Cold brew and cold drip coffee are two extremely popular alternative brewing methods. When compared with other manual brewing
methods like the Aeropress, batch brew, moka pots or pour over, cold brew /cold drip is always our go to in those hot summer months!
Cold brew makers and cold drip coffee makers are some of the most popular in our range of portable coffee makers. With our long hot summers in Australia the demand for cold brew is steadily growing from our coffee lovers!
What is Cold Brew? It is simply coffee brewed using a cold coffee maker, cold water and time with the brewing process taking place over several hours. This simple brewing process is gentle and extracts more of the different flavour-impacting components from the beans, lowering the acidity and bitterness while unmasking the smooth, naturally sweet, complex origin flavours of your favourite coffee.
So what does it take to turn your cold brew coffee maker and favourite bean into a delicious cup of cold brew coffee? Step 1 is to to set your grinder to coarse and grind your favourite fresh bean. Step 2 is to steep your ground coffee by soaking them in water for a prolonged period of time, usually 12 hours or more. Brewers include the BodyBrew, Bruer, Toddy cold brew and Hario brewer. The water is normally kept at room temperature, but chilled water can also be used.
The coffee grounds must be filtered out of the water after they have been steeped using a paper coffee filter or a fine metal sieve. This coffee naturally seems sweeter due to its lower acidity. The result is a coffee concentrate that is often diluted with water or milk, and can be served hot, over ice, or blended with ice and other ingredients such as chocolate.
Cold brew making at home has never been easier. This style of brew is super easy to whip up, you can choose if you're going to brew a 'ready to drink' batch or a cold brew 'concentrate'. The amazing part of cold brew coffee is now, with so many recipes out there, anyone can do it. People have even used french presses or mason jars to brew up a batch!
What is Cold Drip? Cold drip coffee is very similar to cold brew. However, instead of having the coffee submerged in water for 12-24 hours, water is passed through the coffee slowly usually over 3-5 hours.
Cold drip allows you to control the flow rate via the turn of a tap. This generally requires slightly more expensive water drip coffee makers like the Hario, Kalita, Tiamo or Yama range of Cold Drip Towers.
These brewers range in size from home units to commercial drip coffee makers. Flavour-wise, drip cold brew coffee tends to be a bit lighter and brighter than immersion cold brew coffee.
Make sure to pair your cold brew maker with one of our home coffee grinders or manual hand grinders for consistently delicious coffee! Some of our favourite home brew grinders are the Baratza and
Eureka automatic grinders. When it comes to our personal favourites from hand grinders look no further than the Comandante, Porlex and Timemore range!
What style of alternative brewing do you enjoy the most? We’ve got all your brewing styles down pat whether you prefer black coffee like an Aeropress, Syphon, Batch Brew, French press, Chemex, Pour Over, Moka Pot or something a little cooler like a Cold Brew / cold drip!
If you prefer more of a milk based beverage (absolutely) you might pair your Portable Coffee with a manual Milk Frother
from our range to get you that delicious creamy morning brew! Now of course we have everything you need to make your coffee experience the best it can be including, Coffee Scales
, Pour Over Stands, Filters
, Manual Grinders, Gooseneck Kettles, Coffee Servers and Cupping Tools and Coffee Cups if you’re into some taste testing! For our non- coffee drinkers we have a wide variety of Tea Gear which you’ll love! Happy brewing!
How do I make cold brew with my French Press?
- Add 50g of coarse ground coffee to the bottom of the brewing unit
- Pour approximately 500-600 ml of cold water over the grounds gently
- Gently stir to get out all of the grounds soaked.
- Allow the french press to sit for 8-12 hours at room temperature
- Press down on the plunger, and filter slowly
- The cold brew concentrate is ready, throw it into the fridge till cold.
- Serve in a mug or carafe and drink as is or with ice cubes
- Feel free to add some water to the concentrate if it’s too strong or add some of your favourite type of milk!
- Enjoy!
Is cold brew stronger than my normal 'cafe' coffee?
Due to the method of extraction, brew ratio and the duration of time the coffee grounds are immersed in water, cold brew creates a higher concentration of caffeine and therefore is stronger than your regular cappuccino.
How long do I need to leave my cold brew before it’s ready?
Cold brew is usually only ever left for 12-24 hours. Best served with ice and a dash of milk if you prefer!
What’s the difference between cold brew and cold drip?
Cold brew is coffee brewed using a cold coffee maker, water (room temperature or cold) and time - usually 12 hours or more. It is a simple process that typically delivers a 'lighter' coffee experience, perfect for those hot summer's days
Cold Drip coffee is exactly what it sounds like. Water drips over the coffee over time to deliver a coffee that is a little more complex and has increased control of the outcome when compared to cold brew - by controlling the flow rate you determine the level of extraction and time spent brewing. This flexibility means you can brew to your preferred taste!
