A roasted coffee bean contains many compounds that are extracted during the brewing process. Cold brewing extracts only the good coffee flavors and leaves behind a myriad of undesirable flavor elements. Some compounds are soluble only at high temperatures. These are the same bitter acids that give hot-brewed coffee, what some consider as having an undesirable ‘bite’ (usually the reason 80% of all coffee drinkers try to counter those flavors by adding creamers or sweeteners to their coffee).
Cold Brew coffee is deceptively simple, during the cold-brew process, time replaces heat and the coffee beans are never exposed to high temperatures, thus never releasing the undesired bitter acids into the brewed coffee. The cold-brew process creates a perfectly balanced and distinctively smooth cup of coffee.
This brewing method requires a pound of coarsely ground coffee to be placed into a bucket apparatus along with a half-gallon of cold water (2:1 Ratio). The mixture should sit at room temperature for approximately eight to twelfth hours. After this time, the plug is removed from the bottom of the receptacle and the extract is separated from the grounds by a large felt filter, and is drained into a pitcher. This super concentrated coffee should be refrigerated.
To prepare a cup of hot coffee, place one ounce of the extract to every six ounces of hot water into a cup and stir. The resulting hot coffee cup is light bodied and mild since all acidity and many aromatics never formed.
To prepare a cup of iced coffee, fill the cup all the way up with ice and top it off with coffee extract. The resulting Iced coffee cup is heavy bodied and intense, since the coffee isn’t twice diluted by water and then by ice.
Aficionados of the cold water process claim the danger of stomach upset caused by coffee acids is eliminated with this method.
Delicious Cold Brewed Coffee:
- Insert the stopper into the bottom of the brewing container
- Dampen the filter and insert it into the inside bottom of the brewing container.
- Add 1/2 of the total desired parts of water (64 oz.) into the bottom of the brewing container and 1/2 of the total desired parts of ground coffee (8 oz).
- Slowly pour another 1/4 parts of water (32 oz.) over the grounds in a circular motion.
- Add the remaining 1/2 of the total desired parts of ground coffee (8 oz).
- Wait 5 minutes and slowly add the last 1/4 parts of water (32 oz.).
- Do not stir the bed of grounds as it will result in a clogged filter.
- Lightly press down on the topmost grounds with the back of a wooden spoon to ensure all grounds are fully wet.
- Steep your coffee grounds for 8-12 hours to create a smooth, rich flavor.
- Remove the stopper and let your coffee concentrate flow into the collection reservoir.
- Keep the cold brewed concentrate for up to 2 weeks in your refrigerator.
- Now make you preferred hot or cold coffee and savour your labour of love.
