You’ve seen it on Instagram, you’ve heard it in coffee shops, but what exactly is cold brew? Is it just iced coffee on steroids?

Cold brew is a unique and flavorful way to enjoy coffee. Unlike its hot-brewed counterpart, cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period. This slow, gentle extraction process results in a coffee that's lower in acidity, less bitter, and packed with a concentrated coffee flavor.  It's like the coffee equivalent of a perfectly aged wine – smooth, complex, and downright delicious.

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: Know the Difference

Let's clear up a common misconception: cold brew is not the same as iced coffee. Iced coffee is simply hot coffee poured over ice. While it's a quick and easy way to chill down your caffeine fix, it can often be watery and bitter. Cold brew, on the other hand, is brewed cold from the start, resulting in a much smoother and richer flavor.

How to Make Cold Brew at Home

Making your own cold brew is easier than you think. All you need is coffee grounds, cold water, and a little patience. Here's a basic recipe to get you started:

1. Grind your coffee: Use a coarse grind for optimal flavor extraction.
2. Combine coffee and water: Add your grounds to a container and cover with cold water. The ratio of coffee to water is up to you, but a good starting point is 1 part coffee to 4 parts water.
3. Steep: Let the mixture steep in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours, or up to 24 hours for a stronger brew.
4. Strain: Filter the coffee grounds to remove them from the liquid.
5. Enjoy: Dilute your cold brew with water or milk to taste, and serve over ice.

Take Your Cold Brew to the Next Level?

We know a fantastic tool for coffee enthusiasts that can help you achieve a delicious cold brew. The Varia Steep Cold Brew can help you with this. You can check it out in our store here.

If you're looking to elevate your cold brew experience, here's a suggestion: Explore different coffee beans! There's a whole world of flavors waiting to be discovered.

Yardstick's Wild Flower blend is a great option for those who enjoy a complex and fruity cup. This blend features coffees from Africa and the Philippines, resulting in a unique flavor profile with notes of tropical fruit, red currant, and red peach.

Here’s a recipe you can try!

Caramel Cold Brew with Oat Milk

Size: 350ml

Instructions:

1. Rinse/Sanitize bottle and cup
2. Pour cold brew
3. Pour caramel sauce into bottle
4. Pour oatmilk
5. Cover and shake well to mix, then chill.

Coldbrew 200ml

Caramel Sauce 25ml

Oatmilk 125ml

Of course, there are countless other amazing coffee beans out there. So have fun experimenting and find your perfect cup of cold brew!