Know The Benefits Of Cold Brew Coffee And Tips To Make One

French Press, Siphon, Coffeemaker, Aeropress, and Cold Press are all common terms for the coffee connoisseur. But not even the most experienced coffee drinkers know everything about them. We decided to help you out by starting our series through the cold brew coffee method, a brew that’s gaining popularity faster than any other!

What Is A Cold Brew?

We have to clear up a massive misunderstanding when it comes to cold brew coffee. Cold-brew is not regular hot brewed coffee that has simply been chilled! Cold brew coffee is an entirely different process of brewing that involves steeping ground coffee in ambient water for extended periods.

The grounds are strained off and chilled once the coffee has brewed for 10-20 hours. The concentrate is then diluted with ice or cold water to give the coffee brew its signature taste.

What Coffee Varieties Work with Cold Brew Coffee?

For the best tasting cold brew coffee, we recommend freshly ground whole coffee beans. The fresher they are, the better they taste. Make sure that your coffee beans are medium or dark roast.

Different Types of Cold Brew Coffee

There are a few different types of cold brew coffee and each one has its positives. We’ll take into account a few of the most popular brews out there:

Cold Concentrate

The cold concentrate is the easiest and the most popular variety. This basic form of cold brew is nothing to be scoffed at. The smooth-tasting coffee is less acidic and more flavorful. You can add a dash of your preferred milk and use fewer sweeteners or creamers in the long run.

Cold concentrates can also be used to make a warm mug of coffee. But what’s the point? Simple, it just tastes better and is easier on your stomach.

New Orleans Style

The New Orleans brew uses an extra ingredient to give your mug of cold brew an extra special twist. During the steeping time, chicory is added to the coffee grounds. This is what gives the New Orleans cold brew its signature taste. Combine the cold brew coffee with your milk or additive of your choice, and you’ve got yourself a rich-tasting mug of creamy coffee!

Also Read - 5 Cold Brew Coffee Recipes You Can Try At Home

Tips To Make The Perfect Cold Brew

Pick the best beans

For an excellent cup of brewed coffee, you need high-quality beans. That does not mean that you should just go and snag a bag of the most expensive beans out there either! Find out what your taste buds fancy first before committing.

The Roast

We recommend medium to dark roasts. These roasts really bring out the flavor in your coffee brew. Darker roasts can trend toward a more bitterness and have a smoky flavor to them, whilst medium roasts can often highlight the inherent qualities of a particular harvest be it chocolate, cherries, caramel. Pick according to your preference.

The Grind

The way you grind the coffee makes a massive difference. You probably know about the grinds: fine, medium, and coarse. We recommend coarse grounds for the best extraction.

Seal it well

If you’re making the cold brew coffee in batches, make sure to store them in containers that seal well. A tight seal will help to retain the flavor whilst it chills in your refrigerator.

The Benefits of Cold Brew Coffee

Well, there’s a lot! We will break it down into a few easy-to-read sections.

The Science Behind The Cold Brew Coffee

Let’s keep it simple!

For your average coffee brew, what matters most is the temperature. The temperature of the brew changes the taste. However, time is what matters the most when it comes to the cold brew. The flavor becomes more intense as you steep the coffee.

As you heat your coffee for a regular coffee brew, the temperature causes the compounds in your coffee grounds to be released rapidly. Even though the process is completed within minutes, the high temperatures cause the coffee oils and acids to degrade through oxidation. This is what gives the brewed coffee its acidic bitter taste.

The coffee compounds are released at a slower rate in a cold coffee brew. Most of the coffee acids and oils are not soluble at this temperature, but the sweeter-tasting compounds are. The result is a coffee brew with a sweet mellow taste. Even though the cold brew coffee has a pretty high concentration of caffeine, it does not taste bitter and harsh.

Health Benefits Of Cold Brew Coffee

Is cold brew coffee better for your health? Know all about it here!

If you are an avid coffee lover, you probably know all about coffee by now. So, let’s keep it short and focus on the specific benefits of cold brew coffee.

Smoother on your tummy

Yes, it’s true that cold brews are more concentrated, but they are also easier to digest. Your stomach won’t go frantic over it! Cold coffee brews contain a large number of polysaccharides.

What are polysaccharides?

They are molecules of sugar. These molecules are harmless and they induce a positive effect on your digestive system. Polysaccharides in cold brew coffee have been shown to give your body an immunity boost. Coffee is acidic and if you had stomach irritation before because of it, these polysaccharides may help to alleviate this for you.

Lower levels of acidity

If you are suffering from heartburn and acid reflux, a piping hot mug of brewed coffee can bring it all up. Hot coffee has a lower pH because of its acidic compounds. These acidic compounds can potentially irritate these symptoms (especially lower quality coffees)!

Cold brew coffee is alkaline when compared to a traditionally brewed hot mug. It does not have a large number of acidic compounds, due to the cold brew process. Therefore a cold brew should be less problematic and be easier to drink down.

May boost your metabolism

Coffee contains caffeine and a good amount of it, too! Caffeine boosts your body’s metabolism and this can be up to 11% according to recent studies.

All forms of coffee have caffeine, however, cold brew coffee has a higher concentration of it. The higher the concentration, the higher the effects! You can also dilute the coffee concentrate to your liking, giving you greater control of how much caffeine you take in.

Why is metabolism important?

Metabolism is the rate at which your body uses up its energy reserves. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could adjust this rate to our advantage? Caffeine in brewed coffee allows you to do just that!

By speeding up the body’s metabolism one can easily lose weight. More calorie burn, more weight loss! It’s simple. When it comes to the benefits of cold brew coffee, this method definitely takes the poll position!

Happy smiles

The caffeine in your cold coffee brew may help you to perk up on a sleepy morning!

Are you feeling tired in the morning? A good cup of cold brew could be just the thing for you. Studies have shown how effective caffeine is at enhancing your mood. And guess what? Cold-brew has some of the highest concentrations of caffeine because of its steeping time.

Does Cold Brew Coffee Taste Better?

When you are tasting a coffee you need to take into account how long is brewed coffee good for. For the most accurate profiling, we sipped on freshly made cold brews steeped from medium-roast beans.

The cold brew flavor profile

Cold brew coffee has a rich taste profile. The texture and smoothness can help reflect the qualities of a particular coffee bean . The taste really is a step up when you compare it to hot coffee. Unless you have an acquired taste for hot coffee that is. We are pretty sure some of us do!

Cold brews also taste better when used for cooking. The mellow notes of the coffee concentrate help to balance the coffee flavor out. Baked treats won’t need copious amounts of sugar to cut out the bitterness!

Why Is Cold Brew Coffee So Easy To Make?

You don't need any special equipment or machines!

It’s so easy! Just plop them in a coffee compatible container to steep and you are good to go.

If you want to go the extra mile, you can always buy a french press or a special cold-brew machine. But, for the average drinker, making a cold brew is extremely easy.

Check Out - Cold Brew Vs Iced Brew

Is Cold Brew Coffee Cheaper In The Long Run?

Yes!

Cold-brewed coffee is cheaper than a mug of hot coffee for a few very good reasons.

• Batch brews - Batch brewing is one of the most economical benefits of cold brew coffee. Make coffee for the entire week and store it in the refrigerator. If you are wondering how long is brewed coffee good for; cold brew coffee lasts for up to a week when stored well. It’ll save you a good bit of money in the long run!
• Concentrated - Cold brews are concentrated with higher amounts of caffeine. You can dilute the concentrated brew to suit your taste. Since a single batch can produce a good amount of concentrate, you can dilute it over the week when needed. This way, you’ll waste less of your precious coffee grounds.

Cold Brew Coffee For The Connoisseur

This section is for those that want the best! A little guide on how to make a fresh cup of cold brew using the French Press. We love the French Press!

Why use a french press?

It’s as simple as this: cleaner brews!

Method

1. Add water (room temperature) and ground coffee to your french press.
2. After 15 minutes, coffee grinds will begin to form on the surface. Make sure to stir well.
3. During the entire process that lasts 24 hours, a few more rounds of stirring should be done to ensure even steeping.
4. The french press should be covered with a clean plastic wrap and set to steep for 24 hours.
5. After 24 hours, the wrap is flicked off and the mixture is pressed to separate the grounds from the concentrate.
6. Strain the concentrate through a fine-mesh strainer.

Viola! You’ve got yourself a fantastic coffee brew.

Tips: When diluting use 1 part of coffee concentrate with 1 equal part of water.

Keep Brewing!

Practice makes perfect! For the perfect cup of coffee, you absolutely need to find what’s best for you. Try everything! Brew, and try all the different coffee beans/roasts out there till you find your match made in heaven.

We at Portfolio Coffee are experts when it comes to coffee. We have a grand selection of coffee beans! Spend some time breezing through our collections to pick one. We highly recommend our Eldorado Brazillian Coffee roast. It’s fantastic for cold brew coffee.

For those who want to explore a variety of cold brew flavors and options, a coffee subscription service can be a great way to discover new blends and receive regular deliveries of fresh cold brew coffee.

Furthermore, for coffee shops, businesses, or individuals who prefer to purchase cold brew coffee in larger quantities, exploring coffee wholesale options can provide cost-effective solutions. Buying cold brew coffee in bulk through wholesale channels can ensure a sufficient supply for commercial use or for those who consume it regularly.

We hope this guide came in handy in your journey to “be your very own” personal barista!