Whether it’s iced or hot, fancy or not, we’ll drink our coffee however it’s served, but we do feel that excellent coffee is worth going the additional mile for. And when you talk about good coffee drinks, you can’t leave out cold brew.

The popularity of cold brew coffee has skyrocketed recently. Cold brew has gone from being a huge hit just in corporate coffee shops to being advertised at both mainstream and independent coffee businesses. Despite its popularity, many people remain perplexed by the term “cold brew coffee,” asking whether it is just an upscale kind of iced coffee or if there is more to it.

What is Cold Brew Coffee?

Making cold brew coffee involves letting coarsely ground coffee beans soak in water at room temperature for at least six hours in a gradual, steady manner. It can be up to 24 hours, depending on how potent you want your cold brew, but most people just let it sit overnight. 

After the coffee has been brewed, the grounds are filtered off, leaving behind a concentrated coffee that may be diluted with milk, water, or even ice. Since the coffee grounds aren’t heated, cold brew coffee tastes more flavorful, sweeter, and less acidic and bitter.

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee

Cold brew isn’t just iced coffee with a fancy name. The process of making iced coffee and cold brew coffee is the primary distinction between the two beverages.

Iced coffee is just a term for coffee that is served with ice. There are many ways to make iced coffee, but we’ll talk about the most common one: brewed coffee that is quickly cooled over ice, resulting in a diluted coffee.

For 12 to 24 hours, coarse coffee grounds are steeped in cold water to produce cold brew. Cold brew coffee takes longer to make than hot brew coffee because cold water does not remove the oils and flavors from coffee as quickly as hot water does. Many drinkers opt to sweeten their cold brew coffee by adding a tiny bit of cream or milk along with sugar to their cold brew coffee since it is smooth and non-acidic.

But how can the various processes involved in brewing explain the resulting taste variations? The finished cup of coffee is impacted by both the length of time and the temperature it was brewed at.

Temperature. As important as time is in preparing coffee, temperature is as crucial. The general rule is that the hotter the water, the quicker the extraction. Consider the following scenario: you have a drip coffee machine or a pour-over coffee maker. If you run cold water through the coffee grounds, the resulting liquid would be just slightly brownish. But if you let the cold water sit in the grounds for a while, you’ll end up with a refreshing cold brew.

Time. Extraction is the method used to remove taste from coffee beans, and it is affected by a wide variety of variables. However, time is the most important factor to consider. Because the various taste components in coffee beans are extracted at varying rates, the overall time spent brewing may have a significant impact on what comes out of the beans.

The steeping time for cold brew may range from 12 to 24 hours. Since the coffee grounds will be soaking for so long, a coarser grind is preferable. If you ground the beans too finely, you risk over-extracting the oils from the bean, which will result in a bitter cup of coffee.

Because iced coffee may be prepared far more rapidly, frequently in just a few minutes, you will normally want to use beans that have been ground more finely.

What’s Different About Cold Brew Coffee?

1. Easy on the stomach.

After drinking coffee, an upset stomach is a common side effect for many individuals. Cold brews are ideal for these individuals since they have a low level of acidity, which eliminates the potential for any pain, particularly when consumed on an empty stomach.

2. More concentrated cup of coffee. 

Increasing the quantity of coffee grounds added to the water during the cold brew process results in a more concentrated cup of coffee. There is no way to do this with piping hot brewed coffee. Extra coffee beans added to the water during the lengthier steeping durations won’t cause an uneven extraction.

3. Rich coffee flavor.

Due to the lengthier brewing period, cold brews often extract the most flavor from the beans. Because they contain less than half the amount of acidity and bitterness that other coffee beverages do, cold brews have the added benefit of being smooth and full-bodied.

4. Provides a sweeter taste.

Cold-brewed coffee tastes sweeter because it has much less acidity than hot-brewed coffee. This also means that it is the best coffee for people with stomach problems. 

Is A Specific Coffee Machine Required for Cold Brew?

You can prepare cold brew in whatever container you have on hand, such as a French press or a mason jar, but you won’t get as much concentration out of it as you would with a specialized cold brew machine. Their results also tend to be less smooth, giving you a brew with a bit more grit and a heavier, more intense body. That doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker, especially if you don’t drink so much cold-brew coffee that you need to buy a new piece of equipment. If, on the other hand, you’re ready to take control of your morning coffee routine and take things into your own hands, you may consider purchasing one of the finest cold-brew coffee makers. 

What’s A Cold Brew Coffee Maker?

If you want the best coffee maker, you’ve probably thought about getting a cold brew coffee maker. Cold brew is a popular drink in coffee shops, but you can also make it at home if you have a cold brew coffee maker. Most models don’t need power, and the process of making coffee is pretty easy.

The cold brew machine itself has few moving parts. The key component is a glass carafe, or brewing vessel, which contains your cold brew concentrate after it has been brewed. Within the middle is the metal mesh filter. Some types feature an integrated filter, while others have a paper filter. 

How To Use a Cold Brew Maker to Brew Coffee

To make a cold brew, first fill your glass pot or container with cold water. Next, pour the coarsely ground coffee you made with your burr grinder into the steel mesh filter. Make sure the ratio of coffee to water is 1:8.

Install your filter by tightly screwing it into position, then secure it to the lid. In the event that your coffee grinder doesn’t have a filter that can be removed, you can always just use a rubber stopper to keep the coffee grinds contained inside the filter.

Finally, put the coffee grinds in cold water and screw the lid on. When you’ve let the mixture rest in your cold brewer for 12 to 24 hours, you’ll have a highly concentrated cup of coffee.

What to Look for When Purchasing a Cold Brew Coffee Maker

You need to know what you want out of a cold brew coffee maker in order to get the ideal one for you. Prior to purchasing a cold brewer, it is important to consider your cold brewing priorities. Different cold brew coffee machines would be acceptable for various individuals based on their preferences. Here are some of the most important things to consider when purchasing your first piece of equipment.

1. Simple to use

You should think about how easy it is to use when you buy a cold coffee brewer. Home brewing equipment that is simple to use is a safe bet since home brewing equipment always requires some additional degree of technical details.

2. Material

Glass, plastic, stainless steel, and anodized aluminum are just a few of the materials used to create cold brew equipment. Choose a material that will last and can be easily maintained. Most of the time, borosilicate glass is the best because it is cheap, durable, non-toxic, and easy to carry.

3. Size

Most people like coffee makers that are small and easy to carry. If it can fit in the fridge, that’s a plus. The last thing you want is a cumbersome cold brew machine that is difficult to operate and takes up a lot of space when not in use.

4. Cost

The cost of a cold-brew brewer varies. If you want to get a more sophisticated one, be prepared to pay more money. If you don’t have much money, look for something that meets both your needs and your budget.

4. Filter

Depending on the quality of your filter, your cold brew might be excellent or terrible. It should be strong enough to handle the high pressure that comes with decanting. Also, it should be fine enough that no sediment can get through.

Types Of Cold Brew Coffee Makers

Cold brew coffee machines are typically available in two varieties: drip and steep. The goal of the cold brewing method is to produce iced coffee with a more concentrated taste. Cold brew coffee machines are necessary since adding ice to a pot of boiled coffee will dilute the coffee.

For steeping systems, you add water and let the coffee flavor soak into the water for up to 24 hours. For drip systems, a dispenser full of ice and cold water would be placed over the basket of coffee grounds and allowed to drip through the grounds over the course of a few hours. This would allow the flavor to get into the coffee at the bottom of the maker. Both of these coffee makers need a significant amount of time to brew a cup of coffee, so you will need to plan ahead. For example, you might start the process the night before so that your morning cup is ready when you get up. 

Wrapping Up: 

Cold brew may be made at home with the same ease as regular coffee.

There are a variety of methods to enjoy a cup of cold brew coffee. The ideal way to enjoy cold brew coffee, however, is for coffee aficionados to purchase a cold brew coffee machine and prepare it at home. 

Find yourself a good cold brew coffee machine, and you’ll soon be sipping on a cup with a low acidity and a velvety texture. There are many choices, so you can find the machine that works best for you. And you won’t have to spend a lot of money.