Everything About Cold Brew Coffee

Have you tried using cold water to make coffee? If not, here’s a simple guide on making cold brew coffee. It is simple to prepare and has less acidity and bitterness. 

How many methods of coffee brewing have you tried so far? Instead of drinking a hot cup of coffee during the day, you can have a cold brew coffee. 

Besides, if you’re out camping or on an adventure, it’s a perfect way of making sure you do not miss out on your daily cup of coffee. 

Last update on 2023-09-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

To answer the multiple questions you have in mind, we’ll start by defining what cold brew coffee is before we look at the preparation method and the coffee machine to use. 

What Is Cold Brew Coffee?

When making coffee, you either use hot or cold water. Cold brew coffee uses cold water, hence the name cold brew.

You can use a coffee maker to make this coffee or use a simple container at home that has a lid. However, this method of coffee brewing takes longer to brew, so you leave it for 12-24 hours to steep. 

Cold brew is not new. You can get it from a local cafe or make it at home. In the US, it’s a common trend and is projected to increase the market size to around $944.16 million by 2025. 

How To Make Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee is simple to make. You can grind fresh coffee beans or use pre-ground coffee. Here’s how to go about making coffee:

What you need:

1. Coffee grinder
2. Coffee brewer
3. Cold filtered water

Procedure

Freshly ground coffee maintains the flavor and taste of the coffee beans. Use a coffee grinder to grind the coffee beans to a coarse grind size. 

Do you have a french press or an AeroPress at home? If you do not have either, you can use a mason jar. Add four cups of water to your coffee brewer. 

Add one cup of coarse ground coffee and let it settle for a few minutes. Use a spoon to stir the mix and ensure that the coffee is soaked in water. 

Place the coffee brewer in a refrigerator and let it steep for 12-24 hours. Well, some coffee lovers steep for 16-18 hours. 

Use a paper filter to remove the coffee particles. You can use a Chemex paper filter to remove the smallest ground coffee particles. 

You will notice that cold brew has high caffeine concentration. If you love strong caffeine, you can take coffee as is. However, adding cold water to your cup of coffee reduces the caffeine. 

You can also add ice cubes to your cup of cold brew coffee. For coffee lovers with a sweet tooth, you can add milk, sugar, or honey. 

Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Selecting a coffee maker for cold brew coffee brewing can be overwhelming. To make the process easy for you, we have a list of the best coffee makers you can use. 

Toddy Cold Brew System

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you’ve been researching the best cold brew coffee maker, you must have come across the Teddy cold brew coffee maker. Most of the guides recommend using this coffee maker. 

It comes with 2 reusable filters, a silicone stopper, a brewing container, and a glass decanter. The brewing container has a handle for easy brewing, while the decanter has a lid to maintain coffee freshness. 

Toddy cold brew system has a capacity of 1.1 liters. Its versatility makes it easy to use for making cold brew tea. The silicone stopper prevents the steeping coffee from dripping into the glass decanter. 

If you’re looking for a drip cold coffee brewer, Toddy cold brew system is affordable to buy and simple to use. 

Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Takeya cold brew coffee maker has a mesh filter that holds the ground coffee during coffee brewing. After preparing your cold brew, you can leave the coffee maker on the countertop or place it in a refrigerator.

The coffee maker has a BPA-free pitcher with a non-slip handle and an airtight lid. If you’re making a cold brew for limited people, the Takeya coffee maker is suitable for you. It has a capacity of upto 4 servings.

Asobu Coldbrew Portable Cold Brew Coffee maker

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Asobu coffee maker comes in multiple colors. You can pick the best color that matches your kitchen theme. The coffee maker is portable, meaning that you can brew coffee as you travel or on an adventure. 

However, it is more expensive than other cold brew coffee makers. With the fine mesh filter, you do not have to worry about ground coffee in your cup of coffee. 

It has a coffee mug that you can use for coffee brewing or serving coffee. To make a cold brew, fill the mesh filter with 1.3 ounces of ground coffee, then add water three times in a circular motion. The Asobu coldbrew coffee maker brews coffee for upto 6 servings. 

OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Oxo brew is one of the best cold brew coffee makers. The coffee maker brews upto 16 ounces of concentrated cold brew. 

It has a compact size to store in a refrigerator as the coffee steeps. The coffee maker features a rainmaker showerhead that helps distribute water on the ground coffee. 

Once you place the brewer, coffee automatically drips into the carafe. It comes with a lid to preserve the flavor of the coffee brewing. 

Cafe Du Chateau Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

A coffee machine saves you money instead of buying coffee anytime you need to caffeinate. The Cafe Du Chateau coffee maker has a large capacity of 34 ounces. 

It is made of BPA-free materials and has 2 airtight silicone lids. Its design makes it suitable to place in a refrigerator. 

The coffee maker takes 16-24 hours to make a cold brew. The airtight lid maintains coffee freshness for 7-10 days after brewing. It features a glass carafe and a stainless steel body to hold the carafe. 

One of the top reasons you should consider buying the Cafe Du Chateau coffee maker is its affordable price. 

Why Should You Consider Taking Cold Brew Coffee?

Have you walked into a cafe and noticed cold brew coffee on the menu? Did you check the price as well? There are several reasons why it’s growing in popularity. Let’s find out why:

1. Low acidity and bitterness

To make a cold brew, you use cold water and not hot water. Cold water limits the amount of bitterness and acidity during coffee extraction. As a result, you brew coffee rich in flavor and smooth. 

2. It has a high caffeine concentration.

If you love your caffeine strong, cold brew coffee is worth giving a shot. Since it brews for a long time, it has high caffeine content compared to other methods of coffee brewing. 

However, if you do not take strong caffeine, add cold water or use ice cubes. You can also add milk or sugar to your cold brew coffee. 

3. Easy to brew

Cold brew coffee is simple to make at home or in a cafe. Use a coffee maker or a container with a lid to brew. The grind size for this coffee is coarse. 

You can use an immersion or drip cold brew coffee maker. An example is a french press or a Bodum cold coffee brewer. 

4. Steeping

With an automatic coffee maker, you have your cup of coffee ready within a few minutes or seconds. However, making cold brew will have you steep coffee for 12-24 hours. 

You can place the coffee maker in the refrigerator or leave it on the countertop. Once the coffee is ready to serve, you can use a paper filter or a cheesecloth to remove coffee particles. 

5. Grind size

The recommended grind size for cold brew coffee is coarse. Make sure you have grind consistency to make a smooth shot of cold coffee. 

On your coffee grinder, select the coarse grind size for best results. Freshly ground coffee has better results. 

Cold Brew Coffee

You can make cold brew coffee at home or buy ready-to-drink coffee at a cafe. Some of the best cold coffee to try are:

Illy Cold Brew Coffee

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Illy saves you from making cold brew coffee at home. It is caffeinated and made from medium roast coffee. 

The cold brew is brewed for 12 hours and has a Classico flavor. It has less acidity and a sweet natural taste profile. 

Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

From Starbucks, you can select black unsweetened and vanilla sweet cream flavors. The caffeinated cold brew coffee is best to enjoy at home or on the move. 

Califia Farms – Cold Brew Coffee

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Califia Farms cold brew coffee is made from 100% Arabica coffee. It is simple to handle as it does not need to be refrigerated. 

When serving, add cold water to each cup to reduce the caffeine concentration. It has a bold taste and low acidity. 

Califia Farms cold brew coffee is versatile. You can take it as a concentrated, cold, or hot beverage. It has low calories and is compatible with most diets. 

Chameleon Organic Cold Brew Black Coffee

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Organic cold brew coffee from Chameleon is unsweetened with semi-sweet chocolate and toffee taste notes. The 32-ounce pack has coffee for upto 8 servings. 

The coffee beans are certified as USDA organic and sustainably sourced. You can customize your cup of cold brew by adding ice cubes, water, or coffee creamer to enhance the taste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does cold brew coffee have high caffeine content compared to regular coffee?

Yes. Since cold brew coffee uses cold water and extracts for a longer time, it results in coffee with high caffeine content. You can reduce the concentration by adding cold water. 

How long does cold brew coffee take to brew?

To make a cold brew, you need to use cold water. Unlike hot water which is fast to extract flavors from the ground coffee, cold water takes more time. You have to steep the mixture for 12-24 hours. You can leave it in the fridge or on the countertop closed in an airtight lid. 

Can you make cold brew coffee at home?

Yes, you can make cold brew coffee at home. You do not need a coffee maker if you have a mason jar and a cheesecloth. Mix ground coffee and cold water in a mason jar and use the cheesecloth to remove coffee particles. 

What makes cold brew coffee special?

A cold brew has low acidity and bitterness than regular coffee. The preparation method involves using cold water, and the resulting coffee has high caffeine concentration. 

Why is cold brew coffee expensive compared to regular coffee?

If you’ve been to a cafe to buy cold brew coffee, you will notice that the price is higher than regular coffee. The reason for the price difference is the time it takes to brew. Cold brew coffee takes 12-24 hours, while regular coffee is ready within a few minutes.

Is cold brew coffee the same as iced coffee?

No, there’s a difference between the two. Both will result in a cold beverage, but the preparation method differs. Iced coffee is regular coffee that drips on ice cubes. 

On the other hand, cold brew uses cold water and steeps for longer. In addition, iced coffee is bitter and acidic, while a cold brew is smooth.   

Final Thoughts

For a coffee lover, cold brew coffee is worth giving a shot. You can make it at home with regular coffee or a cold brew. It is a smooth brew with less acidity and bitterness. 

However, it has a high caffeine concentration, which you can reduce by adding water, coffee creamer, or ice cubes. A cold brew uses cold water and coarse ground coffee. It takes 12-24 hours to steep. 

You can use a cheesecloth to remove coffee particles or a paper filter. With a coffee maker, it’s easier to make coffee and store it in the refrigerator. But, you can also buy cold brew coffee instead of making it at home.