How To Brew Perfect, Flavorful Cold Brew Decaf

Key Points:

• Cold brew decaf is a great way to enjoy a refreshing coffee routine at any time of day (and in any season!)

• It’s easy to make at home using a cold brew device such as Toddy, or even a regular pitcher with a fine filter

• Once brewed, cold brew makes a concentrate you can keep in the fridge for up to an hour, ready to serve and enjoy at any time!

 

For the Love of Cold Brew

Is your cold brew habit at an all-time high? You’re not alone! The continued popularity of cold and iced coffee drinks speaks to the versatility of coffee as a delicious beverage for both comfort and refreshment. And—as with any other kind of coffee—when it’s enjoyed with decaffeinated Swiss Water® coffee, those hours of enjoyment can stretch to any time of the day.

While we here at Swiss Water love going out for an iced decaf latte or Americano, we also love having decaf cold brew on hand for cool coffee refreshment throughout the afternoon. Our Cupping Lab Manager Stacey Lynden was kind enough to share her favorite recipe for brewing smooth, flavorful decaf cold brew at home. Stacey uses a Toddy, a classic cold brew device that makes brew and cleanup easy. “I like it because it’s so easy to use,” says Stacey, who adds that its key advantages are flavor. “The filter bag gives the brew a clean cup, and the brewing process highlights the coffee’s acidity and brightness while also preserving any fruity flavors which can sometimes be muted in traditional cold brew methods.”

If you don’t have a Toddy, Stacey’s recipe can still be easily adapted for other containers so long as you have a good-sized pitcher and the ability to filter out coffee grounds, such as a cold brew bag or a nut mik sack. 

Here’s how Stacey does it at home.

Ingredients:

175g coarsely ground coffee (Stacey likes Swiss Water’s fruity Rwanda Nyamasheke Muhororo Natural)
1000g water

 

Brewing steps:

 

1.  Place the filter bag into the brewing container (if you don’t have a Toddy, you can use a plastic jug).
2. Hot Bloom – add 275g of water at 94°C over about 45 seconds, give a gentle stir to make sure there are no dry clumps (The hot bloom is going to help bring out the coffee’s fruity flavors, and give the cold brew a nice crisp acidity).
3. Add 725g cold water. Using cold water is going to stop the hot extraction and lock in those fruit flavors. (Stacey uses the water from her filtered water pitcher in the fridge)
4. Twist and close the bag so the grinds don’t get out
5. Steep at room temperature for 12 hours (Stacey recommends not going above 18 hours, or flavors will become muted.)
6. Drain into Toddy the decanter. (if using a plastic jug, remove coffee bag and pour concentrate into a bottle or serving vessel)

 

For serving:

Dilute as desired.

 

For regular iced coffee, Stacey likes 1 part concentrate: 2 parts water in a cup with lots of ice.

(If you aren’t using ice (or less ice) 1:3 can be a nice ratio.)

 

For an iced latte, use 1 part concentrate: 2 parts milk over ice.

 

For something sparkly, use 1 part concentrate: 3 parts sparkling water. Adding a couple drops of lime bitters, 15ml of simple syrup, and squeeze of grapefruit is really nice and refreshing!

 

The Takeaway

Whether this puts you on your way to a whole new decaf cold brew routine or if we’ve simply inspired you to head to the café for your daily decaf iced treat, cold brew Swiss Water® decaf can be a refreshing addition to your summer—and every season of the year!