How to make cold-brew coffee: Tips and tricks for the perfect summer brew

While coffee trends come and go, cold brew coffee is here to stay, and as coffee enthusiasts, we couldn’t be happier.

The cold brew process results in a delightfully refreshing, delicate beverage that is ideal for sipping on hot summer days. While the majority of us are familiar with coffee shop fare, it’s also ridiculously simple to make at home. If you’re interested in learning how to make cold brew coffee at home, we’ve included our favourite add-ins and some key facts about the process to elevate your morning coffee.

What exactly is cold brew? Is it similar to iced coffee?

While iced coffee is a chilled brew, it is not synonymous with cold brew, though we can see how their names could cause confusion. While iced coffee is typically made by pouring cooled espresso or filter coffee over ice.

Cold brew coffee is prepared over a longer period of time, typically in cold conditions (i.e. in the refrigerator), and thankfully does not require barista training or expensive equipment to consistently produce a smooth, chilly cup.

Why are people so fond of cold brew coffee?
Cold brew has become a popular method of brewing coffee for a variety of reasons. To begin, people appreciate the milder, less acidic flavours, as well as the enhanced sweetness that a lack of acidity can bring out. This delicate flavour, combined with the cool temperature, makes it the ideal way to get your caffeine fix during the warmer months – assuming it’s not too early for an espresso martini.

Additionally, it’s incredibly easy to make – and forgiving, as you won’t have to worry about burning your coffee grounds. Making a batch of cold brew for the house can save you a lot of time on those bleary weekday mornings and can also help you save money, as cold brew works with slightly older coffee beans.

What equipment do I need to make cold brew?
The steps for making cold-brew coffee are as follows:

Prepare your own coffee beans or purchase ground coffee. When making cold brew, a coarse grind is preferable.
Steep the coffee grounds in water (1:5) and store for up to 24 hours in a cold or ambient-temperature space.
After filtering your cold brew to remove the grounds, you’re finished.
That is truly all that is required. Traditionally, we extract flavour (and caffeine) from coffee grounds using heat and pressure, whereas cold brew infuses slowly over time, soaking up the richer, sweeter flavours and leaving behind the more bitter and acidic ones.

Cold brew also allows for enjoyable experimentation, as you can determine the duration of the brewing process and the ratio of coffee to water that produce the best results for you – you can even try brewing a more concentrated mixture and then watering it down. However, if you’re not in the mood to play scientist and simply want your coffee, use the ratio suggested above.

Read more • expertreviews.co.uk