I remember the first time that I tried cold brew coffee - WOW - a slurp of ripened fruit, milk chocolate and thick honey. It really surprised me at the time. Cold brew coffee is very different to hot coffee that has been cooled because the chemistry of cold extraction is different. The most obvious difference is the low acidity of cold brew coffee due to the absence of quinic acid.

Although I love espresso from my Italian coffee machine, I also enjoy cold brew occasionally. I drip slowly overnight at around 1 drip per second. In the morning I pour the cold concentrate into a flask and then I store it in the fridge. It’s a very nice drink for a summer.

I’m also a big fan of an espresso poured over ice. Try it for yourself. Pour an espresso over ice and try a fruity, chocolatey brew with a milky taste. Milky without milk. I don’t know how this happens but it does. This is a drink that I really enjoy on a hot day.

Of course, you can add cold water for a iced long black or you can add cold milk for an iced latté. All are pretty excellent and well worth a try.

Cold Brew Coffee