Cold brew: what it is and how to make this summer's cold coffee

We bring you the solution to the heat: cold brew, one of the most popular coffee drinks of the summer.

And no, in case you're wondering, it's not just iced coffee. Cold brew is a different way of preparing coffee: it's cold-infused for several hours to achieve a sweeter, less bitter, and very refreshing drink.

We'll tell you what cold brew is, how to prepare it at home, and which Barsel coffee to choose for the best result.

What is cold brew

Cold brew is coffee prepared through cold extraction. Unlike traditional coffee, which is made with hot water in a few seconds or minutes, cold brew is made by mixing ground coffee with cold or room temperature water and letting it steep for several hours in a cool place.

Typically, the steeping time is between 12 and 18 hours. During that time, the water slowly extracts the aromas, oils, and compounds from the coffee, but in a gentler way than in a hot preparation. The result is a cold coffee with a very special profile: smoother, less bitter, and very refreshing.

Cold brew is not the same as iced coffee

Although they may seem the same, there is an important difference. Iced coffee is prepared by brewing hot coffee, usually espresso or filtered coffee, and then cooling it with ice. Cold brew, on the other hand, is prepared directly cold from the beginning. It is not cooled afterwards: it is slowly infused with cold water, which affects the final taste of the coffee.

Cold brew is usually smoother and less aggressive on the palate. That's why many people who don't usually drink black coffee enjoy this preparation very much.

Why cold brew tastes smoother

The key lies in the water temperature and time. When we prepare coffee with hot water, the extraction is faster and more intense. This allows for a lot of flavor in a short time, but it can also extract more bitterness.

In cold brew, by using cold water and letting the coffee infuse, the extraction is much slower. This helps to achieve a smoother drink, with less bitterness and a more integrated acidity.

How to prepare cold brew at home

Preparing cold brew at home is very easy. You don't need a special coffee maker or to complicate things too much. You just need good coffee, cold water, and a little patience.

Ingredients

To prepare approximately 1 liter of cold brew you need:

• 70 g of coarse ground coffee.

• 1 liter of cold or room temperature water.

• A glass jar or container.

• A paper, cloth, or fine mesh filter.

This proportion is a good starting point. If you prefer a more intense cold brew, you can add a little more coffee.

Step-by-step

1. Grind the coffee coarsely, similar to what you would use for a French press.

2. Add the ground coffee to a jar or container.

3. Add the water and stir gently so that all the coffee is well moistened.

4. Cover the container and let it steep for 12 to 18 hours in the refrigerator.

5. Carefully filter the mixture to separate the ground coffee from the drink.

6. Serve it very cold.

Which Barsel coffee to choose for cold brew

To prepare a good cold brew, you can use any type of coffee, whichever you like best. For a summer cold brew, at Barsel we particularly like coffees with a citrusy, fresh, and aromatic profile. That hint of acidity helps the drink feel lighter and more refreshing, perfect for drinking with ice.

Therefore, a good option is our Burundi Masha, a coffee with black tea and ripe citrus aromas, and notes of black tea with sweet orange on the palate. The Guatemala La Bolsa or the Venezuela Brisas del Gil would also work very well, depending on the profile you are looking for. But, as we like to say, coffee is for enjoyment, so choose the one you like best.

This summer, prepare your own cold brew with Barsel coffee and discover a more relaxed, refreshing, and delicious way to continue enjoying coffee.