Cold brew coffee is a great alternative to the more traditional iced coffee. It's less acidic than hot brewed coffee, and it has a sweeter taste with hints of chocolate or fruit. But how do you make cold brew? Read on for our complete guide to learn make cold brew coffee the GothRider way!
Cold brew is different from the brewed hot coffee we consume normally that is cooled or served with ice. Cold brew coffee never receives anything hot. It is made by slow brewing or steeping for 8 to 12 hours. The coffee used is less acidic and bitter. It is coffee in its full-bodied flavor and is, in fact, sweeter. And it’s served best chilled.
So if you are here to learn to make cold brew, be ready to fall in love with coffee all over again. This could become your new favorite.
Brewing Coffee with Cold Water
Todd Simpson is the inventor of this unconventional method of coffee making. Introduced in 1964, it has since spread like wildfire across America.
Brewing coffee with cold water may seem unusual, but it is possible. This can be done by leaving the pot of coffee in the cold water for a relatively long time before you pour out a cup of coffee.
Besides the taste not going bad like it does with iced espresso, you also don’t need to worry about what kind of texture you get. It will be a strong, sweet chocolatey flavor.
What Do You Need To Get Started?
These are some equipment you need to make your cold brew:
Grinder
A grinder is essential to grind the coffee so that you get the right grind size.
Brewer
The next thing you will need is a cold brew maker but we recommend a french press for best results.
Filtered Water
The quality of water used can create a significant difference in making a wonderful cold brew. Don’t use water straight out of the tap. It is best to use filtered water for a memorable taste.
Which Is The Best Coffee For Making Cold Brew?
Now comes the next big question, what is the best coffee for making cold brew? Can you use just about any type of coffee? The answer to this depends on how you plan to use it. If you want to add milk to the final product, then any typical espresso blend will work. You may use a lighter roast if you are planning to serve it straight.
GothRider Gasoline Coffee is perfect if you want the Ethiopian natural flavor. Cold brew lovers recommend using fruity and sweet coffees. You will be able to taste the sweet and fruity notes. Don’t use old coffee otherwise you won’t be able to enjoy the flavor.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
Now that you are familiar with cold brew and which equipment is needed to make the coffee, let’s begin with the cold brew coffee recipe. Follow these steps in the exact steps mentioned below:
- Grind 2 cups of coffee beans to a medium-coarse consistency
- In a French Press (1L/ 33oz), add the ground coffee and 3 cups of water.
- Put this mixture aside for 8 to 12 hours for steeping.
- Use a mesh to stain the coffee
- Pour this strained brew into a clean mason jar and refrigerate
- Enjoy this cold brew with ice. You may also add creamer or your favorite milk
Tips to Get the Cold Brew Right
Making the cold brew for the first time? Here are some of tips to make cold brew coffee and nail it:
Choose the Coffee Wisely
Honestly, it does not really matter if you buy coffee beans or already ground coffee, what actually matters is choosing good quality coffee. That is the only way you will enjoy the cold brew.
You don’t have to buy the most expensive coffee out there. Chances are you may not get it right the first time so have an open mind. Try different coffees until you find the one that brings the best flavor out.
Choose the Right Roast
It’s important to choose the right roast to get the flavor right. If you go for a darker roast, then the flavor is going to be bitter and smoky. On the other hand, if you opt for a lighter roast, then it’s going to be fruity and floral.
Keep in mind, a lighter roast means more caffeine. Need some advice? Try different roasts until you find the right one.
Use the Right Grind
The grind matters. It is best if you buy coarse ground, to begin with. If you are planning to grind the coffee at home, make sure the texture achieved is similar to that of ground sugar.
Stay Patient
Depending on the cold brew coffee maker, it may take up to 15 hours for the brewing process to finish. So, you must remain patient. Remember, good things come to those who wait.
Cold brewing is different from regular brewing since you are using cold water, and the goal is to achieve a less acidic beverage, brewing is going to take time. You can brew an entire batch and it would be good for the entire week. No need to make cold brew daily!
Storage
Of course, you would want to make the most out of the cold brew. For that, you must store it in the refrigerator and it should be able to stay fresh for 7 days.
Once you are finished brewing, store the concentrate in a mason jar and place it inside the refrigerator. No need to adjust the entire coffee maker inside.
Use Filtered Water
To make the best cup of cold brew, use high-quality filtered water. Tap water is going to ruin the taste.
Coffee is 99 percent water so if the water used is high in quality, so will the cold brew.
Make Cold Brew with Fresh Press
If you have a French press at home, it is recommended to use it for steeping. Place the coffee ground into the press, add cold water, and mix. Leave between 8 to 12 hours.
Don’t have French press at home? No worries, you can always use the good old Mason jar for steeping. Using the ratio mentioned above, steep the coffee in a mason jar. You may also use a sealed container.
For best results, a cold brew maker is recommended.
Dilute the Concentrate
You may not be able to drink the concentrate on its own. Therefore, dilute it using ice, your favorite creamer, or milk. This way, you will be able to enjoy the flavor of the cold brew even better.
Cold Brew is All the Rage
Cold brew is loved by people as much as hot brew. Many are searching for cold brew these days. The business is growing by 25 percent each day. It is expected that by 2025, the cold brew coffee business has reached $1.63 billion.
There was some disagreement between coffee experts and baristas that whether cold brew coffee can do justice to specialty beans. But specialty coffee makers have now accepted cold brew coffee. They are working on ways to make the brew taste better. Soon, we will have a new collection of cold brew recipes floating over the internet, and coffee lovers will be able to enjoy more flavors.
Impressive Benefits of Cold Brew
Cold brew doesn’t just taste good and last for the whole week, it has several health benefits too that deserve your attention, such as:
Boosts Metabolism
Cold brew contains caffeine just like hot coffee. This means your metabolism rate is going to spike. An added benefit is that you should be able to burn body fat too. Keep in mind, it is not the cold brew that will burn the fat but the boost in the metabolic rate.
Lifts Mood
Coffee in any form is a mood booster. It improves the state of mind. It enhances the mood of the sleep-deprived as well. Caffeine present inside the coffee can also be used as a nutritional supplement for boosting brain function.
If you are feeling down or depressed, go and drink a cold brew and watch your mood improve. Give it a few minutes and you should be able to beat the blues.
Easier on the Stomach
Many people are average to acidic beverages because they stimulate acid reflux. Probably that is why your doctor has advised you to avoid it.
Acid reflux is the condition that makes the stomach acid flow from the stomach back into the esophagus. Because of the acidity caused by coffee, you might experience indigestion and heartburn.
Can’t quit coffee because you are addicted? Well, then switch to cold brew instead of the hot one. Although they have similar acidity levels, several studies prove that cold brew is less acidic. Therefore, it is going to be light on your stomach. You may continue to enjoy the flavor of coffee without experiencing heartburn or acid reflux.
The Caffeine Content Doesn’t Change
In case you are wondering if the caffeine content in the cold and hot brew is similar, then the answer is yes! Cold brew is a concentrate and it must be diluted with water. This concentrate is incredibility strong. The undiluted form providers up to 200 mg of caffeine per cup.
To dilute it, you may add ice, creamer, or milk. This will reduce the caffeine content as well, bringing it closer to the regular hot brew.
The caffeine content is going to vary depending on the brew method chosen.
Easy to Make
It shouldn’t go without saying, cold brew is the easiest to make it home. All you have to do is buy coarsely ground coffee beans, brew it and the cold brew is ready. If you store the concentrate in a covered jar and place it in the refrigerator, it should be able to last for a week.
Although it takes a longer time to brew compared to hot brew, everything is worth it. In the end, you are able to enjoy a great flavor and store the extra bit of concentrate for later use. What more would a coffee lover need!
FAQs About Cold Brew
These are some FAQs for anyone who is interested in making cold brew:
How Long Can You Keep The Old Brew?
Technically, you can keep the cold brew for up to 10 days. However, if you want an excellent taste, consume it within a week. After 10 days, its taste may become woody. When 10 days have passed and you experienced an uncomfortable, instead of throwing the concentrate away, dilute it with 2 parts water and feed it to the plants.
How Strong Is The Cold Brew?
Cold brew is pretty strong since it is concentrated. It’s recommended to add some cold water if it’s too strong.
Why Choose Cold Brew?
There are plenty of reasons to choose cold brew. First off, the freshness of coffee is lasting. You can prepare a whole batch for the week and enjoy the cold brew every day. This would shave off a few minutes off your morning routine.
Bottom Line
If you have always been a fan of cold coffee, this cold brew is highly recommended for you. Follow this guide on how to make cold brew at home and you should be able to nail it after a few attempts.
Once you try it, you would never get enough of it!
