5 Benefits of Cold Brew Coffee

At one stage briefly, I gave up regular coffee and opted to drink decaf instead, which I still drink occasionally in the late afternoon if I decide to have a second serving. I do this because it contains less caffeine, so when the late evening arrives , it doesn't cause sleep issues.

However, I've had a change of heart about caffeine and it's consumption. While anything can become habit forming, and this includes coffee, moderation is key.

So, I'm back at having my  regular caffeinated morning coffee (sorry, decaf) There is something to be said about enjoying a great cup of Joe, and I discovered a delicious way of preparing it which is cold brew!

I guess I'm late in the game, but apparently this way of preparing coffee has been trending a bit these days and I can see why. The process of making it can't be simpler and the taste is phenomenal for little effort.
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To make cold brew, you can use 3/4 cup of coffee to 4 cups of water. I used a nut bag which is used to make plant based milk. (I got mine at Amazon) In a nutshell, you place your bag inside of a large pitcher or glass jar, add your ground coffee and pour in the water. Place in your fridge for at least 12 hours. Then drain the brewed mixture into a jar to be stored for up to two weeks to be enjoyed. 

Now lets get to some of the positives of  trying this method of brewing.  Here are 5 benefits of of consuming and making your own cold brew coffee at  home.

1. Saves Money 
I don't need to tell you this, but I'll say it anyway. Making your own is going to save you LOTS of money in this area. Cold brew at fancy coffee shops, depending on the size can run you the price of almost a latte or cappuccino. Expect to pay between $3-4 dollars, depending on where you live. This money can be allocated to making your own tasty brew at home specific to your taste! Matter of fact, I made my first batch using a very inexpensive espresso brand from Puerto Rico called "Cafe Rico Rico" I got from a local Latin supermarket in my area for only $1.67 ! If you can get your hands on this coffee or another Latin coffee of choice I'm sure it will work well too. ​

.2.  Smoother Taste-Less Acidity

When I made my first batch of cold brew, this is the first thing I noticed. It had a prominent, smooth ,coffee taste without the sharp bitterness that comes with traditional brewing.  This coffee has these great qualities because of how cold water slowly extracts with the ground beans.  With the usual process of making coffee, hot water can make a cup of coffee have more bitterness and become more acidic.

3. You Consume Less Caffeine

Yes, that is correct! This is what is so cool about the cold brew technique. Because you are using cold water instead of hot, less caffeine is extracted during this process. (Note, this will depend on what type of coffee you use.)  You can also determine the amount, by how much water you add to the concentrate.

4. Coffee can be Healthy in Moderation
We know coffee because it has caffeine can give us an energy boost to get us going. That is why its the beverage of choice for us early risers. According to an article at Healthline, it has many healthy benefits of essential nutrients and antioxidants.

5. Creative Use-Convenient

Cold brew can be stored in glass jars for up to two weeks.  For those who love a delicious cup of coffee, but don't like to wait, cold brew may be the answer.

Also, cold brew can be enjoyed hot, instead of cold, making it super convenient by just warming it up and drinking black or with creamer of your choice. Basically, because its concentrated, you only need to use a third of a regular cup and dilute the rest  with water as needed to make an awesome cup.

I recently made a collagen coffee protein shake using cold brew. Absolutely delicious! Try pouring a little cold brew into your next chili recipe for a bold taste or any other culinary use where you want a prominent coffee taste.

As you can see, consuming coffee can be part of a healthy lifestyle, and if you use the method of cold brewing, it makes it even more convenient, but still offers you great taste more so than hot brewed coffee. I'm sure you will enjoy!

Eat Good! Look Good! Feel Good!
Chef Vanessa