Experimenting with Cold Brew Coffee

Do you need a fancy device designed specifically for cold brew, or can you make a batch in your trusty old press pot that will taste the same? We asked Allison to experiment with brewing in the Sowden and in a La Cafetiere to see how they compare.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

I am super into it, too. I think it makes some of the smoothest coffee! - Kat

[TheJustplainfunny]

maybe it was the pressing of the beans that made the press more bitter?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Thanks for tracking this for us -- great information! I currently have one of the Hario clear drippers going for the next few hours ... it's crazy beaker like but I suspect will make an interesting cup ... we'll see! - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Let us know how it goes! Some of the bitterness is the caffeine itself, but I suspect it reacts differently to heat extraction. All the cold brews I've tried taste similar to chocolate milk. - Kat

[clericneokun]

A 6oz glass cup and an aeropress. Those are basically the only things I need to make cold brew concentrate and It. Is. Awesome.

[clericneokun]

Wow. I did not know that. Actually, I did another pair of tests while my 24 hour cup was brewing. Basically, I poured just enough room temperature water to soak all the grounds and let it degass for 10min before pouring in water just off boil. Afterwards, I let one cup brew for 4min while the other one in just 2min. In terms of brightness, both cups were similar to a cold-brew. For flavor, the 2m cup didn't extract properly but the 4min was almost like the cold-brew in sweetness and body.

[clericneokun]

I'm currently doing a taste test between a 30 minute brew versus a 12 hour brew. I chose 30 minutes because that's more or less how long coffee of a certain grind will degas completely when in contact with room temperature water.

Currently, I've finished tasting the 30 minute brew and I consider it drinkable. I thought it was smooth and sweet like cold-brew usually is. It was somewhat mild though but that's probably because I did the standard 6oz per 10g of coffee instead of concentrate.

[SAABguyMD]

I use twice as much coffee for cold brew, as I do for standard press. I use Bodum 32oz press and let the coffee sit overnight. I then drink it straight, it's delicious!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Indyshooter Nope! Give a try and let us know how it goes :) - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Yup! Our first try did not work well -- too fine of a grind! So we're taking another pass at it this week :) - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@MrKlaw11 Great suggestions! We have heard of buckets and cheesecloth, too (cafes do that quite often) :D - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@mark2500 Agree - dig the Aeropress :) - Kat

[Indyshooter]

Oh, i was sure what you need special kind of coffee for it, like steamed or something. Thanks, gonna try it :)

[clericneokun]

Both cups definitely had a bit of bitterness to them though compared to cold-brew. My only guess is that bitter compounds react very easily with heat yet have difficulty dissolving in cold water even though other flavors still get extracted somewhat normally, although very slowly.

[badjujuwan]

LOL @ 3:21 "What's gonna happen tomorrow?"

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

Could be; Bodum did release a cold brew specific model, however, and it doesn't have anything different around it ... Also, models like the Hario Clear Water Dripper are not airtight so would have a similar issue (if that is one...?) - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@xwingrox Hahaha - maybe you did, but we didn't! - Kat

[clericneokun]

I've tried the 12 hours. Even at the same volume, the cup was definitely darker and much sweeter. It was as smooth as the 30 minute one but also richer. Next I'll be trying the 24 hours and might also go the 48 hour mark. I wanna find out if it's even possible to extract bitter compounds out of this method.

[clericneokun]

Cool! You're planning on making a video of that one right? :)

[jangothefila]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Yeah, I do mine with a super fine grind (the consistency of flour) and let it sit for 24 hrs in my 32oz Ikea French press 3 water to 1 coffee, then I put a trimmed-to-fit paper coffee filter over the plunger and plunge it. It's silky smooth and not the least bit bitter. Maybe i should try making it stronger like you guys did, and then i might find some bitterness. I still love my espresso but cold brew is now my favorite.