Blue Bottle Coffee Indtroduces New Slow-Drip Cold Espresso Line Made Without Machines – CoffeeTalk

Blue Bottle Coffee is innovating by introducing a new line of cold espresso drinks inspired by a traditional cold-brewing technique from Kyoto, Japan. This method, known as Kyoto-Style Espresso, utilizes a slow-drip process akin to a Kyoto drip tower, where ground coffee is placed and cold water is gently poured through it. This contrasts with the standard cold brew approach that involves soaking coarsely ground coffee in water for extended periods.

Typically, Kyoto towers are not associated with espresso, which is usually brewed with heat and high pressure. However, Kevin Thaxton, Blue Bottle’s director of global product development, and his team have refined this process over the past two-and-a-half years. They have successfully developed a method that allows baristas at the chain’s 152 global locations to brew this espresso in roughly 90 minutes per batch, which can then be bottled for use throughout the day.

Thaxton emphasizes the necessity of optimizing coffee quality, questioning the reliability of espresso machines for cold drinks. He argues that espresso is meant to be consumed hot and can turn bitter when cooled or iced, suggesting that the industry has historically adapted traditional methods rather than creating a specialized cold espresso process. This shift is increasingly relevant as consumer preferences have evolved, with cold drinks accounting for about half of all orders at Blue Bottle in the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. This figure, however, is lower compared to competitors like Starbucks, where cold beverages represent 75% of sales.

The new batch brewing process not only enhances flavor but also boosts operational efficiency, enabling baristas to prepare drinks more rapidly and concentrate on customer service and presentation. Furthermore, this innovative approach supports the potential for smaller coffeehouses that emphasize cold beverages without the need for space-consuming espresso machines.

Read More @ NRN