Ever wondered about the differences between cold brewed coffee vs iced coffee? It’s the brewing technique!
Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew coffee is a type of coffee brewed by steeping grounded coffee in cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours. This method of brewing uses no heat or pressure during the brewing process which may compromise the flavours of the coffee. This method of brewing results in lower acidity and bitterness in the coffee while bringing out the natural flavours associated with the type of coffee bean. Also, the absence of heat used in the brewing process reduces the rate of oxidation and enables the brewed coffee to stay fresh for 2-4 weeks. This smooth and sweet brew may be more expensive as more coffee beans are needed to bring out the same level of strength and intensity as coffee extracted using other conventional methods.
Iced Coffee
On the other hand, iced coffee is coffee brewed or extracted using hot water and/or pressure and poured over ice to cool. This type of coffee can be brewed or extracted in mere minutes and is best consumed within the same day. Less coffee beans may be needed in the brewing process to bring out the intensity and strength of the brew and may result in a cheaper option. This method of brewing results in more balanced flavours and a stronger aroma but at the same time it is also more prone to bitterness and acidity while the natural flavours of the coffee may also be lost.
It’s a matter of preference whether one prefers cold brew coffee or iced coffee more. However, there are more benefits to cold brew coffee as opposed to iced coffee, especially for people with a sensitive stomach. Read more here!
70% of the world’s coffee beans are Arabica beans from the Coffea Arabica plant and although it may be the same kind of beans, environmental factors like the quality/type of soil, climate, humidity and temperature will affect the tasting notes of the coffee produced.
Single Origin Beans
Single origin coffee beans are coffee beans derived from a single geographical region. It is generally a broad term and may mean a single country, single region, single farm, single producer or even single lot. What this really means is that as a consumer of the end product, what you are tasting is a solid cup of coffee that is unique because every bean used is from the same area derived from being cultivated under the same environmental conditions.
Single Origin Brazil Santos
For example, for our Brazil Santos brew, we use Arabica beans from Brazil, and more specifically the Santos region. This means all our beans are derived from the same region but may be from different farms or producers.
Single Origin Ethiopia Sidamo
Similarly, our Ethiopian Sidamo beans are also Arabica beans but are cultivated in the Sidamo region of Ethiopia. This means that these coffee beans are all derived from the Sidamo region but could be from different parts of Sidamo and different farms. A good example would be the popular Ethiopian Yirgachaffe beans that is a sub-part of the Sidamo region.
Because of the varying climate/environmental factors, these two types of beans will have different tasting notes with the Brazil one having a more nutty and chocolatey flavour while the Ethiopian more fruity and floral. The main draw to single origin beans is an opportunity to savour and appreciate the different tasting notes unique to each origin as a result of the environment it is cultivated in.
At Wake The Crew, we only use high quality single origin beans to produce our concentrates. Explore your favourite single origin cold brew coffee with us now!
Wondering what is the difference between capsule coffee and coffee concentrates? You’re not alone! Coffee concentrates can be pretty confusing to many, and we’re here to break down the differences of these 2 popular caffeine sources!