cold brew coffee, how to make cold brew coffee,  cold brew coffee recipe, cold brew coffee ratio, cold brew vs iced coffee
23 April, 2021 | Bon Tea Cafe Updated 2021

How To Make Cold Brew Coffee [& Useful Tips]

Ahh, cold brew coffee, the coffee that lives up to its hype. It's like the older sibling of regular drip coffee and the much cooler and older relative of iced coffee. Cold brew coffee can be richer, smoother, and taste better. 

The beverage is prepared chilled, never heated, and the cold brew coffee ratio is higher than regular drip coffee. The drink is made by creating a cold brew concentrate mixed with freshwater (flavorings are optional). 

Even though cold brew is more potent than drip coffee, it contains less caffeine. You can make the cold brew on the weekends and pour it from your fridge each morning. No need to boil. No fussing with the coffee maker. 

If you're not a morning person, cold brew can be a total game-changer. Below, we'll show you how to make cold brew coffee, including successful tips to create a memorable cold brew. 

What Is Cold Brew Coffee? 

The main thing to know about cold brew is right there in its name. It's a coffee brewed using cold water instead of hot water. The process takes longer to make, and that's why most methods require an overnight steep. 

The result is a cold brew coffee concentrate that's less acidic compared to iced coffee. You can keep the cold brew concentrate in the fridge for two weeks and dilute it with cold milk. With regards to the milk, you can use oat milk as an alternative. 

Arguably, that's one of the best things about cold brew. You can make so much in less time and enjoy the beverage with almost no effort. Whether the coffee's low acidity flavor is a good thing or not depends on the taster. 

Some people like cold brew served black; others like it more when served with a creamy dairy. Of course, it doesn't mean you shouldn't drink the coffee black. We encourage you to experiment with various brewing styles and compare them to your iced coffee. 

No Special Equipment Needed To Make A Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate 

There are numerous products out there that try to make it look like you need unique gear to make a cold brew. You don't. As long as you have a large container to hold your coffee grounds and water, including a coffee filter to strain it through, you're good to go. 

The coffee to water ratio notes that it uses a 1:6 ratio concentrate by weight. That means for every one gram of coffee. There have to be six grams of water. 

You can then dilute the concentrate to your preferred taste. You can start with a 1:2 cold brew coffee ratio. That means for every ½ cup of coffee concentrate, add 1 cup of water, milk, or other liquid. 

With that said, let's find out how to make cold brew. 

How To Make Cold Brew Coffee 

cold brew coffee

It's straightforward to make the drink, and the cold brew coffee recipe is readily available on the market. But before we begin, we need to know how to get the ratio right. Let's quickly go over the cold brew ratio. 

Cold Brew Coffee Ratio 

Here's what you need to know: it can be flexible when it comes to the ratio. You can use a kitchen scale, but it's not necessary. We're making a cold brew coffee concentrate, so you can dilute the focus to your preferred taste when it's done. 

Keep this in mind: since we're making a cold brew concentrate, we'll need 1 cup of whole coffee beans to 4 cups of cold water. Making the concentrate will help you store cold brew in the fridge. You can then add it to freshwater when you're ready to drink the beverage. 

Here's how to make the beverage with the cold brew coffee recipe. It requires only three steps! 

Preparation Of The Cold Brew Coffee 

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup of whole coffee beans 
  • 4 cups of water
  • Add preferred flavoring

1. Steep the coffee. 

Mix the ground coffee and water in a large jar or pitcher. Put it in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. The steeping time is quite flexible. Some sources suggest you steep overnight or 12 hours, while others recommend 18 to 24 hours. Starbucks let their cold brew steep for 20 hours, though. 

If you accidentally steep your cold brew for longer hours, maybe over 24 hours, no need to worry. The concentrate may taste a bit more bitter than it would have, but there's probably no cause for alarm. 

In such a situation, you can dilute the concentrate with some extra water. 

2. Strain the coffee concentrate 

For the next step, strain the concentrate through any small, thin, clean cotton cloth free from lint. Yes. You can use a vintage handkerchief. You can also use thin paper coffee filters or even a French press. 

3. Add flavoring

Fill your glass partly with the coffee and add water on top of it. You can use ¾ of coffee and ¼ of water. But the ratio is up for you to decide since it determines how strong the cold brew taste. You can add milk, cream, or simple syrup to your liking, and you're done! 

You can quickly heat the cold brew if you're in the mood for a hot coffee. It's simple to make and slightly sweet, smooth, and highly refreshing. 

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: Which Is Better? 

cold brew vs iced coffee

Iced coffee and cold brew coffee recipe are the same. Just that they're combined at different temperatures. Water heated to about 93 degrees Celsius (around 200 degrees Fahrenheit) and poured over coffee grounds will extract all the pleasurable essences in minutes. 

You get a regular iced coffee when you pour the cooled water over ice. If the brewed water is at room temperature, it must combine with the coffee grounds for a longer time, from 12 to 24 hours. 

The result is a worth-sipping beverage that contains flavor and caffeine - coffee's most sought-after qualities, excluding the bitterness found in hot brewed coffee. The answer to the question depends on you. 

If you have issues with acidic-based products, then cold brew is the best option since it's less acidic. If you prefer the iced coffee, you go for it, as long as you don't have any acidic-related issues. 

So when it comes to cold brew vs. iced coffee, try to find out what works best for you. Some people can't wait for about 18 hours to take a sip. Either way, go for what's best for you. 

Conclusion 

There's a reason why most people love cold brew. And that's because the coffee-making process takes away most of the compounds that make the coffee taste sour and bitter. With the cold brew coffee, you can adjust the concentration of the coffee by making it strong or less. And that's why when it comes to cold brew vs. iced coffee, you have to consider numerous things like what you want in a coffee. If the iced coffee is not incredibly smooth enough and less acidic, some people may choose other alternatives. That said, if you want to order your coffee online, get in touch with us, and we'll quickly deliver it to your location.