Commercial Drive Cold Brew Coffee

Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee is a brewing method that uses cold or room temperature water to extract flavor from coffee beans over an extended period (typically 12-24 hours), rather than the quick extraction that occurs with hot water brewing methods.

What Makes Cold Brew Special

  • Less acidic and smoother - about 70% less acidic than hot coffee

  • Naturally sweeter with reduced bitterness

  • More concentrated, often served diluted with water, milk, or over ice

  • Higher caffeine content per volume (though often diluted when served)

  • Distinct flavor profile highlighting different compounds than hot brewing

Why Choose Cold Brew?

  1. Gentler on digestion - ideal for people with sensitive stomachs or acid reflux

  2. Reveals subtle flavors that might be masked by acidity in hot brewing

  3. Convenient - make a batch that stays fresh in the fridge for 1-2 weeks

  4. Versatile - can be enjoyed cold or heated up, works well in coffee cocktails and desserts

  5. Perfect for warm weather - refreshing without dilution from melting ice

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

What You'll Need:

  • Coarsely ground coffee beans (1 cup) - I think our Organic Park Drive Dark Roast lends particularly well for cold brew even though many will suggest a Medium Roast like our Organic Grandview Roast.

  • Cold, filtered water (4 cups)

  • Large jar or pitcher

  • Cheesecloth or fine-mesh sieve (or a cold brew coffee maker)

  • Storage container

Instructions:

  1. Grind the coffee beans to a coarse consistency, similar to what you'd use for a French press. This prevents over-extraction and makes filtering easier.

  2. Combine coffee and water in your jar or pitcher at a ratio of 1:4 (1 cup coffee to 4 cups water).

  3. Stir gently to ensure all grounds are saturated.

  4. Cover and steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Longer steeping creates a stronger brew.

  5. Strain the coffee through a cheesecloth or fine-mesh sieve into your storage container. For clearer coffee, you may want to strain twice.

  6. Store your concentrate in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

  7. Serve diluted at a ratio of 1:1 with water, milk, or over ice according to taste.

Best Roasts for Cold Brew

Medium to dark roasts typically work best because:

  • They feature chocolatey, nutty, and caramel notes that shine in cold brew

  • The method naturally highlights sweetness while minimizing bitterness

  • Single-origin beans with fruity or floral notes can create unique cold brews

Again, our Commercial Drive Organic Grandview Medium Roast would be the most recommended choice of coffee, however our Organic Park Drive Dark Roast lends particularly well to Cold Brew!!

Caffeine Content

Cold brew typically contains more caffeine than regular coffee, with approximately:

  • 200-250mg of caffeine per 16oz cup of cold brew

  • 160-180mg in a comparable cup of hot coffee

However, since cold brew is often diluted and served over ice, the actual caffeine content in your final drink may be similar to regular coffee. The concentrated nature of cold brew allows you to control your caffeine intake by adjusting the dilution ratio.

Use a coarse grind (similar to French press) to prevent over-extraction and make filtering easier.

Have fun and give a cold brew a shot. Think you will really enjoy the coffee!!

The Commercial Drive Coffee Company is Proudly 100% Canadian Owned and Operated and all our coffees are roasted and packaged in British Columbia Canada!

Kenny Vannucci