The Health Benefits of Cold Brew Coffee
Updated: Nov. 08, 2016
The temperatures may be dropping, but cold brew coffee is becoming the hottest order in coffee shops.
Canadians have always braved chiller temperatures in style, and now our love of the cold is shown in our drink choices, too. Studies show that more people are gravitating toward cold beverages, even as the temperatures continue to drop.
While there will always be a special place in our hearts for a steaming hot cup of coffee, cold brew coffee is our new favourite drink.
Not to be confused with iced coffee, cold brew coffee is another distinct coffee experience altogether.
Cold Brew Coffee 101
Cold brew coffee is a richer, more concentrated coffee than your regular cup of Joe. It’s made when coffee beans are steeped in cold or room-temperature water for an extended period time (typically 12 hours or more).
Since no heat is used during the cold-brew process, cold brew coffee doesn’t have that strong, bitter taste that’s present in regular coffee. Without this bitter taste, the coffee beans’ natural notes of hazelnut and chocolate are stronger. For this reason, many people tend to skip out on their regular packet of sugar or splash of milk they typically take with their coffees.
A Healthier Alternative
Coffee beans lose some of their natural health benefits and antioxidants when they’re burned or exposed to high temperatures, which makes cold brew coffee a healthier alternative to hot-brew.
Additionally, cold brew is also 67 percent less acidic than hot coffee beverages, which is perfect if you’re looking for a more alkaline-friendly drink. Cold brew coffee also has more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee, making it the drink of choice for early mornings when you can use that little extra boost.
An Elevated Cold Brew Experience
Although cold brew is effortlessly easy to make at home, when it comes to specialty coffee, our motto is to leave it to the pros. Starbucks is introducing Nitro Cold Brew, which uses nitrogen to make cold brew coffee smoother and creamier than ever before.
Excited to try it out? Starbucks Canada will be bringing Nitro Cold Brew to its Brookfield Place location in Toronto, with more locations to come.
