How to make cold brew coffee at home – all you need to know
How to make cold brew coffee at home? Why is this drink so popular? How it is different from regular and iced coffee? We shall answer all these questions and give you a method to prepare the drink at home. Coffee is one of the most popular and ancient drinks on the globe. Millions of people start their day with a cup of coffee. To many people, coffee is not just a drink but real art and pleasure.
The benefits of coffee are well known. Due to the caffeine content, the drink has a stimulating and invigorating effect. Caffeine improves blood supply to the brain and even activates short-term memory, increases efficiency and relieves fatigue. The tonic effect helps coping with stress, overcome apathy, lethargy and drowsiness.
The antioxidants in coffee neutralize free radicals, thereby protecting healthy cells in the body. One cup of coffee contains about 1000 mg of antioxidants which is 1/4 of the daily norm.
Regular consumption of coffee can protect a person from diseases such as liver cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, alcoholic cirrhosis, etc. Coffee has a beneficial effect on the immune and digestive systems. It increases the secretion of gastric juice, which, in turn, contributes to better absorption of food.
What do you need to know about cold brew coffee?
To start from the beginning – what is cold brew coffee? This coffee gets its name by the process in which it is brewed. Unlike regular coffee, cold brewed is prepared with cold water and coffee is steeped for a long period of time. It does not require any actual effort to prepare the drink at home which explains its popularity. All you need to know is the right ratio of coffee grounds to water and a little patience.
What is the difference between cold brew, iced and regular coffee? The main difference between cold brew, iced and regular coffee is the process brewing process. Regular and iced coffee is brewed hot. The heating process extracts the natural flavors, sugars, and caffeine of coffee bean. Iced coffee is then chilled and served cold.
Many people wonder if cold brew stronger than regular coffee. Does it have more caffeine? As per experts, cold brew is stronger than regular drip coffee as it is usually made with a higher ratio of coffee to water and actually you get a coffee concentrate. You can pour it over ice and add milk which will lower the caffeine level. As far as taste is concerned, many people find the cold brewed version has a smoother coffee finish because it is less acidic. Actually it is 67 percent less acidic than hot-brewed coffee which is essential to people sensitive to acid.
How long can you store coffee concentrate? It is strongly recommended to store your cold-brew concentrate in a refrigerator. It will remain fresh for 24 to 48 hours. If you prefer to buy concentrates from a store, make sure you check the expiry date.
Also read: Coffee Bar Ideas on a Budget to Start Your Days in Style
Cold brew coffee recipe
If you want to know how to make cold brew coffee at home, here is the method. It is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in room-temperature water for six to 12 hours.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
- 4 cups cold water
- Milk, for serving (optional)
Directions:
Grind your coffee beans using the coarsest grind option.
Combine your ground coffee and cold water in a large bowl, Mason jar, a French press or other closing container.
Stir until all the coffee grounds have been saturated with water.
Cover the container with a lid and let the mixture steep at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours.
Strain the cold brew coffee concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve, metal coffee filter, or fine cheesecloth into a bowl. If necessary, repeat until there are no more coffee grounds at the bottom.
Pour the strained cold brew coffee concentrate into a container with a lid.
Pour 1 part of the concentrate and dilute it with 1 part water. Add milk or cream to your liking.