What is cold brewed coffee?

Coffee is usually made by pouring hot water over coffee beans to extract their flavor quickly and easily. This is a reliable way to brew a great cup of coffee – when you are looking for a hot cup of joe. During the summer months, many of us turn to iced coffee for our coffee fix and you need to brew iced coffee a little differently. Since you’ll be adding ice to your coffee, which will dilute it, you need to brew the coffee stronger. It is tempting to simply let your grounds steep longer in hot water to produce a stronger brew – but this can draw out some acidic flavors in the coffee beans that you might not want in your finished product. When it comes to iced coffee, many turn to cold brewed coffee instead of the traditional hot brew method.

Cold brewed coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cool or cold water for an extended period of time – usually 12-24 hours. This slow brewing process draws out the flavor of the coffee beans without getting the mixture hot enough to pull out any overly acidic notes. The result is a strong and smooth cup of coffee that is already chilled and ready to be a refreshing drink on a hot day.