Cold brew coffee has gained popularity over recent years as a new and innovative way to drink one of the country's favourite drinks. Cold brewing coffee maximises flavour and aroma while eliminating bitterness, making it the perfect way to explore the unique tones and flavours found in single origin coffees.
In this blog post we are going to explore how to make a cold brew, the varieties on offer and answer some all important questions, such as how long does a cold brew last and how do you flavour them? Read on to delve into the cool and refreshing world of cold brew coffee…
What type of coffee is best for cold brew?
If you choose the right coffee beans, you’re 90% there to achieving great tasting coffee. But what type of coffee is best for cold brew? Your coffee is your top priority when favouring cold brew. When you buy freshly roasted coffee beans from Coffee Bean Shop, we advertise the flavour notes or cup characteristics by region, coffee type and roasting process.
Coffee is naturally flavoured, with so many different varieties to choose from - all depending on their unique growing conditions. Single origin coffees will give you a sense of tractability when developing your own cold brew recipes. Can you taste the chocolate? The fruit, acidity and body of your coffee? Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or a novice, cold brew coffee is a great way to transform your palate and get pure, clean, fresh flavour out of your coffee beans, letting you explore fascinating flavour profiles in a clearer way than with other beverage types.
To begin with, we would recommend starting with a Peruvian coffee or a bold Colombian Bucaramanga for maximised sweetness and flavour. Then there are some amazing South American and African coffees that work wonderfully well in cold brewing. These tend to bring flavours of chocolate, caramel, fruit and nuts.
Can I use a coffee blend in cold brew?
If a coffee blend is more your thing, then be sure to choose one without Robusta. Our Breakfast Blend makes an exceptional cold brew coffee, even if we do say so ourselves..
You need 100% Arabica coffee beans, not Robusta, which can jeopardise your cold brew by giving you an unpleasantly bitter and burnt taste. Robusta is great when used in espresso based drinks, as it cuts through the heavy milk content, but for cold brew, you want something more subtle. All of our single origins are 100% Arabica and perfect for the job. We also medium roasted all of our Arabica coffee which further adds to the layers of flavour produced in the cold brewing process.
What about decaf cold brew?
For all the decaffeinated drinkers out there, Swiss Water decaffeinated coffee is essential. The decaf process is chemical free and is preferable, as it doesn’t remove flavour like other inferior processes, meaning that you can have all the flavour of a single origin coffee with 99.9% of the caffeine carefully extracted.
Pro tip: beans are best. Grinding your own beans will help with the flavouring, as coffee loses over 60% of the aroma in the first 15 minutes, you want to get coffee ground and steeped into your water (preferably filtered – helps with consistency) as soon as possible. Luckily, if you are not able to do this, we also sell all of our beans in a variety of grind levels. As our beans are roasted just before being sent out, this will give the best possible ground coffee for your cold brew.
How to flavour cold brew coffee: a guide
There are two options when cold brewing: a ready to drink or a concentrate. You can see both cold brew methods below. Ready to drink cold brew needs little to no added sweetness but a concentrate will need something to cut through the strength, ideally a simple or flavoured syrup. Although we would always recommend drinking ready to drink cold brew straight with ice, we understand that some people may want something a bit different. Here’s our guide to the most popular ways to flavour cold brew coffee.
Flavouring Cold Brew with Syrup
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, syrup is an ideal way to add flavour to cold brew. Unlike conventional coffee, ready to drink cold brew is subtle and needs only a quarter of the syrup needed for a Latte or cappuccino. Cold brew concentrate may need sweetening like your regular hot brewed coffee.
Vanilla Syrup is an easy way to get an even more intense flavour profile for your cold brew coffee. Simple syrup with a ratio of 2:1 is neutral and adds to the sweetness of the original flavours. Lastly, caramel syrup will give you the sweetest hot chocolate like cold brew coffee. These syrups can all be bought in your local supermarket or made at home with these simple steps.
All syrups start with the base: sugar and water. Simmering will create a lovely, sweet consistency, 5-10 minutes usually does the trick. *Remember to be careful when melting sugar at home*. To flavour simply add either a dollop of caramel or a vanilla pod to the water and sugar mix before simmering.
How to use flavoured milk in your cold brew coffee
Milk or milk alternatives can add some extra body and substance to your cold brew or concentrate to give you an added finesse of flavour when drinking cold brew coffee.
Flavouring your milk or milk alternative is one of the easiest ways to add a flavoursome twist on your cold brew. Simply simmer your favourite milk or milk alternative in a saucepan with spices and flavourings. We would recommend whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, vanilla, star anise, cardamom pods. * I would stay away from powdered spices. * Once your milk or milk alternative has absorbed the flavours simply sieve, froth and serve.
A family recipe just for you:The Coffee Bean Shop‘Espresso Martini’ flavoured with cold brew
We all love an Espresso Martini, and this recipe is perfect for all occasions. A creamy coffee cocktail, ready to wow any guest or coffee lover, but made with cold brew instead of espresso! Creating an espresso martini using cold brew coffee offers a unique and sophisticated twist on the classic cocktail, with the smoothness and lower acidity of cold brew providing a distinct flavour profile that complements the other ingredients beautifully.
Ingredients:
- 50ml cold brew concentrate
- 50ml coffee liqueur
- 25ml Vodka
- 25ml Vanilla syrup
- Dash of cream or flavoured milk
- Coffee beans to garnish
- Cocktail shaker
- Cooled espresso glasses.
Instructions:
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Chill Your Glass: Before you begin mixing, place your martini glass or coupe in the freezer for at least 10-15 minutes. A well-chilled glass will help keep your martini colder for longer and maintain its frothy head.
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Combine Ingredients in Shaker: Fill your cocktail shaker with ice. Then, carefully pour in the cold brew coffee, coffee liqueur, vodka, and syrup/milk. The order doesn't strictly matter, but ensure all ingredients are added before sealing the shaker.
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Shake Vigorously: Secure the lid on your shaker and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds. The goal is not just to mix the ingredients, but to thoroughly chill the drink and create a rich, frothy head. This foam is a hallmark of a well-made espresso martini, achieved by the rapid agitation of the coffee with ice. You should hear the ice clinking loudly against the sides of the shaker.
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Strain into Chilled Glass: Remove the lid from the shaker. Place a strainer over your chilled martini glass and carefully pour the mixture into the glass, ensuring the ice remains in the shaker. The goal is to transfer the smooth, frothy liquid, leaving behind any melted ice.
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Garnish and Serve: Float three whole coffee beans on top of the foam. This traditional garnish not only adds a touch of elegance but also releases a subtle coffee aroma as you sip. Serve immediately and enjoy your perfectly crafted cold brew espresso martini.
By following these detailed steps, you can elevate your cocktail game and impress your guests with a sophisticated and delicious cold brew (espresso) martini.
How to make a cold brew
As we have said above, there are two types of cold brew: a concentrate and a ready to drink beverage. Now we are going to show you how to make a cold brew concentrate and how to make a cold brew ready-to-drink.
You will need:
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Brewing vessel
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Freshly roasted coffee
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Water
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Paper Filter, cheese cloth or kitchen towel.
How to make a cold brew (ready to drink recipe)
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Add 80g of freshly roasted and coarse grounded coffee to your vessel, then pour 1 litre of water on top. Make sure when stirring to get all the coffee ground wet and submerged for maximum flavour.
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Pop the vessel into the fridge and let this sit for 8-12 hours. Timing is key, brewing in the evening or overnight is best, this enables you to taste the most crucial moments, 8, 10 & 12 hours till your cold brew is just right for you.
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Lastly you need to filter your cold brew coffee. The most popular methods include paper filters, a kitchen towel or cheese cloth. We would always recommend using a drip cone and paper filter. This sieves out all the unwanted coffee grinds from your finished drink, leaving the cold brew tasting cleaner and fresher.
How to make a cold brew (concentrate recipe)
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This has the exact same method as ready to drink coffee, but the ratios are slightly different. Simply add 80g of coffee grounds to 500ml of water and leave this for up to 16 hours depending on how strong you would like it.
Pro tip: change minimal variables at one time when creating your perfect brew. Temperature, grind size, coffee and water type will all have a significant impact on your cold brew coffee, so remember they can be difficult to replicate.
How long does cold brew last?
Another advantage of cold brew coffee is its impressive longevity at cool temperatures. Wondering exactly how long cold brew lasts? It depends on the variety. Unlike hot coffee, which loses its optimal flavour after just a couple of hours, cold brew concentrate maintains its fresh and vibrant taste for a significantly longer period. Stored in the refrigerator, cold brew concentrate can remain fresh for up to a week. This extended shelf life offers a fantastic benefit, significantly reducing waste and simplifying your coffee routine. The ready-to-drink version, however, is best enjoyed within 48 hours for peak flavour and freshness.
Can we tempt you with a freshly made cold brew?
We hope that now that you know how to make a cold brew, you will attempt to make it yourself at home. Whether you go for the concentrate or ready to drink brew, make sure that you use the freshest, highest quality coffee beans available in the UK - only from the Coffee Bean Shop.