In a professional way.. This is how you prepare cold coffee at home Lifestyle

The world loves hot and cold coffee of all kinds, which has become widespread in thousands of modern cafes equipped with advanced technology for roasting, preparing and serving coffee.

But there is “something special about a cup of strong, creamy cold brew coffee, the richest, most delicious drink for hot summer days”; As Melissa Kravitz Hoffner, writer and recipe developer for the New York Times, says. It is refreshing, rich in caffeine, and less acidic than hot coffee. Some flavors can also be added, such as vanilla syrup, and it is easy to prepare concentrate in large quantities and store it in the refrigerator “to be ready at any time.”

Because cold coffee is often more expensive than hot coffee when purchased outside the home, Melissa recommends preparing it at home, as a great way to get better-tasting coffee.

The difference between iced coffee and cold coffee

• iced coffee: It is regular hot coffee, cooled and served with ice. As it cools, “the bitter and sour flavors of the coffee become more prominent.” It requires strong, concentrated coffee to prepare, “which makes it taste great when you add ice and cream,” says Ree Drummond, founder of the blog “The Pioneer Woman.”
• Cold coffee: It is prepared by soaking ground coffee beans in cold water for up to a full day, to obtain a coffee concentrate that is diluted with water or milk. Without using heat. It is characterized by “a sweeter and milder flavour, thanks to the role of cold water in gently and slowly developing the flavor of the coffee beans.” According to the Food Network website.

Ingredients needed to prepare cold coffee

Certified coffee expert Samantha Rounds says the key ingredients to making your favorite cold brew coffee at home are simply: “a lot of coffee, water and time”; To prepare a liter and a half of cold coffee, we will need:

• A large jug, or a glass bowl with a capacity of one and a half liters, in addition to a tight-fitting lid.
• Half a kilogram of coffee beans, provided that they are coffee beans Coarsely ground.
• 3 cups of water for every three-quarters of a cup of coffee. Jessica Easto, author of the best-selling book “How to Taste Coffee” in 2017, advises against using distilled water, because it is devoid of minerals. Tap water is best for preparing cold coffee, “due to its richness in minerals that help extract the flavor of the coffee.”
• For flavours, Easto advises, choose “a combination of dark and warm flavours, such as chocolate Or cinnamon or nuts.”

A simple way to prepare cold coffee at home

To help make the best cold brew coffee at home, Samantha Rounds recommends the following:

1. Ensure that the water is kept cold throughout the preparation process, for “less acidic and richer coffee.”
2. Mix half the amount of coffee with 6 cups of cold water in a large jug or glass bowl, for 5 minutes.
3. Add the remaining amount of coffee and 3 cups of cold water, cover the jug and leave the coffee to steep at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours, or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. To enjoy more flavour. Make sure not to soak it for more than 24 hours, “so that it does not become bitter,” according to Ray Drummond.
4. Use a coffee filter and funnel or mesh strainer to filter the cold coffee into a new bowl, then cool it and serve it with ice, after diluting it with water or milk as desired.
5. This amount of cold coffee can be enjoyed within 3 days, for “best taste.”

General tips for preparing cold and iced coffee

• To prepare a smaller amount of cold coffee, the amount of coffee and water is reduced by half; While maintaining the same soaking time.
• “Concentrated cold coffee” can be prepared at home, by preparing a very concentrated solution of coffee, ready to be diluted with water or milk when you want to drink it. (Jessica Eastoe recommends using a ratio of 1 part coffee to 6 parts water.)
• If you frequently make iced coffee, Melissa Hoffner recommends making ice cubes from leftover coffee and using them to quickly cool your hot coffee. This method will not dilute your coffee, but rather “adds additional coffee flavor.”
• If you are busy and do not have enough time and need a dose of activity in the afternoon; “The easiest and quickest way to make iced coffee,” Melissa Hoffner suggests, is to brew hot coffee, let it cool a little, then pour it directly over ice; Note that “the more ice, the more diluted your drink will be.”

Common mistakes in preparing cold and iced coffee

According to the Martha Stewart website, there are common mistakes when preparing cold coffee that may affect the flavor, such as:

• Grind the coffee very finelyCoarse grinding is “essential” for preparing perfect cold coffee, while grinding too fine may lead to “bitterness and a thick consistency.”
• Use old pills“The higher quality the coffee beans used, the better the result,” says Melissa Hoffner, stressing that using freshly roasted coffee beans gives a better taste. In contrast, using pre-ground or old coffee beans may result in “dull or unpalatable flavour.”
• Dilute concentrated cold coffeeVery concentrated cold coffee is not suitable for drinking directly. It is better to dilute it with water or milk.
• Poor storageLeaving cold coffee at room temperature spoils its taste, and it is best to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to enjoy it better.
• Pour very hot coffee directly over ice“You might think that you can simply pour boiling coffee into a cup full of ice, but as soon as the hot coffee touches the ice, it will melt and dilute the overall flavor of the coffee,” says Ree Drummond.