Why Cold Brew Coffee Is Better Than Iced Coffee (and How to Make It)

Cold brew coffee is not the same as iced coffee. When you order an iced coffee from your coffee shop, they pour you a prepared coffee that has be heavily sugared and creamed, and has been sitting in the fridge. Then the add ice, give it a quick stir and you’re on your way.

Mmm, cream and sugar – a great way to crash right before lunchtime. Why waste your time with a coffee that is just not good for you? It may taste good, but I can assure you this is just your body’s response to fattening cream and blood-harming refined sugar.

That’s Cold, Coffee

Cold brew coffee, or cold pressed coffee, is a different method of preparing coffee – not just adding ice and sugar. Cold brew uses a different extraction method, using cold filtered water, medium-coarse ground coffee and a longer steep time. It may sound more difficult, but it’s actually quite easy.

You should be able to find all the necessary equipment at home. You don’t need anything fancy to prepare cold brew coffee, just a little extra time. This preparation method comes from my favorite brand of coffee – Kicking Horse Coffee, so everything will be using their product. Use whichever brand is your favorite.

You Cold, Brew?

You will need:

Coarse ground coffee
Mason jar (or sealable jar)
Filter – fine mesh or colander, cheesecloth, nylon stockings, old t-shirt. You can use almost anything. Some filtration methods are better than others.

Kicking Horse Coffee recommends a 3-1 water-to-coffee ratio. 3 cups of cold filtered water to 1 cup of medium coarsely ground coffee. Kicking Horse recommends Z-Wrangler.

A coarse grind eases the filtration processes and makes a less bitter coffee. Too-fine a grind will heat the grounds which negatively affects your cold brew coffee. Stir the grinds into the water to make sure they’re fully saturated. Put a lid on your jar and stick it in the fridge for 12-14 hours.

Don’t filter too soon. Why? Because we’re using time instead of hot water to extract the flavor. Filtering too soon will give you a weak cup of Joe, and that’s not what you’re looking for. Despite what some may think a cold brew coffee has just as much caffeine as a regular coffee – as long as you let it extract for longer enough.

Cold Filtered

Cold brew coffee uses more coffee than conventional methods, so we tend to see more caffeine. But the filtration method is what’s important. And not just the length of filtration, but the method as well.

Kicking Horse Coffee says the best filtration device is a homemade tea bag. Tie up the coarse ground coffee in a paper filter then place it in a nut bag, the kind used for making almond milk at home. Put this into your mason jar and into the fridge for 12-14 hours. This will give you a very clean, bright tasting cup of cold brew coffee.

Cold French Press

Another option is to make cold brew coffee with a French press. Prepare the coffee the same way you normally do in the French press, but use cold water instead of boiling water. Get rid of the plunger for now. Place in the fridge for 12-14 hours, making sure it is well-covered so it doesn’t adopt any other aromas. After 12-14 hours, plunge the French press as you would normally.

So Why is Cold Press Better?

First, it’s less acidic. This makes cold press coffee seem sweeter. The extraction process is far more selective because it takes so much longer. The flavor’s extracted, but the bitter compounds are left behind. The hot water extracts, but it also cooks as it extracts causing a change in the chemical structure.

In cold brew coffee, the chemical structure doesn’t change, since you’re never “cooking it”. As long as it’s covered (so it doesn’t take on any funky fridge flavors) your cold brew can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

For a real smooth, bright cup of cold morning Joe, you’ve just got to cold brew it yourself. Coffee is a great morning pick me up, but don’t let the heat get to you. And if the heat is getting to you, your skin, or straight to your brain, don’t worry – coffee helps.