If you are new to the world of coffee, one of the first things you need to know about is the difference between cold and hot brew. This will help you cultivate your own taste and decide which type of coffee works best for you.
Cold Brew
Cold brew coffee is essentially made by soaking coffee in water for a few hours at a cold or room temperature. Since this process is slow and occurs at a low temperature, the coffee ends up tasting very different compared to if you were hot brewing the same coffee.
Cold brew coffee is often made as a concentrate which is then diluted and watered down with a 1:8 concentrate to water ratio. Some people might even enjoy stronger brewing ratios if they like really intense coffee.
Hot Brew
Hot brew coffee is brewed using hot water. This major difference in brewing techniques means that it has a distinct taste and smell. Hot brew also tends to be more acidic, bitter and sharp in taste compared to cold brew.
Now that you understand the difference between the two, let’s compare them on a few different metrics!
Strength
Cold-brew is technically stronger than regularly brewed coffee since it has a long-brewing process. However, it is known to be easy on your stomach. Cold brews are also known to contain crude polysaccharides which are sugar molecules that boost your immunity. Cold-brew also helps calm and reduce gut irritation, which is a problem people often experience due to hot brew.
Acidity
In terms of acidity, cold brew coffee is more alkaline while hot brew tends to be more acidic. Hot brew coffee is also not a good option for people who have acid reflux and heartburn.
Bitterness
Cold brew coffee is also less bitter and much more smooth. This is a result of the brewing process since it is able to extract the best flavours from the coffee and leaves bitterness and acidity in the grounds. This also makes it easier to consume black cold brew coffee. Hot cold brew coffee tends to be much more bitter and acidic so you may find yourself wanting to add milk and sugar!
Versatility
Cold-brew coffee also wins in terms of versatility! The best part is that you can brew coffee using the cold brew method and then heat it up to enjoy hot coffee! Cold brews also serve as a great base for delicious coffee drinks such as iced lattes, espresso martinis, and Frappuccino's. You can also cold brew coffee in bulk and refrigerate it and use it later.
Conclusion
As you made your way through this article, you may have noticed that cold brew wins on most fronts. It is stronger, easier on your stomach, less acidic and bitter, and much more versatile! However, when it comes to coffee, a lot of it depends on personal taste. So we would encourage you to try both cold and hot brewed coffee so you can decide which one you prefer!