Cold Brew Coffee
No, cold brew does not mean you pour hot coffee over ice, which is exactly what most Americans believe it to be.
So, what then, is cold brew? What is the history of cold brew coffee?
We will answer those questions in this article by Madres Espresso, serving the Olympia area with our flagship coffee stand on Cooper Point Road, on the west side, and our newest coffee stand, on Pacific Avenue, on the east side. Two locations, same dedication to friendly service and great beverages.
What is cold brew coffee?
Cold brew coffee is a method of brewing coffee that uses cold or room temperature water over an extended period, typically 12 to 24 hours. Unlike traditional hot brewing methods like drip coffee, cold brew doesn’t involve heat during the extraction process. Instead, it relies on time to slowly extract the flavors from coarsely ground coffee beans.
One key characteristic of cold brew is its smooth and less acidic taste, making it an appealing option for those who find traditional coffee too bitter. The slow extraction process also brings out different flavor profiles, often highlighting the coffee’s natural sweetness.
History of cold brew coffee.
Cold brew dates back to the 1600s. The Japanese had already been cold brewing tea when Dutch trading ships introduced the beverage as a way to transport and make coffee that did not require “dangerous fire.” Today, Japanese or Kyoto-style coffee is made by letting water slowly, drop by drop, drip over coffee grounds in glass apertures suspended as a tower.
It is unclear how the brew evolved from cold-steeping to drip, but experts have speculated that it came about after people realized that slower brewing helps extract more flavor. Kyoto-style drip coffee is heralded as one of the most artistic brewing processes in the industry and takes up to 24 hours to produce a single batch.
After the Dutch introduced their cold brew coffee to the Japanese, the Kyoto-style cold brew coffee was invented. Then, in the 1840s, the Mazargan, an iced coffee made with lemon, became a popular drink to combat the desert heat. By the 1930s, Cuba reinvented the cold brew process and iced coffee began gaining popularity across the US. Then, in 1960, a man named Todd Simpson invented the Toddy Brewing System after taking a trip to Peru and being introduced to cold brew coffee. However, it wasn’t until the 90s that coffee shops in America adopted this method and began making coffee concentrate for their blended drinks.
In the 2000s, cold brew was adopted by innovative coffee shops like Blue Bottle and their New Orleans style iced coffee, along with Stumptown Coffee Roasters with their nitro cold brew.
A decade later, big coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts picked up on cold brew, making it more accessible to the general public. This is when cold brew coffee’s popularity finally skyrocketed after its long journey.
A final word about Madres Espresso
Madres Espresso is locally owned and operated, and we like to think that shows in our customer service. We are, after all, neighbors with our customers, and neighbors should always be especially friendly with other neighbors, right? Stop by, say hi to your favorite barista, or stop for the first time, and find out what all the fuss is about. Madres Espresso really is a great coffee experience.
