What is cold brew?
Cold Brew is a method of preparing coffee without using hot water or high temperature. This method is extremely simple, just soak ground coffee in cold water and then brew for a long period of time (from 6 to 24 hours).
This type of coffee is famous for its delicate flavor thanks to the unusual brewing method, new taste, less sour, less bitter and less characteristic aroma compared to coffee brewed with hot water.
As a breath of fresh air in the competitive beverage market in Vietnam, Cold Brew is gradually becoming a trend welcomed by tea and coffee shops in recent years.
Origin of Cold Brew Coffee
The Cold Brew coffee method originated from the land of tulips - the Netherlands. In ancient times, Dutch sailors brought coffee on long sea voyages. Due to the need to save fuel, coffee was not processed in the usual way but was soaked in water tanks and stored under the ship's hold. This method allowed sailors to preserve coffee for a longer period of time, taking up less space, but the flavor was different from hot brewed coffee.
This method was later brought to the land of cherry blossoms by Dutch traders. The Japanese at that time were delighted with the unique flavor of cold-brewed coffee, so they learned how to make it and widely popularized it.
After a period of testing and research, the Japanese realized that extracting a small amount of coffee would make the drink easier to drink than steeping a large amount of coffee in water. A barista in Kyoto invented a 3-layer pot to extract coffee. The results were extremely positive, the extracted coffee was popular and became famous, becoming a special drink of Kyoto.
In the 1970s, cold brew coffee gradually spread to many countries including England and America. In particular, in Peru, there was a man named Todd Simpson who had a great passion for cold coffee. Simpson found his own way and patented a cold coffee brewing kit. This kit uses many filters and ice, so the extracted coffee has 67% less acid than hot coffee. This can be considered the foundation of modern cold brew coffee.
Uses of Cold brew coffee
The difference in brewing method not only gives the coffee its own flavor but also changes the nutrients inside the coffee beans.
With the usual brewing method, high temperature will cause the substances in the coffee to dissolve faster, giving a rich flavor.
By cold brewing, the finished drink will contain less acid, creating a milder and less sour taste than hot brewed coffee. As a result, cold brew coffee will not cause a stomachache after drinking.
Because it is less acidic, cold brew coffee will taste sweeter, so it can be enjoyed without adding sugar or milk to soften the coffee flavor. In addition, cold brew coffee is also easy to combine with other ingredients such as wine or fruit to become a unique new drink.
Cold Brew coffee also contains more antioxidants than hot brewed coffee. This is because high temperatures destroy a large amount of natural antioxidants in coffee. After going through the two steps of roasting and hot brewing, the amount of oxidation will be significantly lost. Therefore, cold brew is better for your health.
One advantage of cold brew coffee is that it has a longer shelf life. While hot brewed coffee must be consumed the same day, Cold Brew can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days without affecting the flavor or nutrients.
How to make Cold brew coffee at home
Materials and tools
250g coffee (can use coffee beans or coarsely ground coffee powder).
2 liters of water.
Cold brew kettle with tight lid (glass jar can be used).
Coffee filter paper.
Coffee pot.
Stirring spoon.
Making
Step 1: Grind 250g of pure clean coffee beans coarsely, not finely.
Step 2: Put 125g of prepared ground coffee into the Cold Brew pot, slowly pour in 1 liter of water and stir well to let the coffee absorb the water.
Step 3: Wait for the coffee to steep for 5 minutes, then add the remaining 125g of coffee to the brewer and slowly pour the remaining 1 liter of water into the pot.
Step 4: Cover tightly and place in the refrigerator, incubate for 12 - 24 hours depending on the mixing ratio and the desired intensity.
Step 5: After the brewing time is up, take the coffee out of the refrigerator, place the coffee filter on the pot, and slowly pour the coffee in the pot through the filter to remove the coffee grounds.
Notes when making Cold B coffeerew at home
- The taste of coffee is determined by the quality of the coffee beans, so pay attention to the coffee selection process. You can consider brands such as Robusta, Arabica (medium roasted Arabica, light roasted Arabica),...
- Make sure your coffee grounds are coarse ground coffee, not finely ground coffee like filter coffee.
- During the coffee filtering step, do not press the coffee grounds down with your hands to avoid making the coffee unclear.
- Cold Brew coffee is best consumed within 7 days of brewing.
Don't miss out on Cold Brew Tea
Besides coffee, tea can also be processed by cold brewing method. Suitable tea groups for cold brew include:
White tea: Cold brew white tea has a very pleasant taste, creating a smooth, soft feeling when drinking, with little caffeine.
Green tea: This is a popular and widely used cold brew tea. The taste of cold brewed green tea is very fresh, refreshing and importantly, not bitter. You can also combine it with mint leaves, which is also very interesting.
Oolong tea: Cold brew oolong tea offers an explosive flavor, perfect for a long day that requires alertness.
Black tea: Black tea is often blended with flavored herbal teas like peach, pineapple, mango, red artichoke or whatever you like.
Herbal teas containing caffeine: This group includes teas such as yerba mate, guayusa... When brewed into cold brew, this group of teas will reduce caffeine and bitterness.
Caffeine-free herbal tea: This is a cold brew that is worth using thanks to its pleasant taste and is suitable for almost everyone. The herbs commonly used in cold brew are red artichoke, lemongrass, mint, ginger, rose, chrysanthemum...
Rooibos Tea (South African Red Tea): Rooibos cold brew has a delicious, light flavor, rich in antioxidants. Rooibos does not need to be rinsed with hot water to be cold brewed.
