Cold Brew Coffee 101: Not All Iced Coffee Is Equal

Are Cold Brew And Iced Coffee The Same Thing?

Over the past few years, cold brew has caught on like wildfire. Not only has it become a staple of every coffee shop, but now, even grocery and convenience stores have their shelves stocked with bottled options of cold brew.

To the untrained eye, cold brew may look like any other iced coffee, but in actuality, it’s a unique drink that is deserving of its massive spike in popularity. Whether you’re a cold brew drinker or not, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about what makes this coffee so special.

Isn’t Cold Brew The Same As Iced Coffee?

NO, emphatically no! Cold brew is not your ordinary iced coffee. Instead of being brewed hot and then chilled, cold brew is created by immersing ground coffee in room temperature water for between 12 and 24 hours. At that point, the coffee grounds are strained out, and the resulting cold brew is chilled. Many note a smoothness and sweetness to cold brew that greatly differentiates it from traditional iced coffee. Since cold brew is generally very time intensive to make, many only indulge when they’re away from home, but spoiler alert, Bruvi® is changing that (keep reading)!

Top 3 Reasons Why We Love Cold Brew

1.  Cold Brew Has Low Acidity and Smoothness

Cold brew has grown rapidly in popularity not only because of its great taste, but also because it has a lower acid content than regular coffee.

This lower acidity and resulting smoothness are from the unique way in which cold brew is made. Unlike hot coffee, cold brew uses room temperature or cold water which limits the release of coffee oils and their resulting acidity.

So, if you are a coffee lover with some stomach sensitivity or digestive issues, it might be time to try cold brew! Who knows… maybe you can finally start truly enjoying the drink you’ve wanted for all this time?

2.  Cold Brew Has More Caffeine

Another reason why cold brew has won over the cups of so many iced coffee lovers is because it also contains more caffeine. While it is true that caffeine is more easily extracted with hot water than cold water, cold brew’s higher coffee to water ratio makes up more than that difference. In many cases, cold brew can contain up to 1.5 to 2 times the caffeine of a regular iced coffee. Be careful, the caffeine sure can sneak up on you when this stuff goes down so easily!

3.  Cold Brew Tastes Awesome Black

For many reasons mentioned above, cold brew is commonly consumed black. Since it lacks bitterness and acidity, you may find that it doesn’t necessarily need milk and sugar to be enjoyed. This makes it a healthier option for those trying to get their nutrition game right.

Wait There’s More: Nitro Cold Brew

With cold brew sales skyrocketing in the last five years, new innovations have surfaced in coffee shops and stores across the globe. One that has become really popular is nitro cold brew.

Quite simply, this is cold brew infused with nitrogen gas. The addition of liquid nitrogen creates a unique and instantly identifiable velvety texture. Some favor this drink because its attributes almost play into the latte arena, delivering a frothy, milk-like layer that cascades to the bottom of the drink. If you haven’t tried this yet, it’s definitely worth a shot and will be sure to surprise your taste buds.

What Coffee Should I Use To Make Cold Brew?

If you’re feeling adventurous and decide to make your own cold brew at home, you can experiment with different roasts: light, medium or dark. However, it is important to know that the roast you choose will greatly impact the taste and may not mirror your hot coffee preference.

Darker roasts will require less immersion time and, if left too long, may become overpowering. Meanwhile, lighter roasts are more delicate with diverse acidic notes, which will take more time to develop. The topic of cold brew roast profiles is rather divisive and at the end of day, really just comes down to personal preference.

With that said, I would highly recommend using a single origin coffee for cold brew. Since the method allows you to taste subtle nuanced flavors, it’s a really great format to appreciate those estate coffees.

Bruvi Does Cold Brew: Quick And Delicious

Here at Bruvi, we recognize the biggest downside to making your own cold brew  is the time-intensive coffee brewing process itself. For that very reason, we (as in our engineering gurus) developed a way to bring freshly made cold brew to the convenience of your own home in record time.

With Bruvi, you have the option to make cold brew in a matter of minutes, not hours. Now you can enjoy your favorite coffee house drink at a fraction of the cost without evening getting out of your PJs. Have a busy workday ahead? Turn on Bruvi and by the time you’ve scanned the headlines on your phone, your cold brew is waiting patiently for your undivided attention. With Bruvi, cold brew is easier and more delicious than ever before.

Move over iced coffee… cold brew is officially here to stay!