The Story of SilverStream’s Signature New Orleans Cold Brew

Smooth. Sweet. Legendary.

Long before SilverStream ever poured its first cup, its story started with a little boy named Bruce and a family shaped by two very different worlds—New Orleans and the farmlands of Iowa.

Bruce’s father grew up in New Orleans during the Great Depression, in a time when chicory was mixed into coffee not for flavor, but frugality. Yet over the years, that simple substitution grew into a beloved local tradition—deep, rich, comforting, and unmistakably New Orleans.

As a child, Bruce would return to Louisiana with his family to visit relatives. Sometimes they’d arrive the usual way, and other times—if you ask Bruce, he’ll tell you this part with a grin—his dad would fly them in on a small plane. Those trips felt magical: warm nights humming with cicadas, the smell of simmering red beans from open kitchen windows, and the raucous squawks of a family parrot that—believe it or not—spoke with a Cajun accent.

Bruce’s mother, an Iowa farm girl with a gift for cooking, embraced the flavors of her husband’s hometown with enthusiasm. Though Bruce grew up in Colorado, the family dinner table often told a different story: pots of gumbo, red beans and rice, and spices that made the whole house feel alive. Her most treasured kitchen companion was a tattered, well-loved cookbook by New Orleans chef Paul Prudhomme. When she heard he was signing books at a local store, she brought her old, splattered copy instead of buying a new one. Chef Paul absolutely lit up—delighted to see how much life and love that cookbook had lived—and signed it with joy.

HOW IT'S MADE

CERRADO

The foundational coffee comes from the Cerrado region of Brazil, the world’s largest coffee-producing country. Brazilian Cerrado is known for its full body, creamy mouthfeel, and low acidity. It anchors the blend with milk chocolate, roasted nuts, caramel, and a hint of dried fruit—providing a smooth base.

SIDAMO

Show how much time customers have for testing your produFrom the highlands of southern Ethiopia—considered the birthplace of coffee—Sidamo adds a vibrant layer of citrus acidity and floral complexity. This coffee brings brightness and complexity to the blend with notes of lemon, bergamot, stone fruit, and sweet florals.

HUEHUETENANGO

This high-altitude coffee is grown in western Guatemala and is known for its clarity and sweetness. It contributes dark fruit and cocoa notes, rounding out the blend with balance and richness that pairs beautifully with milk and added flavors.

CHICORY ROOT

Chicory root is the roasted, ground root of the chicory plant, known for its warm, earthy flavor with natural hints of sweetness and nuttiness—making brews taste fuller and more rounded without bitterness.

That combination of heritage—New Orleans soul and Midwestern heart—became a foundation of Bruce’s life. And decades later, it quietly inspired what would become SilverStream’s Signature Cold Brew.

Our New Orleans–style cold brew honors those roots. It brings together Baseline Coffee and roasted chicory for a blend that’s smooth, sweet, robust, and timeless. Crafted long before cold brew became a trend, this style was born to beat Southern heat and savor every sip—over ice, black or creamy, refreshing and unforgettable.

Now a fan favorite at SilverStream, it’s finally available to brew at home—so you can taste a little of Bruce’s family story in every glass.

Cold brew coffee from SilverStream Coffee Roasters
Refreshing iced coffee made from New Orleans cold brew chicory coffee