{"id":2460,"date":"2019-03-31T04:18:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-31T11:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.kegoutlet.com\/?p=2460"},"modified":"2019-04-02T12:36:59","modified_gmt":"2019-04-02T19:36:59","slug":"making-cold-brew-coffee-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kegoutlet.com\/blog\/making-cold-brew-coffee-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Cold Brew Coffee At Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer is almost here and warmer temperatures mean you\u2019ll be looking for ways to cool down while sitting around the pool or enjoying the family barbeque. We can\u2019t think of a better solution than sipping on a glass of refreshing cold brew coffee! <\/span><\/p>\n

Cold brew coffee has become a popular beverage in the US the past several years and continues to grow in popularity. Coffee chains have been capitalizing on the cold brew craze by adding varieties of cold brew coffee drinks to their menus. But you don\u2019t have to spend $4 to enjoy a cold brew coffee! It\u2019s just as easy to make right at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cold Brew Is Not The Same As Iced Coffee<\/h3>\n

When you say \u201ccold coffee\u201d the first image that may pop into your mind is a glass of coffee on ice. For the most part, iced coffee is coffee that\u2019s been brewed hot and then put in the fridge to cool down. It\u2019s then served at room temperature over ice. Iced coffee has been around since the 1800s, and is a method traced back to an Algerian drink called <\/span>Mazagran<\/span><\/a>. The Portuguese had a similar iced coffee that they would add lemon, mint or even rum too. Sounds delicious, and it is, but it\u2019s not to be confused with cold brew coffee. <\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Cold Brew Coffee?<\/h3>\n

Cold \u201cbrew\u201d coffee doesn\u2019t refer to the coffee itself but to the process of how the coffee is brewed. Cold brew uses time in the place of heat for brewing. When you brew coffee with a\"The<\/a> traditional drip machine, the water is heated from 170 – 210 Fahrenheit. Brewing with heat draws out several compounds from the coffee grounds, like oils and fatty acids. This is what gives coffee its bitter element. <\/span><\/p>\n

Because cold brewing doesn\u2019t use heat, the bitter oils and acids are not extracted from the ground coffee. The result is a smooth and sweet taste experience. Cold brewing produces a coffee concentrate, which makes it great for storing and using whenever you have a craving for a refreshing glass of cold coffee. Just mix equal parts of coffee and water. Depending on the strength of your concentrate, you can add more water or other liquids to suit your personal taste.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take your coffee to the next level by cold brewing. Discover the rich, smooth flavor that you can’t get from a typical hot cup of coffee.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What\u2019s The Origin of Cold Brew Coffee?<\/h3>\n

If cold brew coffee tastes so great, why are we just hearing about it in the 21st century? Well, cold brewing coffee is certainly not a modern process. It\u2019s actually been around for hundreds of years. <\/span><\/p>\n

In an article published by <\/span>Daily Coffee News back in 2014<\/span><\/a> on the history of cold brew coffee, they offer a number of theories on the origin of cold brew. One theory is that it was the Dutch, who in the 1600s used a cold brew method for transporting coffee on long voyages. They may have also introduced this method while trading with the Japanese. Although, the Japanese were already brewing tea using a similar method. The article also mentions methods of cold brewing found in Latin America, but the details are not as certain. <\/span><\/p>\n

The most common use of cold brew coffee was found among soldiers military rations. A soldier could reconstitute the coffee concentrate while out in the field for a much-needed caffeine boost. By WWI instant coffee would replace the cold-brewed concentrate as a standard for a soldiers rations. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever its origin, we\u2019re just glad cold brew coffee has been revived and we can enjoy it anytime we like.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Best Coffee For Cold Brewing<\/h3>\n

Before we talk about the best ways to make cold brew coffee at home, we need to talk about the star of the show, the coffee bean! There are a couple of very important questions to consider: <\/span><\/p>\n

Question 1: What is the best roast level for cold brewing? <\/strong><\/p>\n

The best roast for cold brew is really up to your personal preference. Just realize, that your favorite roast level for hot coffee may not be the same for cold brew coffee.\"\" <\/span><\/p>\n

There are two points in the roasting process when the coffee beans will literally \u201ccrack\u201d. The first crack happens when the coffee beans are heated to about 385 Fahrenheit causing moisture to evaporate from the beans. Hearing this first crack tells the roaster that the beans have reached the \u201clight roast\u201d stage. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dark roast begins around 435 – 437 Fahrenheit when a second crack occurs. The second crack is when the oils rise to the surface of the coffee bean. <\/span><\/p>\n

For cold brew coffee, the light to medium roasts will usually need a longer brewing time to draw out the beans flavors since the oils have not been released during roasting. Remember, there is no heat in the cold brew process to draw out the oils. For that reason, darker roasts are preferred because of the richer flavors it produces. Brewing small batches is a great way to experiment and find the perfect roast for your tastebuds. <\/span><\/p>\n

Question 2: What level of grind should I use for cold brew coffee? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Freshly ground coffee beans are the recommended way to go. You can use pre-ground if that\u2019s what you have, but the flavors and aromas will not be as strong. The longer ground coffee is exposed to the air, the more diluted the flavor becomes. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, why grind coffee in the first place? Just placing whole beans in water would take a very long time to brew and would produce a very weak coffee. Grinding coffee beans increases the surface area so that more flavor can be extracted. Basically, the more of the bean that is exposed to water, the better the flavor and aroma will be. <\/span><\/p>\n

The size of the grind you use is important. Grinding your coffee beans too fine can slow the brewing process. Cold brewing works best with a coarse grind.<\/strong> A course ground will help extract all of the wonderful coffee flavors you\u2019re working so hard to enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three Ways To Make Cold Brew Coffee At Home<\/h3>\n

There are a number of different methods for cold brewing your coffee. The one that\u2019s best for you depends on experience and how creative you want to be. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you have money to burn you can purchase a cold brew tower. Prices can range from $25 to $500. Towers have a glass bowl at the top where you add ice. Filtered water is poured over the ice and drips through into the coffee grounds where it slowly brews into a base. Not ready for the tower? Here are three of the best ways to prepare cold brew coffee at home. <\/span><\/p>\n

Using a Mason Jar For Cold Brew Coffee.<\/h4>\n

Making cold brew coffee with a mason jar is great for beginners. It\u2019s one of the easiest methods\"\" because most of the equipment you need is already in your kitchen. <\/span><\/p>\n

Simply stir coffee grounds into a mason jar filled halfway with water. Put on the lid and place in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want your brew to be. Then pour the coffee concentrate over a paper filter, straining it into another jar or bowl. Store your cold brew coffee in the fridge, where it’s ready to enjoy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cold Brew Coffee Recipe in a Mason Jar<\/strong><\/p>\n