It seems like everyone has been talking about Cold Brew recently, especially with coffee joints like Starbucks coming up with different versions of this coffee, it has become the talk of the town.
But, most people seem to misunderstand the whole concept of Cold Brew. It is often misconstrued as Black coffee with ice or iced coffee. While the name suggests it is Cold Brew (Coffee), It definitely has more to it than it seems.
In this article we will be talking about everything you need to know about Cold Brew, like what is the drink exactly, how was it developed, what it tastes like, its benefits, how to make it and so much more. Continue reading to find out the best information on Cold Brew.
What Is Cold Brew?
As the name suggests cold brew is coffee brewed with cold water. In simple words, the process of making Cold Brew involves steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water for 12 to 14 hours.
It started gaining popularity in recent years. One of the most common reasons people prefer it over regularly brewed coffee is because it is less acidic and has a sweeter and smoother flavor.
It is extremely simple to make at home, and it can be made in a number of ways. You can have it just with ice, or add milk or soda to it.
Origin Of Cold Brew
Cold Brew started gaining popularity worldwide in the last 10 years or so. But, its story goes back a lot longer than that.
The story of this overnight brew coffee dates back to the 1600s in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto seems to have the earliest record of cold brew coffee, which is why it was also named Kyoto-style Coffee.
The Japanese had a long tradition of brewing cold tea and this is where a new method of brewing coffee in cold water came into the picture.
However, some reports suggest that the Japanese may have learned to make this style of coffee from the dutch traders. The Dutch traders used to make Cold Brew concentrate to take on long voyages. This was done so they could enjoy coffee on their ship.
It is however argued that they would dilute the cold brew concentrate in hot water to enjoy hot coffee. When the dutch traders reached Japan, the Japanese learned the art of making cold brew.
Cold Brew Coffee Today
Today’s version of Cold Brew is a lot different than the traditional one. It comes in different flavors, sizes, and topping options like sweet cream.
One major reason it started gaining popularity worldwide is due to Starbucks. It is reported that when Starbuck introduced Cold Brew in its stores in 2015, the sales of Iced Coffee surged by 20 percent.
You will also come across different versions of Cold Brew like Nitro Brew. It is basically Cold Brew in a keg that has been infused with Nitrogen. Poured like beer from a tap, this is done to give a refreshing effect to the coffee similar to a beer.
Thanks to its amazing shelf life, Cold Brew concentrates are also sold in bottled form in retail stores. This is perfect for people who want to grab a quick cup of coffee in between work.
What Are The Benefits Of Cold Brew Coffee?
You probably know how delicious and refreshing a glass of cold brew is, but what most people do not know is that this coffee has some really impressive benefits. Here are just some of the benefits that Cold Brew Coffee has to offer:
1. It has that extra caffeine kick
Due to the extra-long steeping process, Cold Brew requires more coffee than regular brew. Therefore giving the drink a strong coffee flavor and extra caffeine kick.
2. It is easy on the stomach
Even though Cold Brew has more caffeine than regular brews, it is said to be lighter on the stomach. This happens primarily because you do not use heat anywhere in the brewing process, which results in a smoother and less acidic coffee.
3. It is less acidic
Cold Brew coffee is less acidic than hot brew coffee. This is good especially if you are prone to acid reflux or heartburn. Cold Brew is the right choice for you!
4. It is easy to drink without milk
Yes, you read that right. Most coffee purists agree that it is easier to drink Cold Brew Coffee black than any other hot brew. This happens because it is less acidic and has a really smooth and sweet flavor.
The Ultimate Guide To Making Cold Brew
While cold brew is the easiest way to brew coffee and does not require a coffee expert to make this kind of coffee at home, you still need to follow some basic rules to make a good quality cold brew at home.
We will be focusing on answering some of the most important questions about Cold Brew, from the type of coffee grounds to the coffee grounds to water ratio and more, so you can make an excellent cup of coffee for yourself.
What Type Of Coffee Beans Should Be Used For Cold Brew?
In simple words, it doesn’t matter what type of Coffee Beans you are using, what really matters is the size of the coffee grounds (more on that later). You can use anything from light to medium to dark roasts.
Most people would recommend using medium to dark roast for cold brew, as light roast would not bring out the flavor that cold brew has. When you use Medium to dark roast you get that chocolate and nutty flavor in your coffee which makes it taste smooth and less acidic.
But, our recommendation would be to try making your coffee with a light to medium roast. This is because Cold brew brings out a different flavor profile than hot brew credit to its long steeping hours.
What Is the Best Coffee For Cold Brew?
Choosing the correct coffee for your beans is a difficult task because not all of them are created equal. To be able to enjoy a good cup of coffee you need to be sure that you are using the best quality coffee.
Light Roast – LifeBoost Optimist Light Roast
The Lifeboost coffee company creates the healthiest coffee for you to drink. The Light roast Nicaraguan single-origin beans are the best option for your cold brew for several reasons.
The number one reason is that Light roast coffee beans can be extremely acidic, steeping it for 16+ hours leaves you with a smooth coffee, removing the acidic profile of the coffee.
They are environment friendly and healthy and they make you’ll be surprised by the quality of Cold Brew you get from this Coffee!
Medium Roast – Tiny Footprint Coffee Cold Brew & Press Elixir
- COLD BREW BLEND: A blend crafted perfectly for cold brew – our Cold Press Elixir is a mix of our light and dark roasts spiked with our best Ethiopian coffees.
- ORGANIC COFFEE: USDA Organic, Fair Trade & Shade-Grown Arabica Coffee.
Tiny Footprints Coffee is a small roastery based in the US. They are known for their 100% Organic Shade Grown Arabica Coffee.
The Cold Brew Elixir has sweet, silky, and subtle fruit and floral notes infused with a cocoa-like body. They are specially crafted for giving you an amazing Cold Brew experience.
Tiny Footprint Coffee is the world’s first carbon-negative coffee. For every pound that’s sold, they donate a portion of the proceeds to fund reforestation in Ecuador’s Mindo Cloud Forest.
Dark Roast – Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee
- COARSE GROUND COFFEE FOR COLD BREWING – We start with gourmet arabica coffee beans from Colombia, then we grind them to the perfect coarse ground size for optimal cold brew extraction. Our grounds are perfect for using in your at-home cold brew coffee maker or system, French press, pitcher, or mason jar.
- DARK ROAST COLOMBIAN SUPREMO – Our beans are classified as ‘supremo’ which are the largest and highest quality beans from Colombia. When these beans are dark roasted, it brings out the nutty/chocolate notes and makes the most delicious tasting cold brew coffee.
Stone Street is another coffee brand that is offering coffee beans specially made for making cold brews. Their beans are classified as supremo which is the highest quality beans from supremo.
These dark roast beans give a nutty chocolate flavor and make the most refreshing cold brew you can have.
These coffee grounds are low in acidity have a smooth and sweeter flavor and do not leaves a bitter after taste.
What Type Of Coffee Grounds Is Best For Cold Brew?
The right type of Grind for your Cold Brew is a coarse grind, similar to the size of sugar pearls or kosher salt. The simple explanation to why you need to use coarse coffee grounds for cold brew is that when you use fine coffee grounds you risk over-extraction.
This happens because the grounds are so fine, that it takes a long time to filter out the water which results in over-extraction leading to an extremely bitter coffee.
To get the right grind, you probably need to purchase whole beans and grind them yourself. If you are using pre-ground coffee just make sure to try it out in small batches to see what works.
What Is The Coffee Grounds To Water Ratio?
We have found the best results with a 1:5 ratio, that is if you need to take 200gm of coffee grounds for every 1litre of water. This works best if you want to brew coffee in a way that you take it out of the jug and pour and enjoy it without diluting it with more water.
But, if you’re brewing a batch of cold brew and looking to make a cold brew concentrate then follow the ratio of 1:2, for every 1 part of coffee use 2 parts of brew.
Most people prefer experimenting with coffee to water ratio to find out how strong they like their brew and we would recommend doing the same. If you’re a beginner start with the given ratio and then adjust according to your taste and preferences.
You can dilute the cold brew concentrate with milk, water, soda, etc.
How Long Do I Brew The Coffee?
The most common practice is to let your coffee grounds steep on the counter and then refrigerate it after the coffee has been brewed. If you decide to steep it inside the refrigerator it would take longer than usual.
So, when unrefrigerated steep your coffee grounds for 12 to 14 hours. If your brew was refrigerated it could take up to 18 hours.
You have probably heard that the longer you brew, the more coffee oils it will extract from the grounds. So it is advisable to filter the coffee grounds as soon as the steeping time is over so you do not end up with an extremely bitter cup of coffee.
How To Make Cold-brew Coffee (Step-by-Step Instructions)
Cold Brew is by far one of the easiest ways of making coffee that we have come across. Sure, it takes longer than regular coffee. But the refreshing taste after the coffee has been brewed properly is worth the wait.
What You’ll Need
- 1½ cup of coarsely ground coffee
- 3 cups water
- Mesh sieve
- Cheesecloth or Napkin
The Process
1. Add the coffee grounds to a mason jar or any other container. Add water and give it a good stir.
2. Cover and let it sit at room temperature for 12 to 14 hours. If you want to keep the Cold Brew in the Refrigerator, it may take more time, around 16 to 18 hours or so.
3. When you are ready to strain your brew, take a large bowl and a cheesecloth or a thin cloth. Place the mesh sieve over the bowl and spread the cheesecloth on it.
4. Pour the brew on the cheesecloth. Make sure the coffee grounds are separated from the water completely.
5. Refrigerate immediately after. When serving, fill a glass with ice, add the Cold brew and enjoy!
How Do You Serve Cold Brew?
How to drink coffee really depends on individual choices and preferences. I like to enjoy my cold brew plain with lots of ice, if you want a lighter flavor you can add ice cubes to a tall glass, fill it halfway with cold brew and then dilute it with some milk.
How Long Does Cold Brew Last?
Unrefrigerated– If you’re steeping the coffee on the countertop, it will stay fresh anywhere between 14 to 18 hours. For best practices, refrigerate the brew immediately after it’s done steeping.
Refrigerated– Once the brewing is complete and you have stored the coffee in the fridge. It can last anywhere between 8 to 14 days. To ensure safety, store it in an airtight container. After 2 weeks, the coffee could go rancid and lose its aroma and intensity.
We have a complete guide on how long cold brew lasts, read it here!
Is There Any Difference Between Cold Brew And Iced Coffee?
Even though it seems that both drinks are just coffee with Ice. That is not at all the case. Let’s learn what makes one beverage so different from the other. They differ in how they are brewed, and served, in taste, flavor, and experience.
We have listed down how one drink differs from the other and how you can enjoy and appreciate the taste and flavor of both drinks, check it out here!
How Long Should You Steep Cold Brew For?
While there are many other factors and considerations that come into play when deciding how long to steep your coffee for, the general rule of thumb is you should be steeping your Cold brew anywhere between 12 to 16 hours.
How to Drink Cold Brew Coffee – 6 Best Ways
Once you have your cold brew concentrate ready, you can start trying different cold brew recipes. Be prepared to take your coffee drinking experience to a whole new level with these 6 methods-
1. Iced Cold Brew Latte
2. Hot Brew Cappuccino
3. Cold Brew Soda
4. Cold Brew with Sweetened Condensed Milk
5. Cold Brew Martini
6. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Find out the recipes and more tips on how to prepare cold brew with different variations and flavors. Click here to read the guide.
How To Make Cold Brew Coffee In A French Press?
While the overall process of making cold brew coffee at home is a piece of cake, many people do not have a filter or the required equipment to make it.
To make your life, even more, simpler and your coffee more refreshing, we are going to cover one of the best and easiest ways of preparing a refreshing cup of cold brew coffee in a French Press! Read the complete guide to find out how.
Cold Brew With Cinnamon Oat Milk Foam – Best Oat Milk Recipe
Cold Brew is a classic coffee for sure. Nothing beats the heat like a glass of nicely prepared cold brew, but what makes it even more special is topping it with refreshing cold foam and a hit of cinnamon flavoring.
The spiciness of Cinnamon and refreshing Cold Foam on top can change the entire trajectory of the beverage. Cold Brew with Cinnamon Oat milk is a special recipe for those who prefer non-dairy iced coffee. Find the recipe here!
Final Thoughts
Through this guide, we tried to answer all possible questions you may have in mind for Cold Brew. Making a good cup of coffee takes time, skill, and lots of patience.
So, select your favorite coffee and get started with making a refreshing cup of Cold Brew. Happy Caffeinating.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The primary reason Cold Brew is pricier than regular brewed coffee is due to the fact that it requires double coffee to make than hot brew and plus the long hours of brewing.
Therefore we think it is more economical to get your own coffee beans and make them at home.
If you taste it and find that the caffeine kick has gone, then for sure it has gone bad and has lost its flavor. Here are some of the things you should look for, to find out if the brew has gone bad.
-Loss of aroma
-No flavor or intensity
-Caffeine kick has gone
-Extremely acidic taste
-Mold or rancid smell
There are too many ways you can make coffee. You can try out different recipes and make them fun. Here are the most common ones you can try:
Iced Coffee – Dilute your concentrate with cold water and ice
Iced Cold Brew Latte– Dilute your concentrate with milk and ice.
Hot Cold Brew Coffee – Dilute your concentrate with hot water
Cold Brew Soda – Dilute your concentrate with flavored syrup, ice, and soda water
Apart from refrigerating the Cold brew as soon as it has brewed, it is really important to store it properly to extend its shelf life.
Once the cold brew concentrate is ready, store it in an airtight container. This is done for two reasons. One so the aroma and the flavor of the coffee aren’t affected by other things in the fridge.
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