Discovering Cold Brew Coffee
Sometimes a wrong turn can lead to discovering something very right, in our case, it was cold brewed coffee. One hot and steamy day, while traveling, we commented how it was so difficult to find a decent cup of coffee.
Are we so spoiled by drinking Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
that other brands fall flat?
It may have been that lack of coffee that made my husband turn right when I, the navigator, said to continue on straight. We were no longer being guided by GPS and the navigators natural sense of direction, instead six sense drew us towards Custom House Coffee Roasters in Middletown Rhode Island.
From the parking lot it appeared like any strip mall, Ho Hum. Once inside, you got that warm country store feel: a big coffee roaster to the right, warm paint colors, wooden barrels and friendly staff. At the counter we were waited on by a very animated sales team, my husband asked for iced coffee.
Immediately (a very nice lady) asked if we instead wanted to try cold brewed coffee, we hadn’t heard of it and wanted to know more. The coffee has 67% less acidity, once made, can be stored in the refrigerator up to 14 days. We were won over by the passion for the product and with brewer in tow, headed home to try our hand at this brewing technique.
We were given a sample of cold brewed coffee, black, which I sipped with trepidation as black coffee is a bit much for me. Immediately noticing the coffee flavor without the bitterness, almost sweet tasting and very smooth.
Cold brewed coffee is prepared over time using a steeping method, rather than quick brewing with hot water, this brings out the coffee’s flavors, leaving behind the oils and acids. Hot water changes the compounds, due to the heat, while the cold water leave the compounds in their natural state.
According to a NYTimes article titled, “Ice Coffee and Tea, (Not) taking the Heat” there are many people who prefer hot brew over cold, commenting that cold brew has to be appreciated for being different, not “in competition with” hot brewed coffee. The following is quoted from the NYTimes article:
“If you think of hot and cold brews as different drinks, just as a lager isn’t the same as a pale ale, then you may find that you enjoy both.”
Toddy cold brewing coffee system
We can’t wait to get home and try the Toddy system for ourselves, making iced coffee at home is always a challenge due to the rank extra strong brew. Ice coffee is deep strong brew and a bit of milk, if desired, poured directly over ice. We’ve never truly enjoyed ice coffee made at home in the traditional sense.
We are enjoying cold brew coffee in so many ways. The Toddy system’s recipe book has an added bonus as the cold brew coffee concentrate can be used to make ice cream. Remembering the Roasted Pineapple Ricotta Cream from the other day, now I can make the cappuccino cream without using dried espresso powder, we have a win.
What about you, have you had cold brewed coffee before, if so what are your thoughts? Would you be willing to try cold brewed coffee?
Hey Janet;
Wow! That sounds like a great cup of coffee! Now that you have me wondering about it I’ll have to try to find some. BTW, did you look real close at the picture you took of the store front? I’m wondering if you have to drive a Corvette to get there. LOL!
Dr. Rus
Yes I did notice that photo and wondered what color Corvette I should get since the red and yellow were already taken.. I guess I will go with black. The cold brew is an interesting way to process the coffee, we have our system going and should be enjoying a batch soon.
Ooh!! If coffee WAS my cup of tea… I’d go for this for sure! Long gone are the days of an ordinary cup of Joe, huh?!
You can brew tea in it as well but I just use a large glass jug to make sun tea. My husband has a sensitive stomach, the reduced acidity is better for him and the flavor is more smooth. I can’t drink ordinary coffee like Maxwell House like I did as a child.. I think I have become a coffee snob.
Sounds interesting, I have never tried it though.
I think you can do the same with a french press but use cold water with more coffee and let it set over night. It become very concentrated, which is why it makes a good iced coffee.
that was an interesting read, I don’t drink coffee or tea so it was really informative, thanks!
Thank you for reading, I will have to pop over and read more on your blog later.
That looks cool. Not a coffee or tea drinker…yet 😉 but everyone in my family is and I am sure theyd love it!
Send your family over to my blog, maybe they would be interested in the cold brewing method as well. Thanks for stopping by and reading.
I have never heard of cold brew coffee but it sounds great. I love how it can stay in the fridge. I hate when I make a pot of coffee and half goes to waste.
I know what you mean about old coffee, it gets rancid and I assume it is from the oils and/or staying on the heat for so long. We just made our first batch this morning so I will let you know how it holds out. I can’t say it will stay in the refrigerator that long however, hubby loves iced coffee..
This sounds delightful! I must try it one day. I’m a tea drinker, but I’m not afraid to experiment. Thanks for the review.
Coffee can be very rank, especially when over an hour old, this is a milder smoother tasting coffee.. I also like tea and drink at least on cup a day. Thank you for your comments Ileane.
[…] love our coffee and serve it up many ways. In the summer months we make a cold brew concentrate served over ice. Cold brew is a fabulously smooth low acid coffee that is worth the wait. We make a […]