We've been treating ourselves to small iced cold brewed French pressed coffee every afternoon. (Same Encore setting, coach.) The last brew was La Minata Indonesia Suku Batak (don't ask me to translate); it was so different from the Ehtiopian brew. Both are delicious but the flavor differences a dramatic. I'm really enjoying these experiments with cold brewing.
20 years ago my Seattle apartment was next door and above the Grateful Bread bakery in Wedgwood. They were roasting their own coffee at the time and I would smell the roast if I had my windows open. It was the first time I noticed the difference in a cup of drip coffee that actually improved as it cooled. Fast forward to 6 years ago when I started roasting my own beans and I had to relearn the experience. With fresh beans you get different notes as the cup cools and you can get a bitter mess if you brew too hot.
I can relate to this. In the winter, I toss my wife's heavy winter coat over it and head into the bathroom. That coat really deadens the noise of the noisy Encore, the volume and tenor of which approaches a Cessna 152.
You got a thermos with extra room? Morning of 9/1 -- you bring extra fresh brewed coffee, I bring an empty mug and some fresh home roasted beans, we make trade. Deal?
Really nice cold brew. Very light body, delicate flavors. The citrus is there but it’s not puckering/tart. @Matt B if this one is coming your way in your recent order, enjoy!
Will do. And I’ll make sure you aren’t my only coffee caffeine pusher man.
I have a Moccamaster that has been in storage mostly the last few years in favor of various single cup brew methods that work for my wife and I day to day. However I recently pulled it out when we had company and it made a better cup than I remember and it's nice to get a bit more volume in one shot. It will do 1.25L which is good for 4 regular mugs of joe. I love the deep dive you've been on with coffee Nick!
Seriously! Gas station coffee to $500 grinder is a pretty serious jump in such a short time hahaha!
I feel ya, it's kind of a big commitment of a precious substance. I've tried it with less coffee/more water and it just wasn't as good. Too watery, go figure. I guess the saving grace is "iced coffee season" is pretty short here, and a little goes a long way. I don't know if it has more caffeine/volume than other methods but it does feel like it.
It's due to the fact that cold water isn't as effective as dissolving the coffee so you need more coffee. More caffeine? Could be since it's a higher ratio and perhaps the cold water breaks it out more effectively than the flavor? I'm no chemist clearly lol
I think you're probably right, essentially, in that the stronger tasting compounds are less soluble in the cold water so it doesn't taste as strong, but it's still a very concentrated coffee drink so the caffeine/volume of the cold brew at 1:4 coffee:water is higher than say my aeropress which is probably 1:8 or 1:12 or something.
Lol. If you were closer I’d bring you an emergency batch. Stay strong, hang in there brother of the bean. Oh, and good luck with the ‘Rona too.