I will NEVER forget the first time I tried cold brew. It was a tragedy. I ground the beans way too fine and didn’t realize I was making a super-concentrated brew. Unfortunately, and I say this because it put me off cold brew for a couple of years, the result was an intense, bitter SLUDGE. If someone saw me, I am sure they would have had a good laugh seeing my face contort in utter disgust.
Fortunately, I love coffee and I know any mistake is just a lesson. I did eventually give it another shot after learning all I did not before. And I am so glad I did. Now, I just LOVE cold brew. You could say I am an addict. I am not ashamed. Especially during summer, no day passes without me enjoying cold brew.
But why am I so obsessed with cold brew? I thought about it for a while and this is what I came up with. Read on and maybe you will also give it a try!
Ridiculously Simple To Make
Personally, I think cold brewing is the easiest method ever. You simply add cold water to ground coffee, and you let it sit for a day. You filter it and there you have it, cold brew! It IS so simple and I am sure anyone can do it.
You should definitely consult a tutorial first but the truth is that cold brewing relies on an incredibly simple principle:
Coffee + Water + Time = Deliciousness
A Very Forgiving Coffee Brewing Method
Here’s something most of us coffee loving freaks did several times: mess up a pour-over and ended up with a sour, weak cup of coffee. This is something very hard to do with cold brew since the method itself is forgiving.
If you end up with weak coffee, just let it sit more. With many brewers, like the Penguin, you just remove the filter and then pop it back in.
If your coffee is too concentrated, just like my first time, all you have to do is dilute it with water until you reach your desired strength. You just need a couple of brews, and you will dial in your perfect ratio of coffee, water, and brewing time.
For instance, I usually fill my Penguin filter to around 70% with medium-coarse coffee, then I fill it completely with water. Then, I let it steep for around a day. When the coffee is done, I just cut the concentrate with 50% water. My lady loves her coffee stronger, so she only cuts her cold brew with 25% water. It is all up to your personal taste.
Perfect For Non-Morning People (Or Lazy Ones, Just Like Me)
Lately, mornings have been very rough for me. It is hard to wake up. And I am a little lazy, cannot deny that. And when you are not a morning person, it is even worse. The last thing you want to do is go through anything that lasts more than a few seconds. But you do want your coffee, right?
Cold brew is a game-changer. You do not have to worry about grinders, scales, and kettles in the morning. This is why I replaced my morning AeroPress with cold brew. I just pour myself a LARGE glass and I wake up.
No Electricity Needed
Here’s something most people do not think about. What happens when you have a power outage? With many coffee brewing methods, you rely on electricity. You do not have it, you do not drink coffee!
You do not need electricity for cold brew. You get your daily caffeine fix, and the lights are out. Cold brew thus becomes a great option for home and for road trips, camping trips, or practically any situation in which you do not have access to power.
You Can Use Old Coffee Beans
I actually learned this from a local coffee shop. The owner there often used old, unsold beans for cold brew. Yeah they did and many people do that!
A great thing about cold brew is that it is forgiving. It can actually bring out interesting flavors in older beans, flavors that would otherwise be lifeless and stale. I often use medium-to-lightly used roasted coffee beans that are a couple months old for my cold brew. The result is delicious. Also, when you use old coffee beans, you reduce waste and save money.
Win-Win!
Quiet Coffee
Do you have family members who like to sleep in? Maybe roommates? Then you will love cold brew. As opposed to kettles and grinders, the only sound to deal with is pouring a glass. Everyone in the house can enjoy a peaceful slumber as you fuel up for the day and you get that caffeine kick you love.
When You Simply Need A Quick Sip
Let’s face it! Sometimes we just need a little pick-me-up. Maybe it is late in the afternoon and you feel a slump. Maybe you worked out too hard and feel tired. And you still have some work to do at home. With cold brew, you can just have a sip without having to brew a whole new batch.
I should add that this also makes cold brew great when you try to cut back on caffeine. You can just have a small sip to ward off caffeine headaches without overdoing it.
Hot Or Cold – Still Delicious
There is no rule saying cold brew needs to be cold. I often just heat up cold brew in the microwave if I want a cozy morning mug. I just nuke my cup for a minute, stir it, and then heat it up for an extra half a minute. Just remember that every single microwave oven is different. Experiment a little so you can find the perfect heating time and you will love it.
Stomach Problems Begone!
When I was younger, I was able to easily drink black coffee on an empty stomach. I had no issues with that. But, now, I do have some digestive issues, and I do feel some pain if I do that. Unfortunately, I tried everything, half-and-half, decaf (I hate myself for that), and mineral packs. Nothing worked.
Cold brew worked!
Cold brew has a lower acidity than hot-brewed coffee. This study, published in the Food Chemistry journal, showed that cold brew coffee can have significantly lower levels of titratable acids than hot brew, which makes it tolerable for people suffering from sensitive stomachs. It worked for me and I am sure it will work for you.
Modern Brewers Make It Simple
Years ago, cold brew setups were very complex. You had to carefully measure everything. That was a pain. Fortunately, this is no longer the case.
New cold brewers like the already-mentioned Penguin and the Alkani make it incredibly simple and accessible to make cold brew. These are brewers that feature fine-mesh metal filters, which eliminate the need to have paper filters. Cleanup also becomes a lot simpler.
Final Thoughts
I just mentioned my top reasons why I love cold brew so much, but there are many other advantages I could highlight. Just as a quick example, cold brew is perfect for coffee-based cocktails and camping trips.
Did you ever try cold brew? No? You should! Yes? I love you for that!
