How To Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home Instantly
We’re heading full sprint into summer, and that means it’s officially iced coffee season. However, more and more people are developing a taste for iced coffee year-round! Iced coffee can come in many different forms, and one way to enjoy a rich iced coffee is by brewing it via the cold brew method. However, making cold brew is typically a 16- to 24-hour process, and not everyone has time for that.
More often than not, we need a quick and easy way to get our morning cold brew fix without the hassle of gathering all the equipment to brew our own the long way. This post will walk you through how to make cold brew coffee, as well as where to get good cold brew without having to wait hours for it!
What Is Cold Brew?
Cold brew coffee is a slow-brew method due to the absence of hot water. The process is similar to making sweet tea, where you steep a bag of leaves to perfection. Cold brew is made almost the same way, except with coffee beans instead of tea leaves. What makes cold brew different from standard coffee is that it never touches heat.
Because of the lack of heat in the brewing process, cold brew is full-bodied, smooth, and less acidic than your regular hot cup of joe. Cold brew is also easier to drink without needing to add cream and sugar. The longer brew time allows the coffee’s natural flavor notes to really shine through. It may take some time to create this drink, but each sip is super satisfying and well worth the wait.
Where Did Cold Brew Even Come From?
Cold brew coffee dates back to the 16th century when Dutch explorers made cold brew concentrate to endure long voyages. The Dutch then took their unique mix of cold water and ground coffee beans to Japan. From there, the Japanese developed the Kyoto method (named after the city), a slow-drip brewing technique.
This style takes a total of 24 to 30 hours to brew because the water drips one drop per second. Talk about time-consuming! This style of brew is very rich in flavor and very strong. Typically, one shouldn’t drink more than one cup of Kyoto cold brew because of its high caffeine content.
How Do the Pros Make a Cup of Cold Brew?
Making cold brew coffee is often an intense process at a coffee shop. It usually involves using a specific amount of pre-ground coffee (using a coarse grind) or grinding fresh coffee beans. The coffee is then steeped in a cold brew coffee maker with a special paper filter.
After the right steeping time, a big batch of cold brew is poured through a piece of cheesecloth inside a fine mesh strainer or a special coffee filter to remove any extra grounds. Cold brew is often made as a concentrate, so the barista will dilute it using a precise water ratio.
Other Cold Brew Facts
Besides having a smoother, sweeter taste, cold brew also has more health benefits than regular coffee. Since it is brewed over a longer period, more caffeine is extracted from the beans, providing an extra energy boost in each cup.
Cold brew is also less acidic than regular coffee. If you have a sensitive stomach, cold brew may be a better option to ease into the specialty coffee world without the extra acidity.
Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee
Cold brew is often mislabeled as iced coffee, but the two are very different. Iced coffee is regular hot coffee brewed using a standard coffee maker and then poured over ice cubes.
When brewing iced coffee, you’ll want a ratio of water to coffee of 1:10. Once brewed, simply pour it over ice, and you’ll have instant iced coffee!
Iced Coffee Troubleshooting
For some reason, making iced coffee at home just doesn’t taste the same as buying it from a local shop. It often ends up too watery, too bitter, or lacking flavor. How do local shops make it look so easy?
One issue might be your coffee quality. If you don’t have high-quality beans, your coffee won’t taste as flavorful or rich. What makes a quality bean? Freshness! The fresher the beans, the better the brew.
Another way to ensure freshness is by grinding beans just before each brew. Essentially, you only grind what you need per cup or pot. So be sure to keep your beans fresh, measure your brew, and grind your beans on the spot each time.
Why Does Making Coffee Have To Be So Complicated?
Making coffee is truly an art. There are so many different ways baristas can brew the same beans, yet each method can bring out unique flavors. It takes time, energy, and thought to understand recipes and ratios.
Even without the skills of a seasoned barista, there are ways to make a good cup of coffee without the hassle of measuring and grinding your own whole beans from the grocery store.
How To Make Cold Brew at Home Instantly
Cold brew does not touch heat, making it difficult to brew instantly since most instant brews require heat. However, products like coffee concentrate can provide that instant gratification without needing to be cold brew concentrate specifically.
Coffee Concentrate for the Win
Coffee concentrate is made from coffee grounds in a highly condensed form, making it easy to create your own cold brew instantly.
A batch of cold brew coffee can be made with one to two teaspoons of coffee concentrate for every 8-ounce cup of water or milk. It’s super fast and convenient—plus, coffee concentrate has more caffeine than a typical cup of coffee, so you won’t need as much to get through your day.
Where To Find the Best Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
Javvy Coffee is a leader in the coffee concentrate industry. By offering many different flavors of concentrates and shipping them worldwide, we satisfy all your instant cold brew needs.
The perfect ratio to make your instant Javvy cold brew is 4 parts water to 1 part coffee. Add ice, flavor, and cream, and you’re ready to go!
Convenient to use and abundantly flavorful, Javvy satisfies your cold brew craving without the excessive time and effort required to make your own concentrate.
Our DIY Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Each person’s taste preferences differ. Some enjoy a strong, black, naturally flavorful brew, while others prefer adding cream, sugar, and additional flavors. However you like it, we have the ideal recipe for making your perfect cup of instant cold brew.
What You’ll Need:
Let’s Break Down the Brewing Process
As mentioned before, the ratio of water to coffee concentrate is 4:1.
For every 8 oz of water, use 1-2 teaspoons of Javvy Coffee Concentrate. Fill your glass halfway with ice, measure out your concentrate, fill it with water or milk, and you’re all set. It’s really that easy!
Let’s Recap What Makes Cold Brew So Special
Cold brew is a wonderful, flavorful coffee beverage that has been around for centuries. We can thank the Dutch for their contribution to the coffee world. There are many ways to make cold brew, including the Kyoto method, coffee concentrate, and the classic steeping method.
Even though these methods take time, the rich, smooth, and naturally sweet coffee is worth the effort. However, sometimes we don’t have time to go through the motions. Coffee concentrate is a great alternative for those with busy schedules to get their cold brew fix.
We Want To Hear From You
Despite being a beautiful craft, coffee doesn’t need to be complicated. That’s why we created Javvy! It’s good coffee made easy. Life gets crazy busy, and coffee shouldn’t be another hassle.
When you make your instant cold brew at home, snap a picture and tag Javvy on Instagram @javvy.coffee!