Is Cold Brew Stronger than Hot Brew Coffee?

If you’re not one of those people, who are die-hard fans of coffee or if you’re the type of coffee drinker who would settle for instant coffee, then you will be shocked to hear that the ice-cold coffee you see at many cafés can be made at home. If I were you, I’d be wondering about the flavour. You’re probably asking, is cold brew stronger than hot brew coffee?

Instead of giving you a direct answer, we’ll give you a complete one. For that, you need to know what cold brew coffee is, what the favourite brands are, where you can buy it, and how you can make your very own cup of cold brew coffee at home.

What Is Cold Brew Coffee?

Cold brew, as the name suggests, is the type of coffee that you use cold water to brew rather than the traditional hot water. Imagine yourself at home, in the park, or by the beach on a hot summer’s day. You want to have a cup of java, but drinking hot beverage when the sun’s rays are glaring down on you would be harsh just like pouring gasoline on a fire.

In the past, the only way to make a get a glass of cold coffee would be head to the nearest Starbucks or café; but the times have changed, Today buy a pack of cold brew coffee from your local market, prepare a pitcher and refrigerate overnight. The very next day, you’ll have a container of cold brewed coffee just waiting for you anytime you need it.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

Hot brewed coffee that you brew in a coffee maker takes less time when compared to preparing cold brew coffee. Cold brew takes a lot of time to be ready.

The first step would be to take the right amount of coffee from the bag. If you’ve purchased coffee beans, you’d need to grind those first. If you are bringing ground coffee, then get the exact amount, mix it well with water in a pitcher, set it aside at least for a night, then strain the container in the morning. You will have enough glasses of cold brew coffee that’s ready for you to enjoy.

What Are the Popular Cold Brew Coffee Brands

To ensure that you get the most out of your cold brew coffee, be sure to purchase coffee that is explicitly made for a cold brew. You can easily recognize these by checking to see if the packaging has “cold brew” indicated on it.

Cold brew coffee brands are readily available at a local store or a coffee shop, but you can also purchase it on the internet if you wish. Some of the favourite brands on the internet are:

• The Chosen Bean Cold Brew
• Tiny Footprint Coffee Organic Cold Brew
• Cold Brew Kitchen Artisan
• Cold Grind French (Dark Roast)

If you love the cold brew coffee of a particular brand, you can also buy these brands at their local outlets or on the internet as well.

What Roast is Best?

Another thing you’ll notice when you buy cold brew coffee is that some are labeled light, medium, or dark roast. If you have no experience in choosing the type of coffee, it may take some time to figure out what kind you prefer. Each model has a distinct flavour, and unfortunately, the only way to find out which type agrees with your taste buds is actually to try them all.

However, as a general guideline here’s what you can expect. First, here’s a brief explanation of what these types of coffee are.

Roasting is done until the coffee beans have reached a certain level of darkness. Light roast has a light brown colour to the coffee bean. Medium roast is neither dark brown nor light brown, and dark roast has an almost burnt appearance.

If you love the intense mean taste of coffee, it would be best to experiment with dark roast cold brew first. If you don’t like a mean cup of java but love it just the same but maybe on a lighter scale, then medium roast or light roast would be the best option s to begin your search.

You will also see combinations of light and dark roast. These types also have great flavours, so don’t forget to try them out.

While you are on the search for the best cold brew coffee that suits your tongue, keep in mind that there are dozens of brands and each brand has a different blend. You’ll need to be a bit patient until you reach the blend you like. However don’t worry, it won’t be too complicated. Rest assured that every brand went through strict quality control before it was introduced in the market. It means that the flavour won’t be too far from what you like, no matter what brand you choose to begin experimenting.

Other Important Points to Remember

The most important point you should remember is that coffee loses it’s essence quickly if you leave the package open. The coffee can also develop a bit of a sour taste if it has been standing around for too long.

When experimenting, make sure that you only test fresh coffee beans. If not, you could be missing out on great coffee just because it was on the market for too long before you picked it up.

Is Cold Brew Stronger: The Verdict

So, is cold brew stronger than hot brew coffee? As you can see, a lot of different factors will influence the answer. Generally, the darker the roast, the stronger the flavour. However, this can also change according to the freshness of the coffee, how the coffee was made, and some other factors as well. The amount of ice you put in the cold brew can also determine the strength of the flavour. A lot of ice will dilute your coffee, thus ending up with a weaker taste.

Instead of trying to figure out what type of brew would be stronger, we suggest that you first find out what kind of coffee you want for your cold brew. Don’t hesitate from experimenting different types of coffee and when you’ve found the exact brand and roast that suits your taste, it really won’t matter if the cold brew is or isn’t stronger than the hot brew. As long as you enjoy your cup of coffee for that particular time of day, you won’t have to worry about anything else.