The right coffee for cold brew
Can I make cold brew from all types of coffee? And how important is the roasting? How does the brew ratio change if I use a dark roast? There are many questions about the selection of the right coffee for your cold brew. We will help you out and give you a few clues.
Right coffee for cold brew – how is it made?
In contrast to all other coffee preparations, cold brew is not prepared with hot water, but with cold water - either at room temperature or even in the refrigerator. Preparation is quite simple at home or in a coffee shop: Mix ground coffee with the right amount of water and leave to extract for 12 to 24 hours. In the end, filter out the coffee grounds. We do the whole thing on a larger scale with machines, pasteurization, and double filtration, but basically it's the same procedure. Coffee, water and let it brew!
Right Coffee for Cold Brew – Extraction Time
Cold brew requires a longer extraction time due to a lower temperature of the brewing water used.
Water at room temperature or below, the extraction takes much longer than higher temperatures: This is because the water molecules at
lower temperatures have less kinetic energy. That is why cold brew is brewed between 8 and 24 hours. This means that Cold Brew has more total dissolved solids (TDS) than espresso or filter coffee and therefore more caffeine per 100 ml.
Right coffee for cold brew – the classic cold brew taste
The advantages of the long extraction time are a good 70% less acids and less bitter substances in the drink than in hot brewed coffee.
The taste is very fruity and refreshing. The long extraction time also makes the cold brew sweeter and softer than coffee from other brewing methods. This means that sweetness and fruitiness in a cold brew is generally more developed. This results in the assumption that medium roasts are optimal for cold brews because the naturally present sweetness is accentuated. At the same time, however, the nutty and chocolatey notes are also present in the cup profile. If light roasts were used, the cold brew would then be fruity or floral.
The right coffee for cold brew – possibilities
In addition to this classic flavor profile, Cold Brew can be made from many different types of coffee. For example, from the light roasts mentioned above or from specialty coffee. This gives you a fruity and sweet cold brew. With us you can find, for example, cold brew made from Salvadoran Tabi, Brazilian Red Catuaí and Ethiopian Heirloom.
- Cold Brew El Salvador : Red currant, blueberry, blossom honey
- Cold Brew Brazil : Chocolate, Berries, Nougat
- Cold Brew Ethiopia : Sweet, exotic fruits, caramel
Depending on the country of origin and the roast level, the cold brew that we make or that you make yourself will taste different. We use a roast level that has been specially developed for cold brews, but it is on the lighter side. After many experiments with the preparation and other roast levels, we have developed a roast level that is perfectly tailored to the preparation method, so that your cold brew tastes the way you like it best.
The right coffee for cold brew – cold coffee
People prefer to drink cold drinks especially in the warmer months. This also applies to coffee. This has also made cold brew increasingly popular in recent years. However, you should not confuse iced coffee and cold brew: the first is brewed hot and then cooled, while the second is brewed cold. Cold brew achieves a higher quality taste than simply cold coffee, which has contributed to its increasing popularity.
The right coffee for cold brew – the country selection
The most important thing when choosing the right coffee for your cold brew is quality. If the quality of the green coffee is right, that's almost half the battle. The origin is also important. Even though you can make a good cold brew with a blend, single origin coffees are better because the preparation method allows you to bring out the taste characteristics of the country.
For example, coffees from South and Central America (Brazil, Guatemala, Colombia, etc.) often produce classic cold brews with chocolatey notes. Of course, there are always exceptions, as our cold brew from El Salvador proves, which is very berry-like. East African coffees, on the other hand, for example from countries like Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, often have more fruity and floral flavors - which in turn means a higher acidity.
The right coffee for cold brew – conclusion
Cold brew is becoming increasingly popular – in summer as well as in winter (perfect for tasty cocktails).
The same applies to brew as to everything else: find a way for yourself to enjoy it!
