So you’ve started to see cold brew coffee everywhere you go, but you aren’t exactly sure what it is.
Before you decide to try cold brew coffee, you should know exactly what it is and what to expect from the flavor. Cold brew coffee may sound similar to iced coffee, but the truth is, it is far from the same type of coffee. From its brewing method, flavor, how to drink it, to its unique benefits, cold brew coffee is very different compared to iced coffee. We’ll share the main differences right here.
BREWING METHOD
The way each coffee is created is one of the biggest distinguishing differences between cold brew and iced coffee. When it comes down to the coffee creation, iced coffee is a much simpler process: just like making a regular, hot cup of coffee, iced coffee involves the process of brewing coffee beans with boiling water. The hot coffee is then poured over ice, and usually topped with some sort of milk, cream, or other liquid to add more flavor. Iced coffee is that simple, and it’s likely the type of cold coffee you’ve tried before.
On the other hand, cold brewed coffee is a much longer process. Rather than extracting the flavor from coffee beans using boiling water, cold brewing uses time over temperature. When making cold brew coffee, the ground coffee beans are placed in room temperature water and left to soak for 12-24 hours. After the soaking, the result is a highly-caffeinated coffee concentrate. This concentrate is diluted using cold or hot water, depending on if you prefer to enjoy your cold brewed coffee cold or hot. Just like iced coffee, you can also add milk, cream, sugar, or any other liquid additives for extra flavor (but cold brew coffee is already naturally sweeter than iced coffee).
FLAVOR DIFFERENCES
Cold brew coffee is known for its distinct flavor profile compared to all other types of coffee creation. For one, cold brew coffee has a much smoother taste compared to other types, making it a much more rounded and mellow taste.
Another reason people love it is because you can taste distinct differences between where the coffee beans are grown and cultivated because the brewing method brings out the unique flavors from where the beans are from. These flavors aren’t something that can be tasted when the coffee is brewed using boiling water, which is another reason cold brew coffee is loved and enjoyed by so many.
Cold brew coffee is also less acidic than regular coffee, so it’s a preferred method for people who have sensitive stomachs or acid reflux issues.
Although there are delicious types of iced coffee that you’ve likely tried, when you try cold brew you’ll find that iced coffee actually presents a much thinner taste because of it being poured over ice. This means the coffee is being diluted with water, and it becomes even more diluted once you add sugar, milk, cream, or other flavor additives.
WHY DRINK COLD BREW?
It’s true that cold brew gives you a better flavor and smoother coffee drink than other types of coffee. It’s also true that the lower acidity in cold brew won’t harm your stomach like other coffee brewing methods might. However, aside from these bonuses, there are a ton of other reasons why people love cold brew coffee.
One benefit of cold brew coffee is that it has a higher caffeine percentage than other types. Because of this, it’ll help boost your metabolic rate. That’s right—higher caffeine percentages increase your body’s ability to burn fat, which is why cold brew coffee is a great option to give yourself energy during the work week while helping you burn fat at the same time.
It’s no surprise that caffeine can improve cognitive performance and alertness. But it’s also said that cold brew coffee can put you in a better mood. Since cold brew has a higher caffeine concentrate, it’ll give you more energy to be more productive during the day. This in turn boosts your mood because you’ll be in a better state-of-mind when you’re being more productive. Who doesn’t love productivity? Your bosses definitely do!
GET A COLD BREW CLUB SUBSCRIPTION TODAY
If cold brew sounds like something you’d like (and trust us—it’s worth it), then start with something good. At Cold Brew Club, we deliver a monthly pouch of cold brew concentrate that we’ve perfected with coffee experts. All you have to do is add water, milk, cream, or whatever else you prefer to enjoy it your way. You have the full power, we just supply the goods in an environmentally-sustainable way.
Ready to give cold brew a try? Check out how you can join our subscription program to get cold brew coffee delivered directly to your door every month.