Coffee Concentrate 101: Everything You Need to Know
Coffee concentrate is a form of brewed coffee. It offers a different approach to coffee preparation and consumption, distinct from the regular brew.
What is coffee concentrate?
A condensed version of brewed coffee where water content is significantly reduced, leading to a stronger flavor.
It’s typically thicker and more syrup-like than regular brewed coffee.
How is it made?
The process involves steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in cold water for an extended period, usually 12 to 24 hours. The resulting mixture is then filtered to remove the coffee grounds, leaving behind a concentrated coffee liquid.
How do I prepare coffee concentrate?
The concentrate can be diluted with water, milk, or a milk alternative, depending on personal preference.
The typical ratio is one part coffee concentrate to two parts water or milk, which can be adjusted based on desired strength.
You can drink it as a cold brew, or warm it up.
Is coffee concentrate stronger than regular coffee?
Caffeine: coffee concentrate typically contains more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee.
However, when diluted to create drinks like cold brew, the caffeine content per serving can be similar to or even less than regular coffee, depending on the dilution ratio.
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Watching your caffeine intake? Get the latest brews and caffeine news.Flavor: More intense and robust – however, the amount of dilution will greatly change the flavor profile.
Some of the best coffee concentrates
- Java House Cold Coffee Concentrate
Known for its gourmet cold-brewed coffee flavor with hints of chocolate and caramel. It comes in a ready-to-drink format and offers a variety of flavors, including Decaf, Columbian, and Vanilla. Caffeine: 135-165 mg per 8 fl. oz. (as prepared 4:1) - Javy Cold Brew Concentrate
Recognized for its strong yet smooth flavor from a blend of arabica beans. It comes in six flavors and is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. Caffeine 80 mg per 8 fl.oz serving (as prepared with 1 tsp concentrate). - Cappio Cold Brew Concentrate
This concentrate is known for its great value (it’s cheap!). - Chameleon Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate:
The original: Known for its organic composition, it can make up to 48 ounces of coffee from specialty grade, organic coffee beans. - Wandering Bear Cold Brew On Tap
This has already been diluted and is a great option for shelf-stable cold brew, - Starbucks Cold Brew Concentrate
Coming in a number of different flavors, the pumpkin spice is the favorite. - Jot Ultra Coffee:
This is a high-end option, but it really packs a punch. Just one tablespoon creates a whole cup of coffee (with 150 mg of caffeine)
Is coffee concentrate low acid?
Cold brew methods, which are typically used to make coffee concentrates, are known to produce a less acidic brew than hot brewing methods. This is because cold water extracts fewer acidic compounds from coffee grounds.
However, the acidity level can vary based on the coffee beans used and the brewing process.
Why buy concentrated coffee?
Because it’s a far more efficient way of getting cold brew!
When buying ready-to-drink coffees – you are paying for lots of water. By getting it shipped in concentrated form, there are no sacrifices in flavor, and it lasts a whole lot longer.
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