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Summer is here, and cold-brew coffee is in the air! Some people would say: It’s always cold-brew weather! I have to say sunshine and cold-brew are going well together! This is such a thing, and each spring/summer, those cold drinks are everywhere! So, let’s dive into this method! I will answer all your questions and give you the best, easiest recipe!
It’s no secret that making cold brew is easy! You don’t need to be a professional barista; no special equipment is required beyond a large container and filter.
But what is cold brew anyway? It refers to the method of brewing the coffee, not the temperature of the outcome. Besides, cold brews can be served hot or cold.
You “brew” your coffee grounds steeped in water at room temperature for an extended period. And voilà, the result is a super-smooth, pleasant, chocolatey, low acidity, and highly caffeinated coffee drink.
The origin of cold-brew
The first evidence of authentic coffee, made with cold water, comes from Japan, where Kyoto-style coffee was made in the 1600s. One theory says that the Japanese may have learned about it from Dutch traders, who would have made coffee that way to be carried on their ships.
Cold-brew coffee has grown popular in the United States in just the past fifteen years, especially with Starbucks, which introduced its first cold brew in its stores in 2015. Now, most coffee companies offer cold brew year-round, from Dunkin’ Donuts to Devoción, a cult NYC café.
A hit for coffee shops
Cold-brew drinks are easy for coffee shops to make. It’s reasonably shelf-stable, cut with milk and sugar, high in caffeine, and refreshing.
The only downside for retailers is planning: steeping coarsely ground beans in room-temperature water takes at least six hours before they want to serve it. Once supplies run out, baristas can not run to the back of their coffee shop to make a fresh pot. That’s also why cold brew is more expensive than hot coffee in a coffee shop. It’s the limited supply.
So many recipes are popping up with this versatile, refreshing coffee drink. Starbucks proposes seven different cold-brew drinks with honey, almond milk, Irish cream, etc.
What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?
I have to admit I was always confused about those two. They are both coffee served over ice, in any case.
As we explained earlier, cold brew is a brewing method that involves soaking ground coffee in cold water.
On the other hand, iced coffee is brewed hot like a regular coffee and then poured over ice. Iced coffee uses hot water to extract all the characteristics from the coffee, so you experience the full range of flavors like you would if you were drinking it hot. The outcome is rich, refreshing, aromatic, and crisp. Since you’re using hot water to brew and then pouring over ice, it only takes 2-4 minutes to make a glass.
Cold brew requires planning (at least 6 hours, best around 10 – 12 hours) to make a glass. Cold water, unfortunately, doesn’t extract the yumminess from the coffee grounds in 5 minutes. But it’s easy to make it at home and is pretty forgiving. The result is a super-smooth flavor, enjoyable, and low-acidity coffee drink.
“By maintaining colder temperatures during the brew, the oils in the beans are never released. Therefore, cold brewed coffee can be up to 70% less acidic than traditional hot drip coffee, which makes it easier on someone who struggles with IBS symptoms and gives it a much smoother and sweeter taste.” stated the author of “The 2 Meal Day” Max Lowery.
You can store the concentrate in the fridge for up to two weeks, making it available over the next few days.
Why is cold brew so popular among the Millennials?
In terms of its drinking properties, it is smoother and less acidic than hot coffee. These qualities make the cold brew highly tempting to the Millennials. Usually, Young people seek a caffeinated and easy drink as an alternative to soda and other artificially sweetened beverages.
For more and more Millennials, coffee is not a commodity anymore but an experience. They are willing to spend more time and money on it. But they value convenience, too; taking a bottle from a fridge or ordering a cold brew coffee from their favorite coffee shop is accessible.
Recent offer explosion by specialty coffee
More and more specialty coffee roasters now offer cold-brew coffees in various forms: concentrate, tap fridge packs, 12 or 24 cans packs (with extended choices from lattes to nitro), concentrate liquid pods, and now you can even find kits.
Javy Coffee 35X Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate. Photo from Amazon.
Java House Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Single Serve Liquid Pods. Photo from Amazon.
Java House Cold Brew Coffee On Tap (128 Fluid Ounce Box). Photo from Amazon.
Drinktrade.com introduced “cold brew kits”: coffee you’ll love (through a quiz, they’ll propose their selection) + free cold brew bags.
Bean Hoppers offers a cold brew recipe kit: one bag of 12oz of freshly roasted Bean Hoppers coffee, sample-size custom-made ingredients, one brewing bag, a recipe card, and a link to the how-to video.
Search “cold brew” on LaColombe Coffee roasters, and 116 results will pop up!
What kind of coffee works for cold-brew?
Cold brewing is a forgiving method that can remove the coffee’s original characteristics and make the coffee taste smooth, chocolaty, and pleasant. Cold brewing tends to mellow down all the subtilities of the coffee. So, getting a single origin or anything else with subtle flavors is less critical because the cold brew method might not highlight them. Coffee beans release their acids and solubles only at high temperatures. Therefore, Those flavors will not be extracted and lost.
Next, is this a roast factor, light, medium, or dark roast? It all comes down to preference, but remember that it’s different than brewing hot coffee. Many people prefer using a dark roast because the dark roast will give you a dark, rich, chocolaty flavor. Another reason is the price. As the cold brew method won’t extract all the subtle flavor (floral or fruity taste) of a light roast, why lose money by buying a light roasted single origin?
So, all you need is a coarse grind for making cold-brew coffee. A finer grind tends to clump together, and the water needs to flow through the ground coffee for optimal infusion. For the best result, please grind your coffee beans yourself (find here the best coffee grinders on the market), or at least a freshly pre-ground coffee that is not over a week old.
So try a medium roast and make some experiences from there.
Last, Central American coffees (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, etc.) might be more suitable for cold brew as their notes are sweeter, more chocolatey, and nutty.
We tried a delicious, light-roasted (actually!) sweet Costa Rica from Bean Hoppers for our recipe.
Let’s make cold-brew coffee at home!
Do It Yourself - a refreshingly delicious cold brew, just the way you like it.
It's easy to make, and it's so lovely to have coffee ready to go!
Just remember to steep your grounds the night before you want to drink it.
Here's how it works: grind your coffee beans coarsely or get pre-ground coffee (for French press). Combine the grounds with water, stir, then let it soak overnight or for about 12 hours. After 12 hours, just strain; you can keep it as concentred cold-brew, or you can already pour and mix with equal parts water or milk.
If you have questions about cold brew, read our excellent article: Cold-Brew Coffee, All Your Questions Answered.
At Beans and Burrs, we only recommend products we use ourselves, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
AuthorAudreyCategoryCoffee drink recipesDifficultyBeginnerIn a mason jar or carafe (big enough to contain 4 cups of water), combine the coffee grounds and the water,
Stir to mix,
Put a lid or cover with wrapping paper on your container and let it sit at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours.
After this slow infusion, strain your cold-brew with a thin paper coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve, or even a cheesecloth. Pour the concentrate cold-brew through the filter into a bowl with a spout. Be patient, allow the drainage, and let the cold brew drip down the last drop. It can take about 30 min.
Then pour your cold brew concentrate into a pitcher.
For the serving, fill a glass halfway with ice and filtered water or milk. Then fill the rest of the glass with the cold brew concentrate you just made! Stir to combine and enjoy your cold-brew drink!
Notes
Use filtered water; if your water doesn't taste good, your coffee won't taste good! It's a piece of general advice, not just for cold coffee!
You can heat cold-brew and drink it hot.
Cold-brew concentrated will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. But it's better to consume it the first week.
You can always accommodate the concentration of your cold-brew coffee by changing the ratio, making it stronger or less intense to satisfy your taste.
There is no special equipment, but cold brew pitchers explicitly designed to make cold brewing as easy as possible are pretty affordable.
I liked my cold brew with a dash of simple syrup and some half and half.
Ingredients
Directions
In a mason jar or carafe (big enough to contain 4 cups of water), combine the coffee grounds and the water,
Stir to mix,
Put a lid or cover with wrapping paper on your container and let it sit at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours.
After this slow infusion, strain your cold-brew with a thin paper coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve, or even a cheesecloth. Pour the concentrate cold-brew through the filter into a bowl with a spout. Be patient, allow the drainage, and let the cold brew drip down the last drop. It can take about 30 min.
Then pour your cold brew concentrate into a pitcher.
For the serving, fill a glass halfway with ice and filtered water or milk. Then fill the rest of the glass with the cold brew concentrate you just made! Stir to combine and enjoy your cold-brew drink!
Sources:
The History of Cold Brew, by Scott, in July 04, 2015, https://driftaway.coffee/the-history-of-cold-brew/
Five Questions About Cold Brew You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask, Emily Saladino, in 2019, https://vinepair.com/articles/cold-brew-coffee-guide-2019/
Cold brew has an unexpected health benefit over regular coffee, according to a personal trainer, Insider, https://www.insider.com/cold-brew-unexpected-health-benefit-over-regular-coffee-less-acidic-ibs-2019-2?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=topbar
How Cold Brew Captured The Millennial Market, January 16, 2020, https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/01/how-cold-brew-captured-the-millennial-market/
A Beginner’s Guide to Central America’s Acclaimed Coffee Varieties, https://vinepair.com/articles/central-american-coffee-guide/
Best Coffee for Cold Brew in 2021, https://coffeeorbust.com/best-coffee-beans/for-cold-brew/
Cold Brew 101: Choosing The Right Cold Brew Coffee Grounds, March 06, 2018, https://willowandeverett.com/blogs/blog/cold-brew-101-choosing-the-right-cold-brew-coffee-grounds
How To Make Cold Brew Coffee, July 14, 2016, https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_cold_brew_coffee/
