Few things are as satisfying as the smooth, sweet, and rich flavors from a nicely made cup of cold brew coffee. Iced coffee will start enjoyable, until the ice begins to melt and waters it down, while a refreshing cup of cold brew will not lose its flavor over time. Cold brew is the perfect drink to enjoy when looking for a cooling and bright coffee option, plus you can easily make it right at home. If you are looking for something this delicious without all the caffeine, we have found you the perfect treat. Here is our guide to an excellent cold brew decaf coffee.
What is decaf cold brew coffee?
Decaf cold brew coffee is exactly what it sounds like, a brewing method that uses a chilled space, like a fridge, to make a concentrate of decaffeinated coffee beans. Cold brew uses a steeping technique that brews a cold beverage unlike iced coffee which becomes chilled by pouring hot coffee over ice. The slow steeping process produces a coffee concentrate with lower acidity and less bitterness than traditional brews. This naturally sweet and bold brew swept the coffee world a few years back, but came with some drawbacks in the much higher caffeine content. With all the noise on the huge influxes in caffeine, many people still ask, can cold brew be decaf? Our answer is an astounding YES. By using decaf coffee grounds instead of caffeinated ones, you preserve the bean’s flavor profile while also avoiding coffee jitters or a caffeine crash.
How to make decaf cold brew
Now that you know exactly what decaf cold brew is, it is time to learn how to make the best version for yourself. Like standard cold brew, a decaf cold brew concentrate is made with an infusion method for coarse decaffeinated coffee grounds.
What you need:
1 cup uniformly coarse grounds (sea salt texture)
4 cups room temperature or cold water
1 quart jar or larger with lid (preferably sealable lid)
Strainer (Cheese cloth, coffee filter, fine mesh, etc.)
Tips before you start:
Tip 1: Pick a good dark roast to grind
The best coffees start with a foundation of the best beans, so source your decaffeinated beans with care. Finding the best organically grown and ethically sourced beans will help you combat any flavors lost during the decaffeination process. Steeping beans will bring out the subtle notes in the flavor profile of your coffee, making darker roasts better for a very flavorful cup.
Tip 2: Coarse grounds are favored for cold brew
For cold brew coffee, a coarse grind size is your best friend. Similar to the needs of a french press, the steeping process will perfectly extract the best flavor profiles from coarser grounds. Ensuring a larger grind size is important to avoid overextracting the beans and creating a bitter taste.
Tip 3: Adapt your brew
Adjusting the coffee to water ratio in your brewing can help you create your favorite coffee. Our recommendation for a balanced brew is 1 cup of grounds to every 4 cups of water, but adapt this ratio to fit your tastes. Change the water ratio, add milk, or even experiment with touches of additional flavors to match your desired strength. Cold brew is meant to be bold and bright, and using too much water will leave you with weak or bland coffee.
A Step-by-step Guide to Making Decaf Cold Brew
Step 1: Grind decaffeinated coffee beans into uniformly coarse grounds.
Similar to a french press style, look for a sea salt texture.
Step 2: Pour your measured grounds into a jar and add room temperature or cold water.
1 cup of grounds to every 4 cups of water or to personal preferences
*Add any specialty flavors to the mixture at this step. Spice it up with some cinnamon, swirl in some honey, or a dash of some cocoa powder will amp up your brew.
Step 3: Seal the jar and place in the refrigerator.
Make sure the lid is tightened well and place the jar in your fridge or other cooling spot.
Step 4: Allow your mixture to sit for 12 to 24 hours.
With any extra sweets added to your mixture, feel free to combine with a light shake halfway through.
Step 5: Once your mixture has sat for your desired steep time, strain the mixture, and enjoy!
Use a mesh cloth, cheese cloth, paper coffee filter, or other fine strainer to prepare the concentrate for drinking.
*Add in any extra flavors like milk and cream, syrup, or caramel to perfect your homemade decaf cold brew.
Any leftover cold brew concentrate can be stored in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Our step by step guide makes it easy to enjoy the best bright and refreshing decaf cold brew right from home at any time. Experimenting with different brewing methods will help you find your favorite way to enjoy a good cup of coffee. Consider this your expert answer to “can you cold brew decaf coffee?” You have now discovered the perfect way to enjoy a caffeine-free cold coffee without sacrificing all your favorite flavors.
