Ordering coffee from your favorite coffee shop should be a fun part of your daily routine. However, this may not be the case for everyone. With so much diversity in the types of coffee, it may be hard to establish the differences between them. What’s more, the coffee menu is full of all kinds of phrases and technical terms that can be difficult to understand.
If you have stumbled upon cold drip coffee, you may be wondering what it is. This article will answer the question “what is cold drip coffee”, and discuss everything you need to know about cold drip coffee. Let’s begin.
What is Cold Drip Coffee?
Cold drip coffee is simply coffee that’s been brewed using cold water. It’s also known as ice drip cold brew, cold brew drip coffee, or Dutch coffee. Cold drip coffee is a variant of cold brew coffee. If you love iced coffees and frappes, you definitely have come across cold drip and cold brew coffee. While both drinks are served cold, the similarities end there. We’ll explain the differences between these two coffees later in the article. Read on.
Cold drip coffee is made through the use of a cold drip apparatus, which is also known as a cold drip tower. A cold drip apparatus has three glass vessels or chambers that allow iced water to drip over some freshly ground coffee. The first glass vessel contains cold water that is drip controlled to slowly saturate the coffee grounds in the second glass vessel. Once the coffee grounds are saturated, they slowly start to drip coffee into the final glass vessel. The result is a darker and more intense coffee concentrate. Coffee obtained from the cold drip method is sweet and full-bodied.
Generally, a cold drip system allows you to experience intense aromas and unparalleled clarity of flavors. Also, the system reduces the risk of coffee bitterness due to over-extraction.
Depending on the desired amount of coffee you’re making and the size of the machine, cold drip coffee preparation takes between 3.5 to 12 hours. Usually, cold drip coffee is served over ice. The drink has a longer shelf life, unlike conventional coffee. When brewed at home, cold drip coffee has a shelf life of up to three weeks. On the other hand, when brewed professionally, a cold drip can will last for even up to six months. Let’s take a look at how to prepare cold drip coffee.
How to Prepare Cold Drip Coffee
To brew perfect cold drip coffee, you need the necessary equipment as well as ingredients. As mentioned earlier, cold drip coffee preparation involves the use of three glass vessels that allow ice-cold water to drip through a valve onto freshly ground coffee. The resulting liquid is collected in the third glass vessel. Generally, it’s easy to prepare cold drip coffee at home as long as you have the appropriate equipment and detailed instructions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to brewing cold drip coffee.
What you’ll need
- Cold drip brewer
- Coffee filters
- Water
- Coffee grinder
- Coffee beans
- Scale
Step-By-Step Guide
- Prepare your equipment by attaching the necessary filters (depending on your type of machine) to the bottom of the coffee grounds chamber or vessel. The filters will help keep coffee grinds from your coffee.
- Weigh 60 grams of your coffee beans for 500ml of water and grind them into a medium-fine consistency. Alternatively, you can buy pre-ground coffee. However, grinding your coffee beans when you’re preparing your brew will give you better results since the grounds are full of flavor.
- Gently tap your coffee chamber to even out the coffee grounds then place another filter on top of the grounds chamber. Lightly press the coffee filter all around the edge to create a slight dome so that the water will evenly saturate the coffee grounds. Place the coffee grounds chamber in position.
- Add 500ml of filtered cold water into the water chamber and set the drip rate to one drip per two to three seconds. You can also add some ice cubes if you want. The slow extraction process ensures a full body extraction. Your coffee will be ready once there’s no more water dripping from the water chamber. The brewing equipment can take approximately 4 to 6 hours to complete the brewing process.
- Once you’re done brewing, you can dilute the brew in a 1:2 ratio with either milk or water and some ice if the resulting brew is concentrated.
- Refrigerate the leftover cold drip coffee for up to two weeks since the drink has a longer shelf life.
Cold Drip Coffee Taste, Flavor, and Health Benefits
Cold drip coffee is an ideal drink for summer since it’s prepared and served cold. The preparation of cold drip coffee involves the extraction of oils and aromas from the coffee to create a new and great taste experience. Since there’s no heat involved in the preparation process, the brew has sweet and fruity aromas. The avoidance of heat also gives the brew its natural sweetness. Equally important, unwanted bitterness that’s caused by using hot water to brew coffee is also eliminated. Cold drip coffee is very aromatic and concentrated with a complex and intense taste. You can enjoy it in its concentrated form or dilute it with water or milk.
What’s more, cold drip coffee is more beneficial compared to coffee that’s prepared with hot water. This is due to the slow preparation of the brew that allows it to dissolve healthy nutrients and valuable coffee oils from the beans that would otherwise be destroyed by hot water.
Difference Between Cold Drip and Cold Brew Coffee
While cold drip and cold brew coffees are served cold, the similarities between these drinks end there. Basically, cold brew coffee is a lighter substitute for cold drip coffee. Here are some differences between the two beverages.
- Cold drip coffee preparation involves separating cold water from the coffee completely, while cold brew coffee preparation involves immersion of coffee with cold water
- Cold drip coffee has a much fuller and richer body compared to cold brew coffee
- Cold brew coffee has more floral notes compared to cold drip coffee
- Cold drip coffee takes less time to prepare compared to cold brew coffee
- Cold drip coffee uses fewer coffee grounds during preparation compared to cold brew coffee
Conclusion
Cold drip coffee is coffee that’s been brewed using cold water. This drink is ideal for summer since it’s prepared cold. Cold drip coffee is loved by many people for its syrupy, concentrated, and boozy flavor profile. You can consume the brew in its concentrated form or dilute it with milk or water. Also, you can serve cold drip coffee over ice. Cold drip coffee has a long shelf life of up to two weeks when refrigerated and stored in an airtight container.
