The grocery list of the average human has coffee on it. Drinking coffee has over the years become second nature to many. It serves as the extra boost needed to start the day or get the energy you need.
Something seemingly as unimportant as the smell of coffee has been known to motivate people to get out of bed. Coffee has charmed our palates for hundreds of years and will keep existing for many years to come.
Coffee is a refreshing liquid made from brewing coffee grounds in water, which is usually hot.
However, when you use cold water instead of hot water to make your coffee you get cold-brewed coffee. Contrary to what you think, cold brew coffee does not taste like iced coffee.
In fact, ice coffee is made by brewing coffee in hot water and then pouring it over ice after it cools.
Cold brew coffee is never made with hot water.
One of the cons of cold brew coffee over hot coffee is that it takes twice the amount of grounds to make the same amount of coffee while taking an even longer time to be finished.
Cold brew coffee is definitely the way to go when you need your regular jolt of coffee in the summer, but you could do without all the extra heat.
Benefits of Cold Brew Coffee
- The slight sweetness of cold brew coffee makes it a popular choice over hot coffee as there may be a reduced need for extra sugar.
- The acidity level is very low when compared to hot brew coffee.
- The taste of cold brew coffee is rich, smooth, and tasty.
- Cold brew coffee has little or no bitterness and can be enjoyed without milk or cream.
How to Make Cold Coffee Brew
- Put your coffee beans in a coarse blender and grind. Do not grind it finely. The final product should feel like corn flour and not cocoa powder.
- Pour the coffee grounds into a bowl or container that has a lid, then pour filtered water into the bowl with the coffee grounds. The temperature of the water should be between 30-75°F. The closer the temperature of the water to room temperature, the better the taste and flavor of your coffee will be. Use four cups of water to 1 cup of coffee beans. Cover the bowl with a lid.
- Leave the mixture to steep for 2-24hrs. The longer it steeps, the better your cold brew coffee will be. If you need a quick fix, you can steep for two hours. A minimum of 12 hours is required if you want to enjoy the maximum effect of your coffee beans.
- Place a strainer with tiny pores over an empty clean bowl, and strain the grounds out. Do this process at least twice to ensure that there are no particles or sediments in your coffee.
- Pour the coffee into a bottle or container and store it in a cool dry place. Your cold brew coffee can last up to one week if refrigerated properly.
Coffee brewed this way is very smooth and thick with a rich flavor. It also lacks the strong acidity that bothers the stomach of some people.
Choosing your Coffee Grounds
Not all coffee types can be used to make cold brew coffee. This type of coffee needs to brew for a longer time compared to regular hot brewed coffee.
Some of the factors to consider when choosing your coffee beans include:
- Roast Type – This has to do with the external look of the coffee beans, most notably the color of the beans. It usually comes in light, dark, or medium colors. Your choice here is basically dependent on personal taste and preference. However, dark roast coffee will give a dark and rich flavor that can be chocolate, nutty or syrupy. Lighter roasts take considerably longer to brew and are more expensive than other roast types.
- Size of the grind – The ability of the coffee to produce just the right ground is very important. The best grind size is coarse and feels gritty when rubbed between fingers. Fine grinds will be too dense and will give off a very bitter flavor.
- Age of the coffee bean – Freshly harvested coffee beans will contain some soluble elements that escape the extraction or steeping process. These elements will not make it into your cold brew coffee. It is preferable to use coffee grounds that are a few weeks old.
5 Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew
Cafe Du Monde Coffee with Chicory.
- Not too expensive and common to find.
- This coffee bean is very smooth to touch.
- It is good for both hot and cold brewed coffee.
- It has little or no bitter taste.
- If you’re the type that likes to spice up your cup of coffee, this blends perfectly well with milk or cream.
Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Reserve Columbia Supreme Coffee
- These beans originate all from one place.
- They have bold flavors that are improved by cold brewing.
- They come coarsely ground, so the bulk of the work is done for you. All you need to do is add filtered water and steep.
- They come in either whole bean form for you to grind yourself, or pre-ground form.
- They come as dark roasted coffee grounds.
- They produce smooth, sweet, and balanced coffee flavors. If you are a cold brew first timer, this would be a great type to start with.
- It is more expensive when compared to other options.
Peet’s Baridi Blend
- Peet’s beans are common and readily available.
- The blend can be used for both cold coffee brew and hot coffee brew.
- The beans come in both whole form and pre-ground form.
Coffee Bros. Cold Brew Blend
- This brand has an intense smell that may be offensive to some people.
- The beans are naturally processed.
- Beans are 100% Arabica and top quality.
- The coffee brew is smooth and comes in different flavors like chocolate and berry.
Tiny Footprint Coffee Organic Cold Press Elixir
- These are produced in environmentally friendly places.
- They are available as both pre-ground form or whole bean form.
- They are 100% Arabica.
- They are not a single-origin product.
Cold brew coffee is very easy to make once you get the hang of it. Plus, one large batch can last up to one week. There are various brands to get your coffee ground from.
You can either get them as whole bean form or in pre-ground form. If you want to grind them yourself, remember coarsely and not finely ground beans are best for your cold brew coffee.