As temperatures heat up, coffee lovers may crave a cool and refreshing pick-me-up. There are several delightful ways to enjoy your favorite Kona coffee from Hawaii during the hot summer months. From Iced Coffee to Cold Brew and Nitro, this cold coffee guide for summer days gives you expert tips and recipes to take the cold coffee plunge.
1. Iced Coffee
Iced coffee is a classic summer beverage that never fails to satisfy. It's also incredibly easy to make right on the spot. Brew a strong batch of coffee. Use less water (about 2/3) than you use for your hot brew. Let it cool. Fill a glass with ice, and pour the coffee over the ice. The ice contributes to the final 1/3 of water. Add your preferred sweeteners and cream. Give it a good stir, and voila! You have a refreshing glass of Iced Coffee to enjoy on a hot day.
2. Cold Brew Concentrate
Cold brew is a method of brewing coffee using cold water over an extended period, typically 12-24 hours. This process results in a smooth, less acidic coffee concentrate that can be diluted with water or milk. Though cold brew takes a bit more effort and pre-planning, it too makes an excellent summer coffee option.
A few tips:
- Use a coarse grind similar to that of breadcrumbs. This allows for optimal extraction without over-extracting, which can result in a bitter taste.
- For a well-balanced cold brew, the ideal coffee to water ratio is 1:4. This means for every 1 part of coffee, you should use 4 parts of water. Adjust the ratio based on your taste preferences, but remember that a higher ratio will result in a stronger concentrate.
- Cold brew requires time to extract the flavors from the coffee beans. Be patient and let the coffee steep in the water for at least 12 hours, preferably up to 24 hours for a full-bodied flavor profile.
- After the steeping process is complete, use a strainer to filter out the coffee grounds to prevent over-extraction.
- When serving, dilute the concentrate with water, milk, or your favorite dairy-free alternative to achieve your desired strength and flavor.
- For ready-to-drink cold brew, use a coffee-to-water ratio of approximately 1:15, let it steep for 12 to 24 hours, and refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
One nice benefit of cold brew is that once you've made the effort to make a batch, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Check out this short tutorial showing you how to make ready-to-drink cold brew:
3. Nitro Cold Brew
Unlike the other cold coffees, nitro cold brew is best served without ice since the melting ice would dilute the drink, negatively impacting its delicate balance.
No matter what cold coffee you prefer, follow these guidelines for the best-tasting results:
- Use high-quality, freshly roasted coffee beans. Dark roasts make a good choice for cold coffees. They have a stronger, more pronounced flavor profile that is less likely to be lost when diluted with ice.
- Grind your beans fresh, right before brewing. Using a coarse grind and strong brew will result in the most robust flavor.
- Play with the coffee-to-water ratio until you find the right strength for your palate.
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Use coffee iced cubes to avoid overly diluted iced coffee.
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