How to Make Cold Brew Coffee? Is Cold Brew Coffee Healthier to Drink?

The claims that cold brew coffee has lower caffeine content or higher antioxidant capacity are actually myths that have been widely circulated. In reality, temperature enhances the solubility of many molecules and alters the structure of coffee grounds, allowing many small molecular substances that were previously tightly held by the coffee to be released. Regardless of the type of coffee, moderate consumption can provide both relaxation and health benefits.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee will demonstrate using Costa Rica Mozart as an example!

Required Ingredients

Coffee Beans: We use single-origin beans from FrontStreet Coffee, specifically Costa Rica Mozart. The ratio for cold brew coffee is coffee:water:ice = 1:5:5.

Coarsely ground coffee powder: Coarse grinding is key to making cold brew coffee.

A container: Both plastic and glass containers work, preferably with a lid. If you want to take some photos, leftover pulp jars or French presses are good options.

Cold water: Use filtered water or bottled mineral water.

Filter: If you're not using a French press, you'll need coffee filter paper or sterilized coarse cotton cloth.

Preparation Steps

1. Preparation

Pour the coffee grounds into the container.

Slowly pour cold water while gently stirring to ensure all coffee grounds are fully moistened.

Cover with a lid, or if you don't have one, seal with coarse cotton cloth.

2. Steeping

Place in the refrigerator and steep for 12 hours - don't rush this process!

3. Filtering

If you're using a French press, gently press down the plunger to filter the coffee grounds, then pour out the coffee.

If not using a French press, you'll need to filter the coffee grounds using coarse cotton cloth or filter paper.

It's best to filter twice before discarding the coffee grounds. (Don't waste the used coffee grounds - they can be made into fertilizer or refrigerator deodorizers, etc.) Coffee grounds should never be thrown away - their uses are truly amazing and eye-opening!

4. Tasting

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What's the difference between iced coffee and cold brew coffee?

Simply put, iced coffee is made by cooling hot coffee, while cold brew coffee is extracted without any heating process - it's extracted at low temperatures. Because cold brew requires low-temperature, long-time extraction (typically 12-24 hours), cold brew coffee sold commercially is generally more expensive. This low-temperature extraction also gives cold brew its unique flavor profile. The same beans can produce completely different tastes with different extraction methods. Moreover, because low-temperature extraction extracts less coffee oil, cold drip and cold brew coffee can generally be stored for up to two weeks. As storage time increases, the coffee ferments and develops more captivating flavors, even developing wine-like aromas!

Cold brew coffee preserves the original flavor of coffee through low-temperature, long-time extraction!

2. Are there flavor differences in cold brew coffee?

Coffee extraction typically involves high temperatures, which cause tannic acid in coffee to break down into pyrogallic acid, creating bitterness and acidity. However, because cold brew uses low-temperature extraction, it can reduce these compounds by about 67% compared to hot extraction. Additionally, the prolonged contact between water and coffee grounds at low temperatures allows only small flavor molecules, such as floral and fruit notes, to be extracted, while larger flavor compounds like smoky and roasted notes are difficult to extract. This allows cold brew coffee to better showcase the inherent flavors of coffee beans, resulting in a smoother taste with distinct flavor layers and noticeable sweet aftertaste.

Cold drip and cold brew coffee better highlight the original layered flavors of beans, with smooth textures and sweet aftertastes.

3. Is cold brew coffee healthier to drink?

Because coffee isn't extracted with high temperatures, fewer impurities are extracted from the coffee. For friends who often experience gastrointestinal discomfort from drinking coffee, cold brew might be worth trying - it's relatively gentler on the digestive system compared to hot-extracted coffee. Additionally, cold brew generally has slightly less caffeine (for example, Starbucks Grande iced coffee contains 225mg of caffeine, while cold brew contains 200mg).

A coffee choice that better meets health needs, and more importantly, it's more delicious!

4. What's the difference between ice drip coffee and cold brew?

Ice drip is also a type of cold brew coffee. Compared to Cold Brew, which involves putting water and coffee grounds together for 12 hours, ice drip is extracted drop by drop. Ice drip is also known as Dutch coffee or Kyoto-style coffee. American barista champion Laila once said in an exclusive interview that compared to cold brew (COLD BREW), ice drip coffee (ICE-DRIP) has more aroma and a more delicate and subtle flavor.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473