What is German Iced Coffee? How is Iced Coffee Made - Is it Brewed with Cold Water?

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In different European countries, iced coffee varies! Some add ice cubes to heated coffee, some add ice cream to hot coffee, and others use cold water brewing extraction methods. For example, in America, the basic combination is: espresso + water + ice cubes, which has now become the most common iced Americano preparation method in cafés worldwide.

For example, in Italy, the basic combination is: espresso + ice cubes, then placed in a shaker to create foam, enriching the texture of the entire beverage; another example is in Germany, where the basic combination is: extended extraction time espresso + vanilla ice cream scoop + cream + caramel sauce or chocolate shavings, with the deluxe version sometimes adding rum.

However, all the iced coffee preparation methods mentioned above require the use of espresso machines, which isn't very convenient. So how can you easily make delicious iced coffee at home? Follow FrontStreet Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) in this article to learn how to make summer iced coffee with just cold water!

Cold Brew/Cold Extraction Coffee Preparation

Compared to other coffees extracted with hot water, cold-steeped coffee lacks the heat that promotes water molecule movement, making it difficult for bitter substances in coffee to release at low temperatures. Therefore, cold brew coffee has a cleaner and more refreshing taste. The long extraction time also allows good flavor compounds in the coffee to be fully released, resulting in a very full-bodied taste.

Due to the long extraction time, cold brew coffee has higher caffeine content than drip coffee and espresso-type coffees, so for those who need an energy boost, cold brew is a priority choice!

The preparation method for cold brew coffee is extremely simple!

For homemade cold brew coffee, FrontStreet Coffee recommends Guodingding Cooperative, which is a washed, light-roasted bean from Ethiopia, known to everyone. Regardless of the extraction method, it always presents flavors of white floral notes, citrus, green tea, and cream, with a sweet and sour taste. Basically, it has very low extraction barriers, making it particularly suitable for beginners who are just starting out.

Preparation Details:

Coffee-to-water ratio: 1:12 (1g coffee, 12g water)
Water temperature: Room temperature
Equipment: Cold brew pitcher
Steeping time: 12-16 hours

Cold extraction (cold brew) coffee can be said to be the most worry-free and least technically demanding iced coffee preparation method, though the preparation time is relatively long, so you can't drink it immediately. You can start steeping during dinner time and wake up to full-bodied, clean cold brew coffee the next morning!

Since FrontStreet Coffee uses a 1L capacity cold brew pitcher, this demonstration will use 60g of coffee grounds. You can increase or decrease the amount of coffee grounds according to your cold brew pitcher size. The ratio remains the same, but you must ensure that the coffee grounds are completely submerged after adding water.

Prepare a clean cold brew pitcher, pour the ground coffee into the filter of the cold brew pitcher, then pour 720g of room temperature water over the coffee grounds to achieve full wetting and steeping. After that, cover the filter section, and finally cover the cold brew pitcher. Then place it in the refrigerator for low-temperature extraction for 12-16 hours.

When extraction is complete, lift the filter and let it drain on the pitcher edge to collect remaining coffee liquid. After completion, discard the coffee grounds and enjoy. If you find the 1:12 ratio too strong, you can make it at 1:13, or add ice cubes/clean water to dilute when tasting.

Coffee Bean Recommendations for Iced Drinks

Ethiopia Natural Red Cherry Coffee Beans

Medium-light roast, flavor notes: mixed berries, caramel, black tea, light fruit fermentation aroma

Red Cherry refers to the "Red Cherry Project" initiated by Dutch green bean traders in 2007. The project was established primarily to increase the purchase price of fully mature coffee cherries, thereby encouraging coffee farmers to harvest only fully mature coffee cherries with red outer skin.

The effect of this approach not only greatly improved the overall quality of coffee beans but also resulted in higher sugar content from fully mature fruits. Therefore, after sun-drying the entire fruit, the coffee beans also obtain wonderful sweetness and slight fermentation notes, bringing a smooth and mellow mouthfeel to the coffee, making it one of the coffee beans with excellent sweetness in the Ethiopia region.

Panama Elida Estate Natural Typica Coffee Beans

Medium roast, flavor notes: peach, orange, raisin, caramel, green tea

When it comes to Elida Estate, the first thing that comes to mind might be the estate's award-winning ASD slow-dried Geisha coffee beans from the 2019 BOP competition. However, the estate doesn't just grow Geisha variety coffee beans; it also cultivates Catuai and Catimor varieties common in Central and South America, as well as Typica varieties known for their clean and elegant flavor profiles.

The biggest characteristic of this Elida Typica coffee bean is that it combines both the rich juice flavors from the regional terroir and natural drying process, as well as the inherent cleanliness of Typica coffee beans, making the coffee taste very smooth and full-bodied.

Colombia Dividing Line Estate Sidra Coffee Beans

Medium roast, flavor notes: grape, passion fruit, dried apricot, citrus, fermentation aroma

The Sidra variety gained widespread attention because last year, in 2022, WBC competition champion barista Anthony Douglas selected Colombian Sidra coffee beans for his competition.

Sidra coffee is a laboratory variety, hybridized from Typica and Red Bourbon. Later, through genetic comparison, it was discovered that Sidra coffee has similar genes to Ethiopian native varieties, so some scholars speculate that Sidra is a hybrid between an experimental research variety exported from Ethiopia and local Bourbon coffee varieties in Ecuador.

Sidra variety coffee beans possess floral and fruity characteristics comparable to Geisha, presenting flavors such as peach, citrus, grape, and honey, with moderate acidity and a round mouthfeel. Most importantly! Excellent value for money.

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473