Coffee is a very particular type of infusion, that is, water at a high temperature is used to extract the aroma, flavor and properties of this ground grain. But it is not the only way to prepare coffee. There is also what is known as instant coffee, and somewhat more exotic techniques such as cold brew or iced coffee. A very different process from the conventional, but one that has its advantages.
Here you can learn all about alternative iced coffee. Like what is cold brew coffee, how you can make it at home, the advantages and disadvantages of preparing it using this technique, etc.
What is cold brew coffee or iced coffee?
El Cold Brew Coffee or Iced Coffee It is not a type of coffee in itself, but rather refers to a preparation technique that is different from the traditional ones that use hot water and pressure for its extraction. In this case, the high temperature does not come into play to prepare your infusion. It is simply prepared using a cold process, hence its name.
Using the cold brew technique, or iced coffee, the ground coffee is infused with cold or room temperature water. The process is much slower than the traditional method, but it has a series of advantages that you will surely like.
The result will be a light coffee, full-bodied, full of nuances and flavors intense, but without as much bitterness as traditional coffee. And all thanks to the way it is prepared, showing itself as it is for the most gourmets and flavor lovers who want a refreshing coffee with all the natural flavor and aroma.
Advantages and disadvantages of this technique
As with all methods, this type of iced coffee It has their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you should know them to evaluate if it is what you really want.
Advantages of cold brew coffee or iced coffee
Being a cold technique, iced coffee has a number of advantages over the traditional hot preparation procedure. Are and advantages are:
- It does not extract some substances from the ground grain that can contribute acidity or roasted aromas to the drink This is because when brewing cold, components such as ethers, ketones, and amides from coffee are not released. Something that does happen with hot infused coffee.
- In addition to bitterness, these substances also give the coffee some astringency. In other words, with cold brew you can eliminate that feeling of dryness in the mouth that some hot brewed coffees leave behind.
- Being more pure in flavor, you will be able to better appreciate every nuance of its aroma and flavor compared to hot brewed coffee.
- It turns out a process cheaper, since by not needing special devices, nor having to use an energy source to heat, you will save money.
- It is usually taken cold, something that many people like. However, you can take it hot too once it has been prepared… You can even prepare all kinds of recipes by adding milk, cocoa, cinnamon, foam, etc., as you would with any other coffee.
Disadvantages of cold brew coffee or iced coffee
But not all are advantages in cold brew coffee, you can also find Some disadvantages in this type of iced coffee preparation. Although the biggest drawback of this type of preparation has to do with some of the healthy properties of coffee that are not extracted in the same way as when it is infused hot. For this reason, some nutritionists recommend the hot process better so that all the substances provided by the coffee bean are released into the water.
However, some other experts claim that the cold brew technique makes the coffee have better anti-aging properties due to antioxidants present in the coffee. They ensure that by not subjecting the coffee to high temperatures, certain antioxidants naturally present in the coffee bean are better preserved. This could be an advantage over regular coffee, improving your health, avoiding the effects of aging, and keeping you fit…
How is cold brew or iced coffee prepared?
If you want to enjoy a good cold brew, then you should know all the details and tricks so that the result is as expected. It's not easy prepare a good iced coffee If you don't pay attention to certain details that can make a difference...
What I need?
You really don't need anything special no coffee maker or any specific appliance. A simple glass jar with a lid should be enough... However, if you like this technique and want a little more convenience, you should know that there are some cold brew coffee makers on Amazon. For example:
Silberthal Cold Brew Coffee Maker
It is a special carafe for preparing iced coffee in the fridge. It has a capacity of 1.3 liters, to prepare large quantities at once. In addition, it also supports preparing hot infusions. Its use is extremely simple, it is free of BPA and it is dishwasher safe. Its central cylindrical filter allows you to infuse the coffee in the water without having to use other filters or strainers.
ASOBU Cold Brew Copper-Black
It is another good cheap alternative to the previous one. A kit to prepare it by simply adding ground coffee, cold water and the condiments that we want. In 12 hours we will have the cold brew coffee ready. Specific kits like this one take the hassle out of looking for gauges etc, and we can get straight to the point. For enthusiasts or as a gift they are great.
Hario Cold Brew Coffee Maker
You also have at your fingertips this other carafe for iced coffee. Its capacity is 1 litre, with metal filter durable for easy preparation, very fine mesh to prevent even the finest particles from escaping, and dishwasher safe. It is made of resistant glass, with a practical lid and handle in brown.
plunger coffee makers
Another solution are French presses or plunger coffee machines, which are also very useful tools for preparing this type of coffee. More information here.
preparation process
The preparation procedure is quite simple, you just have to follow these steps so that the result is as expected. But before that, I give you some tips and tricks:
- Ready coffee that you are going to use for the preparation, that is, about 100-125 grams. As for any other coffee, it is recommended that it be of good quality and better if the grain is ground at the moment.
- La grind should be coarse, with a sandy texture. Here it does not matter if it is too fine.
- Use water that does not add flavor. The ideal is a water with weak mineralization, filtered, or prepare distilled water using a domestic distiller. In cold brewing it is even more important that the water taste neutral, otherwise it could spoil the finer nuances of the cold brew method.
- Also have a fine paper filter for coffee. This would not be necessary if you use one of the special pitchers for iced coffee that I have shown in the previous section.
- You also need a glass jar with lid or a cold brew pitcher where to prepare the cold infusion. It should be very clean and free of musty or dirty aromas, which would spoil the final taste.
- Another utensil you need is a funnel. If you buy the cold brew pitcher you will also save this, since they come ready to serve comfortably.
Once you take all these considerations into account, the preparation procedure consists of follow these steps:
- Mix the ground coffee with the water inside the pot. If you do it with a special carafe for iced coffee, then you must put the ground coffee inside the central filter that they include. The ratio should be 1:8, that is, one part of coffee for every eight parts of water. For example, you can use about 100-125 grams of ground coffee for every liter of water.
- Shake well and let rests for at least 12 hours covered in the fridge. It is recommended to leave it up to 24 hours, that is, to do it the day before consumption, although there are people who prefer not to exceed 14-15 hours, since that is when more bitterness begins to be released. This is a matter of taste…
- If you have a cold brew pitcher, all you have to do is pour the coffee into the glass or mug to enjoy it. If you have used a can then you will need to use the funnel and filter to filter the content from the pot, and pour the mixture into the cup, glass or thermos.
- Now you can drink it cold, heat it, and even add other additional ingredients that you fancy (milk, cocoa, cinnamon, sugar,...).
Once you have it ready, you can store it in your cold brew pot or jar for a few days in the fridge so you can drink it whenever you feel like it. Although it could remain for up to a week, the ideal is that you prepare each day what you are going to drink the next day... Remember that, especially if you do not keep it refrigerated, coffee can cause certain microorganisms to proliferate if you leave it for too many days, and these could be harmful to you.
