On a long hot summer day, a regular cup of coffee might just be too hot and at least some of us would like a nice cup of cold coffee. But, what exactly is cold brew coffee? Just to be clear we are not talking about ice coffee that is produced by cooling and pouring traditionally brewed coffee over ice. We are talking about an entire process of preparing coffee with cold water. Yes, that’s right, there is a way to prepare tasty coffee without hot water.
Cold brew coffee is the process of steeping ground coffee beans in cold or lukewarm water over an extended period of time, usually between 12 and 24 hours depending on how strong you want the final product to be. If you are still wondering what is cold brew coffee, perhaps it is best to stop thinking about it as immediately drinkable coffee, but rather as a coffee concentrate that can be used to create coffee based drinks. The concentrate can be stored in a refrigerator and unlike the coffee prepared by hot-brewing methods cold brew coffee doesn’t become stale over time.
Contents
Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
There is no one recipe for cold brew coffee. Every coffee is different and every coffee lover has different tastes.
The search for the perfect cup of coffee has to start somewhere though. Therefore below is the gold standard cold brew coffee recipe. This does not mean it is the best or will be your favorite cold brew coffee recipe. It is a starting point that will make a good cup of coffee and from there you can tweak and adjust to suit your individual tastes.
Home Made Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
To make a good batch of cold brew coffee, in the container of your choice, or a Toddy Cold Brew Coffee System, use the following ratios:
Cold Brew Coffee Ratio
- 12 ounces of coarse grind coffee and 7 cups of filtered water.
Or
- 16 ounces of coarse ground coffee and 9 cups of filtered water.
- Mix the coffee and water together and let sit, at room temperature for at least 12 hours.
- At the end of the steeping time, filter the cold brew coffee concentrate through a filter to remove the grinds.
- Store the cold brew coffee concentrate in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- To make the cup of coffee add one part syrup to three parts filtered water. For example, 2 ounces of concentrate and six ounces of water for a 8 ounce cup of coffee.
- You can use hot water or heat the resulting mix in the microwave.
To Make A Single Serving Of Cold Brew Coffee
Why would you want to spend 12 – 18 hours making a single cup of coffee? For experimentation purposes of course!
Rather than use an entire pound of coffee to make a concentrate, and then find out you added too much water or not enough coffee, or you want a stronger bean or a darker roast, you can make a single serving and then just multiply the ratio of ingredients to replicate the result on a larger scale.
- A starting point for a single, 12 ounce cup of coffee is 3 ounces of coffee grinds and 1 1/2 cups of water, mixed and steeped for at least 12 hours.
- Take the resulting concentrate (about a cup) and add it to two cups of hot water.
- From here, you can increase the amounts once you have found that perfect bean or grind.
Use this Cold Brew Coffee Method As a Guide
The cold brew coffee recipe above is a great starting point on your journey. From there you can tweak many variables to change the taste of the coffee. Below are some of the variables you can experiment with:
1) The amount of coffee grinds or water.
The more coffee grinds or the less water you use will effect the taste of the resulting cold brew coffee concentrate. More water will result in a weaker concentrate and vice versa more grinds will result in a stronger concentrate
2) The length of time you allow the grinds to steep in the water.
The longer the grinds steep, the stronger the resulting concentrate.
3) The type of coffee you use.
This should seem obvious, but the bolder the coffee the bolder the resulting cold brew coffee concentrate will be.
4) The amount of concentrate you add to water. **
One of the easiest ways to change the flavor and strength of you coffee is to alter the amount of cold brew coffee concentrate you add to water to make your cup of coffee. If you like as stronger cup, try a one to two ratio of concentrate to water.
**The more you use the concentrate to make your coffee stronger, the faster the concentrate will be used. In the long run it is best to perfect the brewing method so that you use less concentrate to get the cup of coffee you are looking for.
Why Cold Brew Your Coffee?
- The Cold Brew Concentrate Has 67% Less Acid Than Heat Brewed Coffee.
- It Has Approximately 20% Less Caffeine Than Heat Brewed Coffee
- The Coffee Grinds Can Be Brewed Twice, Lowering The Overall Cost
- The Strength Is Easily Adjusted To Suit All Tastes Without The Need To Brew Multiple Pots
- Cold Brew Concentrate Can Make Other Coffee Delicacies, like Coffee Ice Cream
Complete Cold Brew Coffee Guide – Everything you Need to Know
What is cold brew coffee? Is there such a thing as hot brew coffee? What exactly is the process in making cold brew coffee and what equipment do I need to make it? Read on to find answers to these questions and everything else you need to know about cold brew coffee.
What is Cold Brew Coffee?
Even though most people don’t know what cold brew coffee is, this method of preparing coffee is centuries old. The process was invented in the 16th century by Dutch merchants who needed a way to move large quantities of coffee easily.
The Japanese, who were already familiar with a cold brewing tea method, adopted it from the Dutch and coincidentally Japan was the first country in the world to start the mass production of cold coffee. One of the cold brew coffee methods is even called the Kyoto style.
Hot Brew Coffee VS Cold Brew Coffee
The coffee concentrate, produced by any of the cold brew methods, has a different taste and a different chemical profile than the coffee made by using the hot-brewing methods. Coffee beans contain oils and fatty acids that become soluble at high temperatures, which is the reason why cold brew has lower levels of acidity and lower caffeine levels.
As a result, cold brew coffee doesn’t taste like coffee brewed by hot-brewing methods, its taste is sweeter and milder However, a cup of cold brewed coffee may contain higher caffeine levels even though the lesser amount of caffeine is extracted from the coffee beans because a higher coffee to water ratio is often used to produce a strong cup of coffee that defines what cold brew coffee really is.
In the recent years, almost every respectable bar started serving this remarkable drink that offers an alternative to traditional ways of preparing coffee. In addition, there are a number of cold brew coffee based drinks and ice creams that are surely worth a taste.
The best way to find out what is cold brew coffee is to try it and decide whether or not the hype is real for you. Those who like to experiment can easily make cold brew coffee at home, because the process is extremely easy, although it may take some time before you can enjoy the homemade cold brew coffee from the coffee beans you personally selected since the process lasts for at least 12 hours.
How to: Cold Brew Coffee
Drinking coffee is one of the most common daily rituals in the world. True coffee enthusiasts know that there is no better feeling than preparing the cup of coffee by yourself and in accordance to your taste. In summer, we are looking for a drink to cool us down, which is why coffee is rarely on the top lists of summer drinks.
You can change that this summer by learning how to make cold brew coffee. No boiling water, no waiting for your coffee to cool down, just add water in the right proportion and appreciate the coolness of your drink. Here are four easy steps that will take you through the process of making cold brew coffee.
Selecting the Coffee Beans
You don’t need to be a coffee expert in order to find out how to make cold brew coffee. Before setting yourself on a mission of making the perfect refreshment for the summer, you first need to select the coffee beans you want to use. Different sorts of beans have different chemical composition and the choice between Arabica or Robusta beans can determine the quality of your cold brew.
The Steeping process
Once you have decided which coffee beans you want to use, put them in the coffee blender and grind them until you get coarse or medium ground coffee. Put the ground coffee in a glass jar or a pitcher, or French press coffee maker whichever you find the handiest. You’ll need to grind about one ounce of coffee for every cup of water you add to the brew. After adding coffee and room temperature water gently stir the brew to enhance the extraction. At this point, you can add mint, cinnamon or any other ingredient you wish to include.
Leave the brew at room temperature or put it in the refrigerator and leave it there for at least 12 hours, preferably longer. You shouldn’t wait longer than 24 hours, and according to some experts, the perfect amount of time is between 16 and 18 hours.
Filtering
The next step of the process can be completed in several different ways. Perhaps the easiest way you can filter the cold coffee brew is by using standard paper filters. Simply pour steeped coffee through a paper filter and repeat this process until all the grounds are removed from the brew. If you choose to use a french press, gently and slowly press the plunger until coffee grounds are at the bottom of the container.
You can also use a cheesecloth or any other coffee filtering method, but it is important to repeat the process until all the coffee grounds are removed from the cold brew. If you are tired of repeating this process manually, you can also try Toddy’s cold brew system.
Relax and enjoy your Cold Brew Coffee
If you were thinking that you are never going to learn how to make cold brew coffee, this is the moment to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your efforts. You’ll soon discover that there are countless ways you can enjoy your homemade icy refreshment.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker and Accessories
Everyone who enjoys a fine cup of good, strong coffee knows that every detail in coffee drinking ritual matters. The quality of coffee is just one out of many parameters that constitute a great coffee drinking experience. Your coffee cup, a coffee filter you use or home appliances that make cold brew coffee can all contribute to overall quality of the first cup of coffee you drink each morning. We’ve gathered a few of the best cold brew coffee accessories you can find on the market in order to make your cold brew coffee making experience as good as it can get.
Toddy T2N
Named after famous chemical engineer Todd Simpson, Toddy system coffee makers are among the best in the world. The coffee produced by Toddy’s T2N model contains 67% less acid than hot brew coffee and the cold brew coffee can stay fresh for up to two weeks. T2N model consists of a bucket, where water and coffee grounds are placed and a glass container that goes below the bucket. Even though it is relatively small in size and easy to store, you need to pay attention where you leave T2N, because it can break easily.
Coolgear BRU Deluxe Tumbler and Brewer
BRU Deluxe Tumbler and Brewer is a perfect tool for homemade cold brew coffee. It produces the cold coffee concentrate by using the dripping method. The Coolgrear Deluxe Tumbler and Brewer contains a plastic cone that should be filled with ground coffee and water, a BRU dial that enables you to adjust the coffee drip rate and a glass cup that stores the coffee drippings. This is a perfect accessory that produces just the right amount of coffee for your day.
NISPIRA Luxury Ice Cold Brew Dripper Coffee Maker in Stainless Steel
Yet another handsome and stylish coffee maker that produces the finest cold brew coffee you can imagine. The Nispira’s Ice Cold Brew Dripper Coffee Maker can make a maximum of 600ml of cold brew coffee, which is enough for 5 to 8 people.
On the top of the set, there is a glass container for ice or water and coffee grounds. Middle filter glass controls the water dripping and it has an adjustable valve that allows you to have full control over the dripping process.
The bottom glass container can be used for storage of the cold coffee concentrate or as a glass from which you drink your cold coffee.
The entire set is supported by stainless steel body frame.
Stainless steel cold brew coffee filters
Changing filters every time you want to make a fresh batch of cold brew coffee can be tiring which is why an increasing number of people chooses to switch to stainless cold brew filters. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be used on cups, jars, bottles or any other sort of container that is suitable for brewing cold coffee. The amount of mess made during the filtering process is significantly reduced by the stainless steel coffee filters and cleaning them is quite easy. There are a number of different brands that produce these filters, so finding the one that best suits your need shouldn’t be too difficult.
Pro Tips for Cold Brew Coffee
Preparing a flawless cup of coffee is a fine art and often it takes a lot of trial and error until you find your favorite way of brewing coffee. Homemade cold brew coffee is not too hard to prepare, almost anyone can do it, but just following a recipe doesn’t necessarily end with a perfect product. Here are a few pro tips for cold brew coffee that will make sure you avoid common mistakes and that will make your coffee-based refreshment taste a little better.
Extended steeping time allows water to absorb more caffeine
The steeping period can seem long compared to an average amount of time needed to brew coffee. However, it is essential to the process of preparing the cold brew coffee. The coffee releases caffeine and other flavor defining substances when the hot-brew method is used, but with the cold brew method, there is no heat to speed up the process. That is why it is crucial to wait at least 16 hours before filtering the brew and as a result, the coffee concentrate you get will have a higher amount of caffeine.
Use light roast beans
With so many different brands of coffee out there, selecting the one that will supply that special flavor can be a daunting task. Whichever brand you choose, always look for light roast beans, even though they demand longer steeping time.
Dark coffee roasts take less time to extract, but the ashes from the roast will dissolve in the water and the coffee concentrate will have a darker color and a flavor that isn’t as delicious as it would be if you used light roast beans. This pro tip for cold brew coffee can save you a lot of time and effort, and it will improve your cold brew coffee making skills.
Hot or Cold water, it is all the same
It sounds pretty logical that for a cold brew coffee you should use cold water, but as a matter of fact, adding hot water at the beginning of the steeping process can speed the process up. Hot water will extract the caffeine faster from the ground coffee, than cold. However, this can only give you an initial boost and you shouldn’t add more hot water during the steeping process.
This can be quite handy if you are preparing the cold brew coffee before going to bed and you need the cold coffee as soon as you wake up, but still filtering the cold brew coffee too soon can result in a cold coffee concentrate that hasn’t absorbed the sufficient amount of caffeine.
Don’t grind the coffee beans too fine
Removing all the coffee grounds from the brew is essential for the process of making cold brew coffee. For this reason using too fine grind can present itself as a problem because it is more difficult to filter out. The coffee grounds should be coarse or at least medium in order to remove it from the brew, with as little trouble as possible.
Even so, filtering the cold brew coffee just once is not enough, and most coffee experts say that the process should be repeated at least two or three times.
Benefits of Cold Brew Coffee
It can often be heard that coffee is bad for your health, but despite the popular belief coffee is actually one of the healthiest drinks on our planet. Of course not the regular coffee that you can get at Starbucks that is stuffed with all sorts of chemical sweeteners and flavoring, but natural coffee without any additives. Benefits of cold brew coffee over the traditional hot brew coffee, go beyond the flavor since it is a proven fact that coffee brewed in cold water contains less acidic substances and more antioxidants.
Cold brew coffee reduces cholesterol
You may not believe it, but unfiltered coffee raises cholesterol levels in your blood stream. The cholesterol production is stimulated by kahweol and cafestol that is a common compound of all non-filter coffees. Cafestol and kahweol elevate the concentration of triglycerides and cholesterol in the human body and they can also affect liver cells to a certain degree. People who have increased cholesterol levels in their blood stream and love to drink hot brew coffee can drink the same amounts of cold brew coffee without the risk of deteriorating their health further.
The two compounds are better extracted at higher temperatures, which is the reason why cold brew coffee contains significantly lower levels of kahweol and cafestol. When preparing the cold brew coffee, make sure that the grounds are coarse because fine coffee grounds can transfer both of these compounds into your cup.
Better Regulation of Gastric Acid Secretion
Most people who experienced stomach pains after drinking a cup of coffee attributed the discomfort to the coffee’s high acid levels. Even though this can be a factor, it isn’t always the case and N-methylpyridinium or NMP compound that is formed during the roasting process can even be beneficial for stomach pains. It inhibits the gastric acid secretion in the stomach and causes less pain in that area of the body after drinking a cup of coffee.
The dark roasts contain higher levels of NMP because they were roasted for a longer period of time and therefore have more NMP than light roasts. The cold brew coffee made with light roast coffee beans can be hard on a sensitive stomach. Even so, it is better to use light roast coffee beans if you want to experience fully the benefits of cold brew coffee on your health.
67% less acidic substances than hot brew coffee
It is no secret that unfiltered coffee contains high levels of acid that can produce a number of health concerns. Those suffering from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease will benefit from cold brew coffee because it contains 67% less acid than hot brew coffee. The high brewing temperature releases the acid from the coffee beans, while lower brewing temperatures don’t allow the extraction of acidic substances.
However, not all acids that can be found in your coffee are bad for your health. Cold brew coffee contains large amounts of chlorogenic acid, a powerful antioxidant that plays the vital role in suppressing free radicals. Cold brew coffee will protect your body from potentially harmful acidic substances and at the same time, it will improve your health.