With cold brew coffee becoming ever so popular and the coffee drink of choice for the younger crowd, why should you give it a try? Well, the cold brew coffee benefits are worth giving it a try. To find out what cold brew coffee is and it many benefits, keep reading.
Cold brew is not iced coffee. I know thats what you were probably thinking if you have never heard of cold brew before. Iced coffee is just pouring your regular brew coffee over ice. So what is cold brew coffee?
What is Cold Brew?
Cold brew is steeping your coffee grounds in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. Most do it overnight. This produces coffee that is less bitter than hot coffee. It slowly pulls the flavor from the beans but leaves behind the compounds responsible for the bitter taste.
Did you know that you don’t have to serve cold brew over ice? Its your choice. Its simply called cold brew because of the brewing process. But if your cold brew is a little too strong, you can add a splash of water or let the ice dilute it a bit.
What are the Cold Brew Benefits?
No Upset Stomach
Tons of people steer clear of coffee because it causes stomach issues due to the acidity. Well, cold brew is less acidic than hot brewed choices and contains polysaccharides that protect your digestive system.
More Caffeine
If left undiluted, cold brew is slightly higher due to the longer steeping and coffee to water ratio. Its not much but it is a little more. The caffeine content also depends on the kind of beans you use, how much you dilute it and total steeping time.
Antioxidants
Coffee contains antioxidants that protect your body from inflammation by fighting free radicals which are just unstable molecules in our bodies.
Coffee is rich in several antioxidants. Polyphenols and hydrocinnamic acid are a few.
Keeping inflammation low in your body helps greatly decrease your chance for disease.
Better Mood
Caffeine helps improve your overall state of mind. It gives you a boost that will increase your mood. It also increases focus and how alert you are.
Coffee has also been shown to decrease depression and improve brain function. That right there puts me in a better mood.
Weight Loss
The caffeine in your cup of cold brew can give your metabolism a boost. Metabolism is just how your body fuels its self for energy it needs to operate. The higher it is, the more calories you are going to burn. Caffeine helps boost the rate at which your body burns fat.
Also, if you drink it after a workout it can increase your post-workout burn. This means your body will continue to burn calories even after your exercise routine is finished.
How to make Cold Brew?
- You will need a coarser ground bean
- You will need a maker like the French Press
- You will need a strainer depending on what you make it in
- You will need a container to hold brewed coffee
In a Jar
You can make cold brew with just a mason jar. Just grind your beans to resemble Himalayan salt. Transfer the grounds to the mason jar and add water. Stir gently to make sure the grounds are saturated and cover. Let is steep overnight. You can put it in the refrigerator or leave it on the counter.
The next morning, you will just need to strain the coffee grounds from your cold brew and its done. You can store what is left in the fridge for up to a week.
In a French Press
If you decide to brew in a French Press, the method is pretty much the exact same. You won’t need a strainer because the French Press has a strainer built in.
In an Immersion Brewer
Immersion brewing just means that the grounds are fully immersed in the water to steep. The French Press is an immersion brewer but I wanted to show you a special immersion brewer that I found.
It has a mesh basket in the center to contain your grinds, so its a french press that has been modified.
In an immersion brewer, like the french press, you will want to use coarse grounds as well so they don’t pass through the mesh filter.
I found this very fancy and very classy looking cold brewer by KitchenAid. Its more expensive but if you are going to be a full time cold brewer, this one would look great in your kitchen.
Cold Brew Ratio
What I would recommend to start with until you figure out what is best for you is 1 ounce of grounds per 1 cup of water. This comes out to 1/4 cup of whole beans which grinds to 1/2 cup.
For the mason jar method, you will need 3/4 cup of whole beans and 3 cups of water.
If you want to make it even simpler, you can say one part coffee to four parts water.
Cold Brew Time
You will have to have at least 12 hours for cold brew, that is why I recommend brewing it overnight. The cold extraction process makes for a less bitter tasting cup. You will have a smooth, sweet tasting cup of joe.
Did you know that Starbucks steeps their cold brew for 20 hours?
If you happen to go over 24, you might find it to taste a little bitter and it will be really strong so you will have to dilute it.
Perfect for Busy People
This could be the perfect brew if you are looking to take advantage of its benefits. You can make it on Sunday night and have enough to last all week. How much easier can it get?
I would recommend trying cold brew at a local coffee shop before you invest your money and time into making your own, unless you already have a French Press at home or you have a mason jar to make it with.
You might just discover that this method is perfect for you and it will forever be your brew method of choice.
If you love cold brew, comment below with what brewer you use. I love to hear what everyone uses.
