What is cold brew coffee anyways? Is cold brew coffee the same as iced coffee? Why would I choose cold brew over my regular cup of coffee? How does one prepare a cold brew? Are there health benefits to cold brew and am I still getting my caffeine?

Cold brewed coffee has gained momentum over the last few years and is readily available in many cafes. When you come in for your daily grind, why choose cold brew and what the heck is it anyways? Let’s start with this fact, iced coffee is not a cold brew. Iced coffee is a regular heat extracted cup of coffee that is chilled or poured over ice. Therefore, cold brewed coffee does not mean that it is brewed with ice or in a refrigerator, the “cold” part of the brew just simply means it was not heated like a conventional cup of coffee or espresso.  Cold brew coffee also has a longer preparation time, so just like extracting herbs in teas, decoctions or tinctures the longer steep times can bring out different plant constituents and flavor profiles. The takeaway is that cold brew is never heated.

Let’s Talk About Flavor

Cold brew coffee is known for its unique flavor profile due to its slow extraction method that generally produces a mild smooth flavor. The smooth part of this definition means less bitter with more access to the flavorful sweet tones of a brew. This brewing method also gives your coffee a fuller “body” as it contains 5 times more lipids than a hot brew, if you’re a texture person you know exactly what I mean. Do you find coffee in general to be a bit acrid for you? Cold brew may be your new favorite choice.

Like mentioned above, cold brewing brings out different flavor profiles. Therefore you may want a different roast for your cold brew than your hot brew. Lighter roasts that are generally known for their higher acidic profiles, so in a cold brew it will have a softer flavor with the aridity muted. This may be for you and perhaps not. Most prefer a dark or medium roast that will have a bit more of the nutty and chocolate flavors. Experiment and play, it’s all part of the cold brew adventure!

Cut Back on the Sugar – Good News for Diabetics?

If you are someone that can’t have a cup of coffee without some kind of sweetener give cold brew a try. Cold brew has less of a bitter/acrid flavor which allows the sweet notes to fall out on top. For many this means less sweeteners and creamers.

Caffeine

I found the answer to this question very interesting because I personally find that cold brew coffee gives me less of an anxiety jittery effect than a hot brew. However, the majority of the science I can find on the subject says that cold brew has more caffeine. The main reason being because of its higher ratio of coffee beans to water used in the extraction method. Generally cold brew is 2 fold higher than a standard brew. So, why do I feel less jittery with a cold brew? I can not give a definitive answer but one theory I have is that cold brew contains more antioxidants which cuts back on the free radical party in the body, i.e. anxiety.  I have also read a few articles suggesting cold brew coffee has more magnesium (which accounts for calming the nervous system). However, I have not found any good science on that one. I guess the fact is that we are all unique organisms with our own individual experiences that aren’t always explainable. Either way, you get your cup of caffeine with a cold brew and side note, you can make your own cold brew and reduce the ratios if you want a lower caffeine content. Be your own chemist!

Body Wellness

As mentioned above when we discussed caffeine content, the no heat brewing process preserves more of the vital antioxidants found in coffee. Antioxidants are powerhouse substances that protect you from disease as they are anti-oxidative. Your hot brewed coffee will contain antioxidants and a cold brew even more. You get antioxidants from your diet in foods like leafy greens, other vegetables and fruits. Keeping oxidative exposure to a minimum, like sugar and processed food intake, is a good piece to keep in mind for your general health.

Low acidity means more immunity? A study published by the American Chemical Society claims that a cold brew is “slightly less acidic” than hot brew coffee. A cold brew has polysaccharide compounds that Healthline says can “boost your digestive system’s immunity and decrease gut irritation.” Less astringent can equals an effect that is easier on the palate and stomach.

How To

This is by no means a super detailed how to, but this willgive you the tools to start your discoveries, if you want to venture deeper google your favorite cold brew connoisseur.

#1 You can absolutely use your favorite coffee bean for cold brew. It’s the size of the grind that matters more when preparing cold brew, I have found that a coarse grind is recommended. An 1/8thratio is the recommended standard cold brew choice, it is double the amount of a hot brew. Again, remember you can play around with these ratios to find your preferred “get up and go.”

#2 Pour the filtered clean water of choice over your grind that has been placed in a coffee filter. For a 32oz cup of coffee between 6-10 hours is recommended. I would recommend playing with the times as different flavor tones will grace your taste buds at different exposures.

#3 Those of you on a time crunch, make a large batch to keep in the refrigerator for the week. You don’t have to worry about it going bad and you can absolutely heat it up before drinking it, just make sure the grains are strained from the liquid.

#4 Strain and enjoy.

What Devices are Recommended

This will depend on how fancy you want to get. If you are a very simple creature like myself who doesn’t like a lot of “stuff” there are very simple techniques where nothing more than a filter and time. For those of you who dive deep into your scientific experiments and have the resources, many fun and fancy options exist. These can indeed bring complexity and an option to fine tune your coffee parties for each person and their likes and dislikes.

“The Simpleton”

A coffee filter of choice and a container. Organic cotton filters, reusable washable filters or a classic paper.

* More simple? Put your grinds into a jar, pour the water right over them. Once they have steeped, strain them out with a coffee press or filter.

Cold brew coffee kits

These can be found online through all kinds of vendors: This can be the easiest less cerebral intensive option.

I hope this has been helpful and even a little fun for you. Now go enjoy the process and don’t forget to support shade grown, environmentally friendly, humane coffee growers! The future is in our hands, love what you do!