Cold Brew Coffee has been one of the most popular iced coffee categories in recent summers. It is made by steeping ground coffee beans in cold water for an extended period, then filtering to obtain black coffee; low temperature and slow extraction are its core characteristics. Front Street Coffee, using 30 grams of grounds and a 1:12 coffee-to-water ratio as an example, demonstrates the home brewing process for cold brew in detail and points out that extraction time directly affects the fermented taste and concentration. This article also compiles medium-light roast coffee beans suitable for cold brew, including Front Street Panama Geisha, Ethiopia Flower Queen, Little Tomato, and Sidra, and analyzes the three major reasons cold brew has become so popular: simple operation, diverse ways to enjoy it, and a longer shelf life.

The English name for cold brew coffee is Cold Brew Coffee. The method is to put ground coffee beans into cold water, steep them for usually no less than 8 hours, then filter using specialized equipment to finally obtain a cup of black coffee. In a broad sense, as long as extraction is completed in a low-temperature environment, it can be classified as cold brew, including cold steep, ice brew, and ice drip methods. Lower temperature and longer extraction time constitute the two most notable labels of cold brew coffee. Today, Front Street Coffee will sort out the various advantages of cold brew and see exactly why this category has become so popular.

How is cold brew coffee made?

The threshold for making cold brew coffee is actually very low, and it is easy to get started. When Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) makes cold brew, it uses 30 grams of coffee grounds as the baseline. In terms of grind size, because the water temperature in contact with the coffee grounds is lower than in regular pour-over, a slightly finer setting than pour-over should be chosen, roughly equivalent to the coarseness of fine granulated sugar, corresponding to an 85% passing rate on a No. 20 standard sieve.

The first step is to pour the coffee grounds into a glass bottle, then add 360 milliliters of room-temperature water, keeping the coffee-to-water ratio at 1:12. Then use a stirring rod to mix the coffee grounds and water thoroughly, seal it, and place it in the refrigerator.

After letting it sit in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours, filter out the coffee grounds with filter paper to obtain a clear coffee liquid. Then pour the coffee liquid into a clean sealed bottle and continue refrigerating for about 4 hours before drinking.

Here Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) would like to remind everyone that cold brew coffee is not better the longer it is steeped; whether it tastes good is itself a very subjective judgment. Some people prefer a fresh and clean style, while others favor a stronger taste with a fermented feel; this varies entirely from person to person.

If you belong to the group that likes a stronger fermented taste, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) suggests appropriately extending the extraction time. As time passes, the fermented aroma of the coffee liquid becomes more pronounced, the concentration also becomes higher, and the mouthfeel layers become more complex. If it feels too strong when drinking, you might add two ice cubes and wait for them to melt; the concentration of the coffee liquid will naturally be diluted.

Finally, friends often ask Front Street: which coffee beans are suitable for cold brew? Based on Front Street's brewing experience, if you want cold brew coffee to taste good, you can prioritize medium-light roast coffee beans. If you prefer floral notes, Front Street Panama Geisha coffee is recommended; it is also one of the most expensive coffees in the world;

If you like coffee that is fresh with a sour taste, Front Street Ethiopia Flower Queen coffee beans are recommended, with notes of black tea and berries; or the highly juicy Front Street Little Tomato; and Front Street Sidra coffee beans, which present passion fruit and fermented flavors. The above selected single-origin coffee beans can all be ordered and purchased at the Front Street Tmall flagship store or Front Street Taobao store.

Why has cold brew coffee become a breakout hit?

1. Cold brew is simple to make and is not limited by equipment or location. As long as we have coffee beans and a refrigerator, and prepare a clean container, we can easily make a refreshing and delicious iced coffee at home;

2. Cold brew coffee offers diverse ways to enjoy it. In addition to choosing different coffee beans, we can also add different ingredients to cold brew coffee according to our preferences, making the taste of the iced coffee richer. Front Street Coffee has tried preserved plum cold brew coffee, Little Tomato cold brew coffee, and blueberry cold brew coffee, all of which are very novel and delicious methods;

3. Compared with other coffees, cold brew coffee can be drunk over a longer period. After making it, as long as it is sealed and placed in the refrigerator, we can drink it slowly without it spoiling. Front Street Coffee recommends finishing it within 5 days for the best taste.

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.