Although specialty coffee cold brews are known to be one of the easier brews to make, it will still require a fair amount of understanding and techniques to really make the ultimate cold brew.
Should I brew cold brew at room temperature or in the fridge? You can do both, it will all come down to what works best for you in your daily schedule.
As cold water extracts the flavours and oils from the grounds slower, it will mean, if you are brewing in the fridge, then even more time will be required, whereas brewing at room temperature will require less time.
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How Long Does It Take To Brew Cold Brew?
It can take up to 12 hours for a cold brew to properly brew at room temperature, therefore, by brewing in the fridge, you are going to require at least an extra 3-5 hours to reach the same extraction.
If you know you are going to have a long day, or maybe you are seeing a friend straight after work, then 12 hours is most likely going to be too quick, so you are better off brewing in the fridge, therefore, when you do finally get home, your cold brew will be perfect.
For most, they live a 9-5 schedule, so in general brewing at room temperature will be much more simple to fit into your normal routine.
Cold Brew Vs Iced Coffee?
For some, there is a slight confusion between cold brew and iced coffee, many believing they are the same thing, which is actually incorrect.
The key word here is ‘brew’.
Cold brew requires brewing for up to 12 -18 hours, either at room temperature or in the fridge, using cold water, and coffee.
Cold brew is created by steeping medium to coarse coffee grounds in cold water and is never exposed to heat.
Whereas iced coffee is created using regular hot coffee brewing methods, therefore, cold brew ultimately requires time rather than heat to extract the coffee oils and flavours.
Ultimately, cold brew is for those that plan ahead due to the long gradual process of creating it.
This will result in an amazingly smooth, rich infused coffee, with generally lower acidity levels, which in turn can help those with sensitive digestive systems to enjoy a specialty coffee without the trouble after consumption.
What is the Best Coffee Bean for Specialty Cold Brew?
The specialty coffee market is full of different beans, however, not many roasters in the industry have taken up the challenge to create the perfect single-origin bean for cold brew.
Specialty cold brew can be fantastic, especially in those hot summer months, however, you cannot treat this brew the same as iced coffee for example, there are more restrictions with cold brew, and the coffee bean you choose for your cold brew will either make it or break it.
We know that the taste of coffee can be very subjective, the flavours you like may be different to the flavours we like, therefore there is no right or wrong, it will come down to what is right for you.
However, we can certainly help you by providing a few options below so you can hopefully have a better understanding, and make a perfect specialty coffee cold brew.
What Coffee Do We Use For Cold Brew?
Because brewing needs to be cold, the only way to obviously make a specialty cold brew is the extraction time.
Generally the lighter the roast, the longer the extraction time.
You will also find Light – Medium roast beans to be the best in the specialty coffee market.
If you are one to drink your cold brew black then we recommend a good quality light single-origin bean.
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Coffee Masters is an independent, wholesale coffee company based in the heart of Worcestershire UK.
They offer coffee that’s fair trade, organic and rainforest alliance certified.
This particular coffee is from Honduras, Ethiopia and Sumatra and has won the 2018 Great Taste Award.
In regards to its flavour, you will find sweet caramels and chocolate tones with light citrus acidity.
The Superfly Organic Coffee
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- Specialty Grade
- SCA Cupping Score of 83.75
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Superfly Organic coffee is a fresh specialty single-origin arabica coffee that is sourced, traded and shipped directly to the consumer from the roaster.
It is Triple certified by the Organic, Fairtrade and Rainforest alliance, with an impressive SCA cupping score of 83.75.
This Superfly Organic has an amazing aroma and tastes like sweet chocolate with floral notes and plums.
Medium Roast
This style of roast will work just as well as a light roast, however, you will need to be more careful as you can quickly turn the final outcome into a very bitter and overpowering brew (although some may actually prefer this).
A medium roast will begin to have a much more ‘smoky’ flavour than your lighter roasts, and although smoky isn’t exactly a bad flavour, it can quickly overpower all the delicate flavours that specialty cold brew has to offer.
How Do You Make a Cold Brew?
The below method will make approximately 4 cups of cold brew coffee.
Ingredients;
- 4 ounces of whole coffee beans
- 4 cups of filtered water
What You Will Need;
- Coffee Grinder, 2 large jars with lids, fine mesh strainer
The Method;
Grind the beans
You will need to freshly grind your beans preferably to a coarse grind. You may need to do this in batches depending on the capacity size of your grinder.
Combine Coffee With Water
Now you will need to combine the coffee grind with water in a jar you have.
Stir
Now gently stir so the water is 100% incorporated with the coffee, the coffee will float which is not a problem, just ensure all the coffee is wet as a result of the water.
Steep the Coffee
For the longest part of the process, you will need to cover and let the coffee brew for up to 12 – 18 hours depending if you brew in the fridge or room temp.
Strain the Coffee
Slowly pour the coffee concentrate through the strainer into the other jar. You may need to strain in batches, but be very careful.
Enjoy
If storing for a longer term, you can transfer it into an airtight fresh jar or container.
3 Easy Steps to ensure you make the perfect Specialty Cold Brew every time;
- Get The Grind Right.
- Use a Higher Ratio of Coffee to Water.
- Strain Slowly.
How Long Does Cold Brew Last After Making It?
In short, specialty cold brew coffee that is brewed at home will last up to 2 weeks, if undiluted and stored correctly in the fridge.
However, the flavour of your cold brew will degrade after the first week.
If you have cut the concentrate of your cold brew with water, then this will have a much larger effect on the shelf life, and would usually only last for 2-3 days.
Therefore, unlike hot brewed coffee, where the quality of the coffee only really lasts for a few hours, the cold brewed coffee quality will last much longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Yes, you can add sugar to your cold brew while brewing.
A: It is recommended to use a medium to dark roast coffee bean for cold brewing, as lighter roasts tend to taste bitter.
A: Cold brewing produces less caffeine compared to hot brewing, but it still has a noticeable amount.
A: Yes, cold brew can be used as a base for iced coffee.
A: You’ll know your cold brew is ready when it has reached the desired strength and flavour, usually after 12-24 hours of brewing.
Conclusion
Overall, when asking yourself the question, should I brew specialty cold brew at room temperature or in the fridge, it will ultimately come down to what suits you and your daily routine.
The colder the temperature, the longer it will take to brew, either way, the flavour of your brew will not be greatly affected by the different temperature approaches, it will come down to factors such as how strong the roast your using as that can have major flavour effects with your final brew.
Specialty cold brew is a perfect brew if you are looking for your coffee to last longer, and you are looking for something that you can store and reuse for further quality drinks.
If you are one to drink your cold brew black then we recommend a good quality light single-origin bean.
Finally, if you are new to the cold brew scene, we would recommend starting with a lighter roast, as you can quickly overpower and ruin the flavours of specialty cold brew by using a darker roast incorrectly.
If you enjoyed this article, read more like this by checking out our Specialty Coffee Beginners Guides.
