Iced and Cold Brew Coffee Are Different

Disclosure

Maybe it’s because I’m a mom or possibly because I’m getting old and forgetful, but I often find myself drinking cold coffee. Considering my love for frappes, this isn’t that big of deal. Half the time I drink it cold, the other half I warm it back up. Scratch that. Somewhere in those statistics should be the percent of time I completely forget to drink it.

Perhaps I need coffee to remember to drink my coffee.

Then a while back, I started hearing about cold brew coffee. A friend of mine was raving about it and explained that she needed to make a batch. Oblivious to the concept, I just figured she meant she was making regular coffee to use as an iced coffee. I thought to myself that I was trendy and didn’t even know it.

Then I heard that Starbucks was serving it. And other places, too. Little did I know what a fad it had become and that I was missing the boat. It’s not just hot brewed coffee over ice. It’s not a precursor to a frappe. According to what I read, cold brew coffee is prepared using cold water and ice in a very slow-drip process. The result is smoother than the traditional hot-brewed varieties. This process creates a beverage that is less acidic (or bitter) allowing the signature hints and flavor tones of each brand and variety to shine through.

Then I found out there were coffee makers and gadgets specifically for cold-brew coffee. Oh dear. You have my attention now, coffee world.

I have a problem with gadgets. I love them. Always have. It’s like they call to me. Before moving to California, I attended a Pampered Chef party and vowed to become more involved with that company in order to stock my first home. Within a few weeks of buying my first home, I went through with that wish and signed up to be a consultant. Because… kitchen toys are fun.

That was long ago and now I find most new gadgets on Amazon or at the local kitchen store. If there’s a new kitchen trinket or thingamajig on the market, chances are it is on my wish list. The Dripo Cold Brew Coffee maker is the perfect example!

To be clear, it isn’t a giant coffee maker of any sort. It doesn’t require any counter top space and fits nicely in a cabinet. It’s basically a normal coffee tumbler with a few extra layers that make up the unique drip system. It includes the previously mentioned tumbler, the coffee compartment that includes embossed measurement markings, two types of filters, a compartment for the ice and water as well as a lid.

The process is simple: Add coffee to the compartment with the measuring notches on them. There’s a filter on the bottom of this compartment that allows the water to leach through the grounds. Top it with a paper filter or wet the grounds to allow for even distribution of the water then nest this coffee compartment in the tumbler portion.

The Dripo Cold Brew Coffee Maker utilizes the Japanese style of ice drip. Add ice water to the topmost section, affix the lid and wait patiently for it to “brew”. The process takes several hours, but the resulting taste is significantly different than what you get from the traditional hot-brewing method of making coffee.

I’ve admitted many times that I have a sweet tooth and recently have tried cutting back on the amount of sweeteners I use, specifically in my coffee. When the sugar-substitute sweeteners ran out, I opted to replace them. Not because I have a concern about them, but rather because I was using them as a crutch. A packet of any substitute is usually sweeter than a packet of sugar but I was continuing to add more and more. When I tasted the cold brew coffee, I noticed it was smooth, yet robust in flavor. Like a fine wine, I could have sipped it for hours and appreciated the rich, clean flavor.

The final step is to add ice, which basically dilutes this very strong but smooth coffee down a bit. After a few sips, I continued my quest to reduce the amount of sweeteners by adding just a touch of plain sugar and some creamer to sweeten it up a little. Not as sweet as I used to have it, but it didn’t matter. It tasted delicious!

And then it was gone. 

I didn’t understand what the hubbub was about the cold brew coffee, but I get it. Would I spend big bucks to order it at a coffee house? Probably not. Would I regularly make up a batch at home? Definitely. I have the gadget to do it… so why not?!

You can learn more about the Dripo Cold Brew Coffee Maker by visiting their website or following them on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. This easy-to-use cold brew coffee maker is available on Amazon for under $30. Enter coupon code “DripoTen” at checkout for an additional $10 savings. Of course, winning one would really perk you up. Enter using the form:

Dripo Cold Brew Coffee Maker Giveaway