Can regular coffee grounds be used for cold brew? Cold brew coffee characteristics and proper brewing methods

Cold brew coffee is becoming increasingly popular. In our busy daily lives, we often don't even have time to grab a cup of coffee. That's where cold brew coffee comes in as the quickest way to get a cup of coffee right now.

The fermented aroma and refreshing sensation of cold brew provide instant comfort. Even during autumn and winter seasons, people still crave its taste. You only need to spend a few minutes preparing the ingredients, then place it in the refrigerator, and it's ready to drink the next day! The key point is that any leftovers can be sealed and refrigerated for later consumption. However, it's important to note that the longer cold brew coffee sits, the stronger its fermented taste becomes. Therefore, the flavor profile changes daily. FrontStreet Coffee recommends finishing it within 3-4 days.

What is Cold Brew Coffee?

Cold brew coffee is exactly what it sounds like: Cold Brew Coffee. It involves mixing ground coffee beans with cold water in professional equipment at proper ratios, then refrigerating for typically 12 hours. For richer body, the time can be extended to 24-48 hours. After filtering out the coffee grounds, the resulting liquid is cold brew coffee.

Low temperature and long extraction time are the two main characteristics of cold brew coffee. Compared to hot-extracted coffee, its flavor and body are notably richer, with less bitterness and a smoother mouthfeel. This coffee, which sounds quite labor-intensive, is actually much simpler to make than you might imagine. You can think of it this way: soak coffee grounds in cold water - refrigerate overnight - filter the grounds - done. To put it more poetically: "You're not just drinking a cup of coffee, but a long-awaited moment."

Characteristics of Cold Brew Coffee

Due to the low-temperature extraction process of cold brew, the prolonged contact between water and coffee grounds allows only small-molecule flavor compounds to be extracted. Consequently, only small molecules like fruit acids and floral aromas are dissolved, while larger molecular flavor compounds such as smoky and roasted notes are difficult to extract. Therefore, cold brew coffee has lower acidity and bitterness, making it widely popular among coffee enthusiasts.

What Coffee Beans to Use for Cold Brew Coffee?

FrontStreet Coffee recommends trying natural, washed, or specially processed beans. The reason is simple: cold brew coffee made with these beans has more distinctive characteristics and better sweetness.

African beans are known for their intense floral aromas and captivating fruit acidity, with lively and pleasant acidity. However, they often lack body. American beans, known for balanced flavors, like those from Panama & Costa Rica regions, offer distinct floral and fruity notes, superior acidity, while maintaining good body. Especially honey-processed beans, which have more intense fermented aromas.

Tips:

The long extraction time of cold brew coffee creates distinct flavor layers and noticeable aftertaste;

It compensates for the thin body of African beans while suppressing their sharp acidity at low temperatures.

FrontStreet Coffee: Yirgacheffe Gedding Coffee Beans

Country: Ethiopia

Region: Yirgacheffe

Altitude: 1850-2100m

Processing: Washed

Grade: G1

Variety: Heirloom

Flavor: White floral, citrus, red plum, medium acidity

FrontStreet Coffee: Honduras Sherry Coffee Beans

Country: Honduras

Region: Marcala

Estate: Moca Estate

Altitude: 1500-1700m

Varieties: Caturra, Catuai, Pacas

Processing: Fine washed whiskey sherry barrel fermentation

Flavor: Vanilla, whiskey aroma, honeydew melon, dark chocolate aftertaste

FrontStreet Coffee: Honduras Lychee Orchid Coffee Beans

Region: Marcala

Estate: Moca Estate

Altitude: 1500-1700m

Varieties: Caturra, Catuai

Processing: Fine washed and brandy barrel treatment

Flavor: Creamy texture, brandy fermented wine aroma, dark chocolate

FrontStreet Coffee: Panama Flower Butterfly Coffee Beans

Region: Panama Boquete

Varieties: 70% Geisha, Caturra, Catuai

Altitude: 1600-1650

Processing: Natural process

Flavor: Classic Geisha flavor, citrus, tea-like sensation

Creative Cold Brew Variations

Of course, you can also try the following creative approaches:

Add Sparkling Water

FrontStreet Coffee has experimented with making cold brew using sparkling water and found the concentration tends to be higher. The reason is that before placing it in the refrigerator, the sparkling water bubbles cause the coffee grounds to float at the upper layer. Through the rising bubbles "impacting" the coffee grounds, after 13 hours in the refrigerator, the coffee grounds have settled to the bottom of the bottle. During the soaking process, the coffee grounds experience upward-to-downward movement, making it easier for flavor compounds to be extracted.

However, the "Cold Brew Yirgacheffe" made by FrontStreet Coffee with sparkling water has a richer berry aroma! Observing the coffee liquid, although there are no visible bubbles, you can feel the sensation of bubbles colliding in your mouth when drinking it.

Add Milk

Generally, people choose light roast beans to enjoy floral and fruity aromas as well as sweet and sour flavors, so they're often consumed plain. For dark roast beans with heavier body, these more intense cold brew coffees can be balanced with milk to create a fragrant and smooth texture. However, different dairy products result in different mouthfeels.

They can be divided into two categories: fresh milk and creamer (fresh cream type). Due to higher water content in fresh milk, cold brew mixed with fresh milk has a cleaner taste and lighter body. However, when mixed with creamer (fresh cream type), the lower water content results in a richer overall taste and thicker body. When FrontStreet Coffee makes cold brew coffee with milk but no sugar, it becomes a cold brew coffee latte. It naturally has a sweet aftertaste and sweetness when consumed.

FrontStreet Coffee feels that adding a little Irish whiskey or brandy can create a unique flavor profile. Of course, you can add any type of alcohol, but Irish whiskey is grain-based, unlike most Scottish whiskies which are barley-based. For those who want non-alcoholic coffee with wine-like flavors, you can try FrontStreet Coffee's Honduras Sherry. This variety uses whiskey barrel fermentation processing and has rich whiskey cream vanilla flavors, especially suitable for customers who want wine-flavored coffee.

Conclusion

This experiment making cold brew coffee with room temperature water yielded surprisingly good results! When it comes to choosing coffee beans, as always, just go with your personal preferences and you'll be fine!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473