Cold Brew: everything you need to know to revolutionise your coffee break

What is Cold Brew?

Cold Brew is a cold-brewed coffee drink that is gaining more and more fans around the world.Unlike traditional cold coffee, Cold Brew is prepared by soaking the ground coffee beans in cold water for an extended period of time, usually 12 to 24 hours.This cold extraction process enhances the sweet and aromatic notes of the coffee while balancing the acidity.

Origins of Cold Brew

The origins of Cold Brew date back to 17th century Japan, where it was prepared as 'Kyoto-style Cold Brew coffee'.In the 1960s, Cold Brew became popular in America, thanks to Todd Simpson, a chemical engineer with a passion for good food, after whom the Toddy, the Cold Brew extraction tool, was named.

Differences between Cold Brew and iced coffee

Although Cold Brew and cold coffee may seem similar, there are important differences between the two preparations:

• Preparation process: Cold Brew requires a long extraction time and is brewed cold, whereas cold coffee is simply hot coffee chilled and served with ice;
• Taste: Cold Brew has a sweeter and more persistent taste than cold coffee, due to the long brewing time at a low temperature;
• Storage: Cold Brew can be stored in the refrigerator for several days without losing quality, making it a practical choice for those who like to always have a ready supply of coffee.

How to make Cold Brew at home

Preparing Cold Brew at home is simple and requires few ingredients.
Here are Caffè Corsini's tips on how to do it:

Ingredients:
Coarsely Caffè Corsini ground coffee and cold water.

Procedure:
Mix 1 cup of ground coffee with 4 cups of cold water in a container
Cover the container and let it steep in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
Filter the coffee using a fine-mesh filter or gauze.
Serve the Cold Brew over ice and, if desired, add milk or sweetener to taste.
You can store it in the refrigerator for no longer than 72 hours.

If you are a lover of coffee and its variants, you should also try Caffe Leccese, a delicious Italian speciality combining espresso, ice and almond milk.