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Experts reveal secrets to crafting exceptional cold brew coffee, potentially leaving your favorite café in the dust

Interviewed top coffee artists at the world's elite roasteries for their preferred cold brew secrets and recommendations.

Expert advice on concocting exceptional cold brew coffee, potentially surpassing your favorite...
Expert advice on concocting exceptional cold brew coffee, potentially surpassing your favorite café's beverage

Experts reveal secrets to crafting exceptional cold brew coffee, potentially leaving your favorite café in the dust

In the world of coffee, cold brew has become a popular choice for many enthusiasts seeking a refreshing and smooth caffeine fix. Recently, CNN Underscored consulted four coffee experts at four leading roasters and one retailer for their insights on cold brew, and the results are nothing short of enlightening.

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water for an extended period, typically 12 to 24 hours. This method results in a sweeter, brighter, and more quenching beverage compared to iced coffee, which has a more tannic quality.

CNN Underscored's team of skilled writers and editors, with many years of experience testing, researching, and recommending products, ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. They recommend the Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot as their favourite cold brew coffee maker. Ted Stachura, the director of coffee at Equator Coffees, shares the same sentiment, praising the pot as elegant and easy to use.

Another recommended cold brew coffee maker is the Toddy Home Cold Brew System. Industry-leading speciality roasters, including Ted Stachura, the director of coffee at Equator Coffees, highly recommend this system. Henry T. Casey, an electronics writer and avowed cold brew enthusiast, prefers the Toddy Home Cold Brew System as his brewing method.

For those who prefer a stronger caffeine kick, cold brew concentrate is the way to go. However, the amount of caffeine can vary depending on the ratio of coffee to water used in the brewing process.

Cold brew isn't just limited to the Toddy Home Cold Brew System. Other methods include brewing hot coffee and letting it cool in the fridge, brewing strong coffee over ice with a pour-over device, pulling a shot of espresso and adding water for an iced Americano, making strong coffee with a Moka pot, adding instant coffee to a glass of cold water or milk, and brewing strong coffee using a French press or espresso machine and serving it over ice.

The Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is recommended by Maciej Kasperowicz, Trade Coffee's director of coffee, as a good burr grinder that will make any coffee better. The Greater Goods Digital Coffee Scale is recommended for cold brew and pour-over coffee brewing methods, with a built-in timer and easy-to-clean silicone cover.

For cold brew enthusiasts who take their coffee black, the Hario Cold Brew Coffee Wine Bottle is a recommended choice. ReAnimator Coffee's Keystone Blend is a favourite cold brew coffee bean among industry experts, known for its perfect just-a-hint-of-chocolate flavors. Stumptown Coffee Roasters Holler Mountain Blend is a versatile cold brew coffee bean blend sourced from Latin America, East Africa, and Indonesia. Verve Coffee Roasters Sermon Blend is a sweet and chocolaty cold brew coffee bean blend that also makes great espresso.

Lastly, the Brita 10-Cup Pitcher With Elite Filter is a water filter pitcher that offers a fair compromise between price, flavor, and contaminant reduction for pour-over coffee. The Oxo Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker is recommended by Brent Wolczynski, the director of product development and cold brew at Stumptown Coffee Roasters. The Espro P3 French Press can be used for cold brew, according to Trade Coffee's director of coffee Maciej Kasperowicz. Ball Wide Mouth Glass Mason Jars With Lids and Bands, 2-Pack can be used for steeping ground coffee to make cold brew without adding another gadget to a kitchen.

In conclusion, cold brew coffee offers a unique and refreshing experience for coffee lovers. With various methods and products recommended by industry experts, there's never been a better time to explore the world of cold brew coffee.

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