Cold Brew is essentially coarsely ground coffee and cold water left to steep for an extended period of time. This gentle brewing style and use of cold water leads to a coffee that is super sweet, smooth and with a balanced acidity.
Cold Brew coffee is loved for both its simplicity and for its cup profile.
Essentially, Cold Brew is simply ground coffee and cold water left to steep for an extended period of time; because cold water is used, the coffee must brew for hours to achieve the desired result. The gentle way it is brewed leads to a coffee that is super sweet, smooth and with a balanced acidity. It is also very stable and can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Cold Brew is generally brewed as a concentrate that can be diluted with either cold water, ice and/or milk for serving.
A range of equipment can be used to brew cold brew - all you really need is a sturdy container big enough to hold the coffee and water, and some means of filtering the brew at the end. We prefer to use the Toddy Cold Brew System, which keeps everything neat and features a double filter process that ensures a clean, crisp brew.
Because of the extended contact time, a coarse grind is best for cold brew. As always, we recommend grinding fresh for each brew, however you can use preground coffee too.
Coffee roasted either for filter or for espresso can be used. For a bright, fruity brew to drink black, we recommend using a filter roast. For a bolder brew, and for those adding milk, coffee roasted for espresso is best!
See our easy-to-follow guide below for more hints and tips on how to brew stovetop coffee, and if you have any unanswered questions, see our FAQ.
How Long? 12-24 hours
How Much? $69.95 for a 2L Toddy
What You'll Need: 2L Toddy including felt filter, rubber stopper and carafe, Toddy filter paper, scales, 320g coffee, 2L filtered water
Master brewing Cold Brew by following our easy steps below!
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Here are the most common questions we receive regarding Cold Brew Coffee. If you have any more questions, please get in contact!
Cold brew is generally brewed as a concentrate, with a comparatively small brew ratio over a long period of time. As a straight beverage it is stronger, although people usually drink it diluted with either water or milk.
You can use either filter roast or espresso roast coffee, depending on your preferences. An espresso roast will result in a bolder flavour and bigger body, with lower acidity so it’s suited to the addition of milk. Filter roast coffee will result in a lighter body, with higher acidity, suited to be enjoyed black.
We suggest starting with a brew ratio of about 1 part coffee to 6 parts water. You can adjust it from there based on your taste preferences.
We suggest enjoying everything in moderation! In some ways, black coffee can be considered healthier than drinks with added dairy or alternative milks. It is also claimed that coffee filtered through paper is healthier as the filter reduces the amount of cafestol in the final beverage. Cafestol is an oil in coffee that is claimed to raise cholesterol in high doses. If you’re concerned, we suggest speaking to a medical professional!
Pros: sweeter with less acidity, no specialised equipment required, stable and can be kept for a couple of weeks, concentrate, so you get a lot of serves, Cons: takes a long time to brew
Typically, iced coffee is made with hot brewed espresso that is served over ice with the addition of milk, and perhaps cream or icecream. Cold Brew is brewed cold, and is most often served black, although with the right coffee choice, it can be suited to serving with a dash of milk.
If your cold brew tastes bitter, check to ensure you’re using a very coarse grind. Because the brew time is so long, using a fine grind can cause the resulting brew to taste bitter. You could also reduce your brew time, or try using a lighter roast.
Cold brew is a full immersion method, meaning it will contain coffee particles and will need to be filtered. If you have filtered the cold brew and it still contains sediment, try using a finer filter.
The flavour of cold brew can actually develop nicely over a few days, but we recommend drinking cold brew within two weeks of brewing. Ensure your equipment is clean, including storage and your cold brew should last a couple of weeks. We recommend brewing smaller amounts more regularly to keep the coffee fresh.
Padre Coffee acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continued connections to land, sea and community.
We pay our respect to Elders past, present and future, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
