The Allure of Cold Brew: Where Patience Brews Perfection

From cafes experimenting with flavour combinations to home brewers seeking a smoother alternative, the appeal of cold brew quickly spread beyond borders.

World of Coffee
The Allure of Cold Brew: Where Patience Brews Perfection

Many of us think of hot coffee as the default brew of choice, but did you know coffee’s been enjoyed cold for at least four centuries?

Early whispers of cold-steeping techniques can be traced to tea ceremonies in Japan, where patience yielded refreshingly cool beverages. Dutch sailors in the 17th century are credited with bringing similar practices to Asia, using “Dutch coffee” – cold-brewed concentrates – for ease of transport on long voyages. Fast forward to 20th century Japan, and the Kyoto-style cold brew emerged, its slow drip method creating a particularly smooth and elegant brew.

This foundation of tradition set the stage for cold brew's global rise. From cafes experimenting with flavour combinations to home brewers seeking a smoother alternative, the appeal of cold brew quickly spread beyond borders.

The Art of Patience

Unlike iced coffee, cold brew champions the art of patience. It's a testament to the adage, “good things come to those who wait.” Its slow extraction process involves steeping coarsely ground beans in cold or room-temperature water for 12 to 24hours.

 

This gentle process, devoid of heat, yields a distinct flavor profile. It’s smoother and less acidic compared to its hot-brewed counterpart – all without sacrificing rich coffee flavor. Common notes include hints of mild chocolate and mellow, low-acidity fruits – a departure from the bold, sometimes bitter notes of traditional hot coffee.

A Dash of Something Special

At The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, our cold brew coffee is crafted with the finest ingredients, starting with specialty grade Arabica coffee sourced from the misty highlands of Ethiopia and fertile slopes of Bali.

 

This unique blend of Balinese and Ethiopian beans offers a complex flavor profile with notes of dark chocolate and toffee, balanced by hints of citrus and spice.

 

The premium beans are coarsely ground and steeped for 20 hours in 25°C room-temperature water. This slow, deliberate process allows the beans to release their rich flavors without introducing bitterness or acidity.

 

A unique twist sets our cold brew apart: roasted chicory root. This addition contributes a subtle, bittersweet nuttiness, paying homage to the famous coffee blends of New Orleans, themselves inspired by French coffee traditions.

 

While our cold brew is undeniably delicious on its own, it also serves as a versatile base for further flavor exploration. Take for example, our Caramel Cold Brew Latte where our signature cold brew coffee is perfectly balanced with our all-time favourite caramel sauce and a splash of whole milk for a sweet, creamy, and delicious experience.

Equally delightful is our Vanilla Bean Cold Brew Latte where our cold brew coffee is blended with milk and vanilla bean sauce, resulting in a refreshing and flavourful cup that goes down smoothly.  

So next time you reach for a cold brew, take a moment to appreciate itsrich history – a nod to our enduring thirst for a cool and refreshing coffeeexperience, dating back centuries.

Many of us think of hot coffee as the default brew of choice, but did you know coffee’s been enjoyed cold for at least four centuries?

Early whispers of cold-steeping techniques can be traced to tea ceremonies in Japan, where patience yielded refreshingly cool beverages. Dutch sailors in the 17th century are credited with bringing similar practices to Asia, using “Dutch coffee” – cold-brewed concentrates – for ease of transport on long voyages. Fast forward to 20th century Japan, and the Kyoto-style cold brew emerged, its slow drip method creating a particularly smooth and elegant brew.

This foundation of tradition set the stage for cold brew's global rise. From cafes experimenting with flavour combinations to home brewers seeking a smoother alternative, the appeal of cold brew quickly spread beyond borders.

The Art of Patience

Unlike iced coffee, cold brew champions the art of patience. It's a testament to the adage, “good things come to those who wait.” Its slow extraction process involves steeping coarsely ground beans in cold or room-temperature water for 12 to 24hours.

 

This gentle process, devoid of heat, yields a distinct flavor profile. It’s smoother and less acidic compared to its hot-brewed counterpart – all without sacrificing rich coffee flavor. Common notes include hints of mild chocolate and mellow, low-acidity fruits – a departure from the bold, sometimes bitter notes of traditional hot coffee.

A Dash of Something Special

At The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, our cold brew coffee is crafted with the finest ingredients, starting with specialty grade Arabica coffee sourced from the misty highlands of Ethiopia and fertile slopes of Bali.

 

This unique blend of Balinese and Ethiopian beans offers a complex flavor profile with notes of dark chocolate and toffee, balanced by hints of citrus and spice.

 

The premium beans are coarsely ground and steeped for 20 hours in 25°C room-temperature water. This slow, deliberate process allows the beans to release their rich flavors without introducing bitterness or acidity.

 

A unique twist sets our cold brew apart: roasted chicory root. This addition contributes a subtle, bittersweet nuttiness, paying homage to the famous coffee blends of New Orleans, themselves inspired by French coffee traditions.

 

While our cold brew is undeniably delicious on its own, it also serves as a versatile base for further flavor exploration. Take for example, our Caramel Cold Brew Latte where our signature cold brew coffee is perfectly balanced with our all-time favourite caramel sauce and a splash of whole milk for a sweet, creamy, and delicious experience.

Equally delightful is our Vanilla Bean Cold Brew Latte where our cold brew coffee is blended with milk and vanilla bean sauce, resulting in a refreshing and flavourful cup that goes down smoothly.  

So next time you reach for a cold brew, take a moment to appreciate itsrich history – a nod to our enduring thirst for a cool and refreshing coffeeexperience, dating back centuries.

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The Allure of Cold Brew: Where Patience Brews Perfection
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The Allure of Cold Brew: Where Patience Brews Perfection

From cafes experimenting with flavour combinations to home brewers seeking a smoother alternative, the appeal of cold brew quickly spread beyond borders.

Eric Switter

Chief Marketing Officer

With a passion for transforming businesses, growing brands and building winning teams and close to 30 years of extensive experience in the food service industry in both company-owned and franchised environments, Sanjiv is responsible for driving business growth for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the Americas and India.

He was formerly Chief Operations Officer for Sweetgreen where he led the Field Operations, Food Safety & QA, and Ops Services and Innovation teams. He played a key role in shaping the strategy and direction of the brand as an integral member of its leadership team.

Additionally, he was also the Chief of Operations for Dine Brands where he was instrumental in the turnaround of the brand. Prior to that, he had a multi-disciplinary global career with Yum Brands, spanning assignments in Dallas, London, and New Delhi.