Cool Coffee
Warm coffee on a cold day is a no brainer, but cold or iced coffee on a hot day gets far more complicated. For those of you who've taken your favorite hot joe and attempted to ice or cool it down in disappointment, we know the feeling. You'd think adding a few ice cubes wouldn't change much but oh boy does it. Purchasing coffee especially brewed for cooling is key but there's a ton now on the market. Walk into any grocery store and you'll see a section dedicated to cold brew, iced coffee, nitro brew, etc.
The list is every growing, so what's the difference? We're gonna cover a few of the main cold /iced brew options to give coffee addicts a hand. You'll have a better idea which choice might be up your alley after we're done covering a few of the main choices out there. We can never not suggest trying all methods because life's too short to not drink all the coffee, right?
Cold Brew - Is process of steeping coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water for an extended period of time. Most likely overnight in your fridge or a brewers fridge for some time that amounts to hours (12-24ish). You'll see this commonly on the shelf in your grocery store pre-brewed and ready to pour, drink or add water then drink for your convenience. So why brew for hours? The type of coffee when your brewing it cold or room temperature has a lower acidity that tastes sweeter with an enhanced smoothness. This also takes out the bitter snap/taste you get if you take hot brewed coffee then ice it. It's for those who enjoy a cold sweet morning joe unsweetened. It's ideal in the summer when you're looking to wake up and cool down during your summer commute.
Tip: You can sweeten a cold brew to your taste, but we suggest taking sip before hand.
Nitro Brew - Cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas through a pressurized valve. So yes this is a lengthy process to fully produce a nitro brew coffee. It's first taken through the cold brew process of 12-24 hours of brewing then infused with the nitrogen gas. It's one of the most popular cold coffees on the customer market today. If you've had one you understand why though. The sweet smoothness of the cold brew is turned into a satin velvet texture when infused with the nitrogen that produces a frothy sweet should have milk in it but doesn't coffee.
Which if you've seen a stout poured at bar you'll notice the same look of cascade motion (Guiness
fans raise your hands) when a nitro brew coffee is poured. It then needs to settle and you now have a perfect mildly sweet sugar free/milk free coffee. Low in calories and perfect in taste it's easy to get hooked on this brew. If you're a science nerd we highly recommend giving nitro brew a google. It's a mad scientist's dream plus with the science behind putting a nitro brew in a can is fun. The rabbit hole of facts that will have friends or coworkers impressed with your knowledge this brew will be pretty cool. We won't go into more detail but highly suggest it. The science aspects of coffee brewing are astounding if you have time/curiosity.
Side Story: The first nitro brew we came across was in New Orleans at District Donuts before it was highly popular. If you're ever in the Big Easy it's the breakfast/brunch place not to be missed and has great hangover food for those taking notes. Their nitro brew is a thing of beauty. We mistaken people ordering stouts in the am (this is New Orleans). Then of course had to try one when we found out it was coffee. It was a decision we never regretted.
Iced Coffee - coffee brewed hot with added ice. We know it's kinda obvious, yet maybe not for some. Iced coffee is made the typical way of heating water, brewing the coffee then pouring it in a cup and adding ice. It's easy, fairly quick depending on how you make the coffee and cheaper than your cold brew. So why aren't more people on this trend still? The issue is putting ice cubes in hot coffee dilutes it big time. Which then the coffee tastes like it's been drowning in ice cubes, forgotten for a few hours and has a bitter meh taste. No one wants meh coffee, I repeat no one. Now enters the cold brew fans, with good reason. Iced coffees hey day isn't over yet my friends! The key really to taking a hot coffee and making it iced is the type of coffee. If you're a Nespresso owner you know they had a limited edition release each summer of a capsule just for icing. The brew is a low acidity, not bitter, frothier and smoother roast that can be iced. Coffee roasters are now seeing more home brewing then ever and including on the bag instructions to make your generic cup hot or if can also have it iced. Of course not all coffee is equal so you'll need to experiment to see how you're favorite brews turn out. Some are hits and others a misses. It just really depends on you. Another remedy is to make an extra pot of coffee and made ice cubes out of it so when they melt it doesn't water down your joe.
Tip: Latte's make amazing iced coffee if you're looking more for a milk based option cooled. Nine times out of ten you can get your favorite hot coffee iced. Just ask your barista, which in fact they might be able to assist and give you a suggestion on more cold coffee ideas for ordering or brewing at home.
Iced Americano - If you're rolling eyes going isn't this the same thing as iced coffee, please hold our joe. It's not. In fact it's far from iced coffee. The basics of an Americano generally is made with 1/2 water and 1/2 espresso. At times this ratio is askewed stateside with 2/3 water 1/3 espresso. This is due to how Americans prefer their coffee and find the 1/2 and 1/2 not to our taste buds. If you're a fan of espresso however and looking for a summer sip this is a terrific choice. The barista or you (if you're making this at home) makes an generic americano and then adds ice.
Iced Macchiato - Ah a simply coffee named something fancy. If you're lost going what is a macchiato let alone having ice in it, fear not. A macchiato is an espresso with a small amount of steamed milk in it. Macchiato in Italian means stained or spotted which is where this drink hails its name from. The espresso has been stained or marked with milk and the iced version well has iced added to it.
Iced Cappuccino - Ah yes the elusive cappuccino. As a coffee blogger my one of my confessions as I write this is, I hated cappuccinos for the longest time. Now before you click away or are done with me hear me out. Cappuccinos are an espresso with steamed milk (more than just a stain or mark like the macchiato, oh hey math ratios coming back to haunt us). So if you like coffee what's up with the cappuccino hate? Well, it's how you knead your milk. There's a sweet spot to steaming milk that's just steamed and kneaded right that completely changes the flavor of a cappuccino. Once you find a barista who has this magically gift of perfecting the milk, guard them at all costs. They'll whip up a mean cappuccino and add some ice cubes and you're summer will be so much sweeter each morning.
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