bottles includes all of Bootstrap Beverages’ signature cold brew flavours, so let’s see how they stack up!
Starting with the Bootstrap Cold Brew Black Coffee (S$5.00 per bottle/one-time purchase, S$3.56 per bottle /subscription with promo), this perk-me-up contains zero calories, and each 250ml bottle equals two full cups of coffee.
This is a healthier option; this drink has no preservatives or additives, just 100% all-natural Arabica cold brew coffee. The 15-hour cold brewing process produces an ultra-smooth, light coffee.
It started delicate and refreshing, with dark chocolate malt notes throughout. Not too overpowering, with a hint of roasted chocolatey notes on the finish.
If this wasn’t strong enough for you, then you need to try the Bootstrap Cold Brew Strong Coffee (S$6.00 per bottle/one-time purchase, S$4.27 per bottle /subscription).
This is a favourite amongst the fitness community and driven individuals, and it’s not hard to see why. Brewed with double the strength, this black coffee is best enjoyed over ice—though feel free to enjoy it “neat” for that caffeine jolt.
Full-bodied but still ultra-smooth, each sip really helps to punch through that pesky sleep-fogged state when you don’t clock enough sleep hours. The bitter, dark chocolate finish really ties the whole drink together.
For those who enjoy their coffee with milk, Bootstrap Beverages has two options: Bootstrap Cold Brew Milk & Manuka Honey (S$6.50 per bottle/ one-time purchase, S$4.63 per bottle/ subscription with promo), and Bootstrap Cold Brew Oat Milk (S$6.00 per bottle/ one-time purchase, S$4.27 per bottle/ subscription with promo).
Even those who are lactose-intolerant can try the Bootstrap Cold Brew Oat Milk. One of the latest additions to the cold brew line-up, this coffee is creamy, naturally sweet, and refreshingly smooth. And, it’s vegan-friendly too!
This is a good choice for those who like the caffeine boost but aren’t a fan of the bitter, roasted flavours.
A truly unique combination of flavours, the Bootstrap Cold Brew Milk & Manuka Honey is a classic white coffee, but with a twist. Bootstrap Beverages’ signature cold brew comes with creamy 100% fresh milk, and the floral sweetness of organic New Zealand manuka honey—it has natural healing properties!
This was the sweetest of the cold brews—not to say it was overly so, but the manuka honey brought out velvety smooth sweetness in the coffee and milk. Most of the bitter edge of the coffee was smoothed over by the milk and manuka honey.
Not a coffee drinker? Don’t worry, Bootstrap Beverages has you covered with the Bootstrap Cold Brew Hojicha Tea (S$5.50 per bottle/one-time purchase, S$3.91 per bottle /subscription with promo) and the Bootstrap Cold Brew Rooibos Orange Tea (S$5.50 per bottle/one-time purchase, S$3.91 per bottle /subscription with promo).
I really liked the Bootstrap Cold Brew Rooibos Orange Tea, which was a naturally sweet fusion of South African rooibos and orange, then lightly sweetened with wildflower honey.
Nothing less than I expected from a collaboration between the cold brew technique of Bootstrap Beverages, and the premium artisanal blend of Kindred Teas.
With faint citrus and vanilla notes, this smooth cold brew tea was soft and rounded on the palate. It’s also caffeine-free, so this herbal tea is great for any time of the day—a refreshing change for someone like me who’s super caffeine-dependent.
For something slightly punchier, Bootstrap Cold Brew Hojicha Tea is your drink of choice. If you know your teas, hojicha is a traditional roasted green tea with notes of coffee, roasted barley and faint caramel.
This is lower in caffeine than the coffee cold brews, so you can sip on it throughout the day. Light, smooth and a tad astringent on the finish, this will perk you up without overloading on caffeine.
If you’re looking for a perk-me-up, Bootstrap Beverages has what you need. Coffee or tea, their cold brewing technique certainly brings out the best in the beans and leaves.
They also use 100% recyclable glass bottles, and they even have a system for collection and recycling of used bottles.
To save you the hassle of manually adding to your cart every time you need a boost, the Bootstrap Subscription Program delivers expertly crafted cold brews to your doorstep with free shipping. You can mix-and-match the drinks you want, and control your schedule so that you get your cold brews exactly when you need it—and you can pause or cancel your subscription any time.
Psst, you can get 25% off your first eight payments with the promo code SUBNOW, so get clicking on your favourite Bootstrap Beverage packs—for as low as $3.56 per bottle!
Expected Damage: S$3.56 – S$4.63 per bottle (depending on flavour and subscription plan)
*This post was brought to you in partnership with Bootstrap Beverages.