I love my espresso in winters, but when spring approaches, my loyalty shifts to cold brew coffee. You may ask, what is the difference between cold coffee and cold brew coffee? Is it not the same as iced coffee? So, cold coffee is any coffee that is served cold and traditionally it is served with milk and sugar. Iced coffee is coffee liquor served with ice. This liquor is usually brewed hot coffee concentrate that’s poured over ice. Often it is basically instant coffee powder dissolved in chilled water, and some ice cubes are dropped into it. But then what is this cold brew coffee? Simply put it is ground coffee that has been brewed in cold water over 8-12 hours, post which it is strained out and consumed as it is or after diluting it with water or ice.

While coffee drinking developed in Ethiopian planes, the earliest documented reference of cold brew is found in 17th century Japan. However, it is believed that it was introduced in Japan by Dutch traders from Indonesia. In Japan this cold brew was made in large quantities, in fact, brewing coffee was like a spectacle – elegant machines were setup in public spaces. The cold brew coffee that’s become a rage now, is very similar to the way the old Japanese way of brewing their cup of joe.

Cold brew is low on acidity and has a smooth and mellow flavour. It is refreshing but in a very subtle way. Hot brew coffee needs to be consumed fresh, but cold brew can be stored in an airtight container in a fridge for almost a week. It is generally made as a concentrate and hence needs to be diluted with cold or hot water, or ice, as per one’s preference.

The answer is, yes. You can either add hot water to the concentrate that, or you can warm it up in a microwave or on your gas stove. However, having said that, I personally feel that warming it up, kills the flavour and smoothness of the cold brew. If you wish to have it warm, opt for fresh hot brews or use the instant coffee powder. And please consume it fresh. Avoid warming up leftover brew.

In a jug of fresh, cold water add desired amount (depending on how concentrated you want it to be) of grounded coffee beans. While many feel the ration of 1:4 – one portion on coffee and four portion of water – is a good concentrate, I prefer a lighter concentrate of 1:6. To steep the coffee close the lid of the jug and rest it overnight. In morning, strain it through a fine mesh, or through a French press. Store this brew in airtight bottles for about 5-7 days. Alternately there are several brands that you may want to try. These packs come in pouches that look like tea bags and simply need to be dunked into a jug of water and brewed overnight.

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