WILMINGTON — The heat of the summer is in full swing in New Hanover County, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your morning coffee in exchange for ice water. Next time you’re itching for a caffeine fix but can’t stand the heat, head to your favorite local coffee shop and order up a refreshing cold brew.
Cold brew, unlike typical drip coffee, takes several hours to make just one batch, while there are different methods to perfecting cold brew, the recipe is simple: coffee, water, and time. Dominic DePierro, with Crush and Grind in Carolina Beach, explained the difference between iced coffee and cold brew.
“Iced coffee is hot, percolated coffee that is then chilled. When coffee is brought to a high temp. the oils release, which gives iced coffee that acidic bite you taste. Cold brew is steeped coffee … It has no acidity, it’s super smooth and has a nice bit of caffeine,” DiPerro said.
As the popularity of cold brew coffee continues to grow, more and more local coffee shops are offering their own blends of the smooth, caffeine packed drink. Check out this list of some local coffee shops in New Hanover County offering cold brew coffee.
The list is not comprehensive of all coffee shops in the area, so be sure to comment your favorite coffee cold brew shop in the comments.

Lucky Joe Craft Coffee
Lucky Joe Craft Coffee offers customers a unique take on coffee with its Lucky Joe craft brewed coffees which are brewed “low and slow,” kegged, and then served on tap.
Lucky Joe offers several different blends of cold brewed coffee (including a decaf blend for all the taste without the kick). Lucky Joe Craft Coffee has two locations in Wilmington, 1414 South College Road, and 6620 Gordon Road.
Tidal Creek Co-Op Cafe

At Tidal Creek Co-Op you can get your caffeine fix before,during, or after you pick up your all your favorite local organic groceries.
Located at 5329 Oleander Drive in Wilmington, stop by for a refreshing cup of cold brew.

Crush and Grind
For beach goers at Carolina Beach, Crush and Grind has your cold brew needs (as well as local beer and wine) covered. A self described “café based wine bar,” it has only been open a few months and has attracted coffee fanatics looking for a cool down.
Crush and Grind steeps its cold brew for over 24 hours and is located at 7 Harper Avenue in Carolina Beach.

Grinders
Grinders is located at 5032 Wrightsville Avenue in Wilmington and serves up its own special blend of cold brew. Grinders let the coffee brew for 18 hours and it is only made in small batches. Grinders also offers live local music on Thursday (and most Saturdays).

Brick + Mortar
Located in the Brooklyn Arts District of Wilmington, Brick + Mortar is a craft coffee shop that offers cold brew everything – none of the coffee in the shop is brewed with heat. After a 15 hour brewing process the coffee is then kegged and then infused with nitrogen.
It’s located at 1005 North 4th St. in Wilmington and is open Tuesday through Saturday.