Priyanka Gupta
Coffee experts@Era of We
a year
What's the difference between cold brew and regular coffee?
Asharita D'Silva
Coffee experts@Era of We
a year
Hey Priyanka,
Cold brew is never heated during the brewing process- the ground coffee is brewed in room temperature or cold water, and then refrigerated. However, your usual coffee will be either brewed and served hot like a latte or cappuccino (or just plain black coffee) or it is brewed hot and then cooled down and served cold like an iced Americano.
Temperature plays a huge role in extraction so the temperature while brewing affects the strength, rate of extraction, and flavor. Since cold brew needs cold water, there’s no heat to act as a catalyst to extract compounds from the beans. For this reason, cold brew takes 16-24 hours to brew! The prolonged extraction period also makes cold brew more caffeinated and less acidic. Cold brew has a smooth taste which has made it very popular in recent years.
Which is better? I really couldn’t choose. Both cold brew and hot coffee have their own edge. Some days you want to chill with cold brew, and some days you need the warmth of a hot cup to brighten the day. Whichever you prefer, always go for specialty coffee and the fresher the better!
Chandra Melo
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
a year
Cold brew is more smooth tasting than regular coffee. It's because the heat of the brewing process is removed which changes how oils and fats are extracted.
Cold brew is more lightly saturated with caffeine than hot-brewed coffee - this makes it less addictive but also less of a stimulating drink to consume during daytime hours. Though, some people enjoy cold brew in the afternoon for an energy boost followed by a nap.
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