Though long thought of as a novelty iced coffee, cold brew has emerged as the destination iced coffee in recent years, blossoming into a summer pick-me-up that not only holds its own, but stands tall as the go-to for those simmering summer days.
Why? That’s easy: You don’t really need milk to enhance its flavor – or much ice, for that matter.
About Cold-Brew Coffee:
Cold brew coffee boasts a consistency that coffee poured over ice does not. Because it’s steeped for such a long period of time (up to 24 hours), its flavor is defined by coarse grinds’ exposure to cold water and the length of exposure, more so than the blend of the coffee itself. (Note: No, that doesn’t mean you should use low-quality grinds – but maybe repurpose some leftover coffee that has an older roasting date.) As a result, your coffee will almost always boast variations of a chocolate-caramel quality, defined by its smooth texture and heavier punch than standard iced coffee – made better by the fact that it’s brewed cold, so melted ice won’t dilute your coffee. That’s also a big part of why you might feel a heavier caffeine punch.
- Prepare your work area by gathering your preferred container (ideally glass, with a lid), lining it with the mesh bag and measuring out your coffee beans for grinding.
You’ll want a medium or dark roast coffee to highlight the natural smoothness and sweetness of the cold brew; how much coffee you measure out will depend on whether you’re aiming for a big batch or just a few glasses, but for this purpose, let’s use a full cup of coffee grinds. - Measure out four cups of ice-cold, filtered water.
Important to know: This particular ratio of coffee to water will create cold-brew concentrate, which means you’ll want to cut your concentrate with equal parts water upon pouring. This way, you not only get a better-preserved coffee, but a more versatile one (if you want to toy around with adding milk and syrups), as well as a smaller footprint in your refrigerator. So, in reality, know that you’re adding four cups of water but really getting eight cups’ worth of actual cold-brew iced coffee. - Grind your coffee on the coarsest setting.
This is best for the long brew time, but also practical for ensuring there aren’t fine grinds lingering in your coffee. - Now, it’s time to both pour and turn the coffee grinds into what we’ll lovingly call a “dumpling.” Scoop the coffee into a paper coffee filter, and put it inside the mesh at the bottom of the container.
Pour two cups of water over the dumpling, and let it soak. After about 30 seconds, tie the coffee filter together – grinds inside – with a string, before pouring the rest of the cold water on top of the dumpling. This double-layer of filters will ensure there aren’t coffee grinds in your final product. - Seal the container with a lid, and let the coffee steep – think of it like tea-brewing — at room temperature for approximately 18 to 24 hours.
Be sure that the container is well-sealed and out of sunlight to prevent mold from accumulating over time. - After enough time has elapsed, toss the dumpling and remove the mesh bag.
Remember to wash the bag before doing this process again. - Cut your concentrate with equal parts water, pour some ice and enjoy!
Your concentrate should last for about two weeks when refrigerated – though, for peak freshness, you’ll want to consume it within a week. Like any coffee, its flavor profile degrades over time.
How to Flavor Cold Brew Coffee
1. USE FLAVORED COFFEE BEANS
To produce exceptionally flavored cold brew coffee, one can utilize various flavored coffee beans, ranging from conventional to unique options like salted caramel, chocolate cherry, or blueberry muffin.
By utilizing this technique, one can infuse flavor into coffee directly, eliminating the need for added sugar, syrups, or dairy products.
When preparing cold brew, it is important to grind the coffee beans in a coarse manner to avoid over-extraction, which leads to undesirable flavors due to the excessive extraction of soluble flavors from the coffee.
2. BREW WITH SHREDDED COCONUT
One simple method to enhance the taste of cold brew is to brew shredded coconut together with the coffee beans. This technique effortlessly contributes a distinctive, delicate flavor.
In order to enhance the coconut flavor, one can mix the cold brew with either coconut simple syrup or cream of coconut.
3. ADD SPICES WHILE BREWING
Since spices enhance the flavor of our food, why not experiment with adding them to the process of making cold brew coffee?
Both ground spices and whole spices can be incorporated into the brewing process with the coffee grounds to infuse the cold brew with extra flavor, resulting in a distinctive taste.
You can consider adding cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, ginger, or a blend of your preferred spices to enhance the flavor.
4. MAKE HOMEMADE FRUIT SYRUP
If you prefer your cold brew coffee to be sweeter, you can try adding a homemade fruit syrup on top. The syrup can be created using ingredients such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
You have the option to sweeten the berries with either a lot or a small amount of sugar, depending on your personal preference, thus achieving the ideal level of sweetness to complement your coffee.
The beauty of this method lies in the fact that fruit can be employed to improve both the flavor and aesthetic of the beverage. The eye-catching fruit syrup creates a delightful contrast when paired with the coffee.
5. TOP WITH SWEET CREAM COLD FOAM (LIKE STARBUCKS)
Sweet cream cold foam is adored by numerous Starbucks coffee enthusiasts. It is a variant of cold foam comprising:
- 4 parts: heavy cream
- 2 parts: 2% milk
- 1 part: simple syrup
By following a step-by-step approach, you can enhance your coffee with a creamy, indulgent flavor. Additionally, you have the flexibility to modify the taste by incorporating your desired simple syrup flavor, catering to your cold brew preferences for the day.
To create sweet cream cold foam, you can easily mix the ingredients by hand. Nevertheless, if you desire a cold foam that rests atop your beverage, having a high powered blender available is essential.
6. MIX IN SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
If you enjoy sweet and creamy coffee drinks, you can enhance your cold brew coffee concentrate by incorporating sweetened condensed milk.
This ingredient contributes a delightful flavor! It has the ability to substitute for some or all of the regular milk used. Sweetened condensed milk additionally provides sweetness, thus adjust the quantity of simple syrup used accordingly.
7. TOP WITH COCONUT CREAM
If you want a dairy-free option to enhance the taste of cold brew coffee, consider adding a layer of coconut cream.
Coconut cream, with the use of a blender or some manual effort with a whisk, can be transformed into a smooth and creamy texture. If desired, extra ground spices, simple syrup, or sugar can be included to add sweetness.
By following these steps, you can enhance the taste of your cold brew with a subtle coconut flavor and a creamier texture.
8. USE HONEY AS A SWEETENER
There are numerous ways to use honey to enhance the taste of cold brew. An option is utilizing honey in coffee by:
- Shaking with cold brew to sweeten the coffee
- Making a honey simple syrup
- Adding honey to cold foam
Honey offers a distinct taste compared to regular simple syrup, and it can be utilized as an alternative if you have a preference for a more natural sweetener.
