Cold brew season is fast approaching! Summer is right around the corner to bring us the warmer weather and great sunshine. There's nothing better than enjoying a fresh glass of cold brew coffee outdoors while basking in the sun. 

Why choose Cold Brew coffee over Iced Coffee? What's the difference? 

The main difference between cold brew coffee versus iced coffee is the temperature of water that is used to brew the coffee. Cold brew uses cold water or room temperature water and steeps for up to 18 hours. However, iced coffee is first brewed with hot water either as filter or espresso and then poured over ice.

So how does water temperature make them so different?

The difference in brewing temperatures affects the chemical reactions between the water and the soluble compounds in coffee. When brewing with hot water either at boiling point or just below boiling point, there are many chemical compounds in coffee that become more soluble with heated water. Brewing with hot water requires more attention and technique to control these soluble compounds. On the other hand, with cold water we are able to selectively extract a different set of compounds that are soluble at a lower temperature.

The flavour differences may include cold brew tasting less acidic and perhaps sweeter with some astringent notes. 

Caffeine compounds are still soluble in cold water, therefore the caffeine content is quite similar to hot brewed coffee. However, during the brewing process, cold brew typically requires a more concentrated amount of coffee. For example, cold brew uses about a 1:3 to 1:8 ratio of coffee to water where as iced coffee uses a 1:15 to 1:16 ratio. Therefore, with a higher concentration of coffee to water and caffeine still soluble in cold water, there tends to be a high concentration of caffeine in the finished beverage of cold brew. 

Smile Tiger's Cold Brew Recipe

Cold brew is fairly simple and easy to make, you just have to get the ratio right. We use a 1:7 ratio which is 1 gram of coffee per 7 grams of water. Here is our recipe that we use with our Heaven Hamer Cold Brew blend.

What you will need:

French Press (1050ml)

Coffee Grinder

Scale

Ingredients:

Clean filtered water (cold or room temp.)

Heaven Hammer Coffee (150g)

Directions:

1. Grind 150 grams of our Heaven Hammer coffee at a coarse grind size.

2. Add coffee grinds to french press.

3. Add clean filtered water up to about 1050 grams.

4. With your spoon, gently move the grinds around until they are all evenly wet. Do not over stir and agitate the grinds too much.

5. Place plunger lid over the french press, but do not press it yet!

6. Allow it to steep in a cold dark place on your counter for 14-16 hours**.

7. Press the coffee down and pour the coffee out into another pitcher or container and store in the fridge. It will be good for 3-5 days.

8. Ready to serve* and enjoy!

Notes:

*The finished brew will be quite concentrated, both in flavour and in caffeine. When serving we recommend diluting it with a bit of ice and water.

**We recommend starting your brew in the late afternoon and evening to allow it to steep over night. Then you'll have fresh cold brew ready for when you wake up!