Two mason jars with handles, each containing iced coffee. The jar on the left has a lighter coffee with milk and ice, while the jar on the right contains a darker black iced coffee. Both drinks have clear glass straws and a blurred background, including a brown mug.

How to be Cool with Cold Brew

Cold brew is a versatile addition to any cafe or restaurant beverage program, not just for Summer but all year round and Canterbury Coffee has compiled a beginner’s guide to get you started.

Over the past decade, cold brew coffee has grown in popularity, especially among the younger generations, becoming one of the top coffee preparation methods and an essential menu staple.

In the US, there was a 580% sales growth between 2011-2016 and more than a 50% increase in cold coffee consumption in 2021, with growth expected to continue.

*Canterbury experts touch upon this trend further in Canterbury’s Top 8 Beverage – industry trends to Watch in 2023.

What is Cold Brew?

Cold brew coffee is typically brewed using cool or room temperature water and requires a longer time to fully extract the flavours of the coffee (approximately 12-24 hours). The result is a flavourful coffee concentrate that can be diluted with water or your choice of milk and served hot or cold; also prepare for a little extra morning boost.

Cold brew extracts the flavours differently than hot brewed coffee. High temperatures cause the oils and acids in the coffee to extract more quickly, creating the bitterness and acidity found in hot brewed coffee. Due to the cooler temperature, cold brew doesn’t extract as much of the coffee oils and acids, which is why cold brew coffee customarily has a less acidic profile and sweeter taste.

Here is a quick breakdown of some of the notable differences between hot and cold brewed coffee:

An infographic compares cold brew and hot brew coffee. Cold brew uses cool or room temperature water, brewing for 12-24 hours, resulting in a sweeter, light-bodied, smooth, and less acidic flavor. Hot brew uses hot water (195-205°F) and brews in minutes, producing a full-bodied, aromatic, balanced flavor with slight bitterness.

Cold Brew Coffee vs. Iced Coffee

Simply put, cold brew is a brewing method, and iced coffee is a serving method.

Three glasses of iced coffee sit on a two-toned pink surface. The leftmost glass is filled with black iced coffee. The middle and right glasses contain iced coffee with milk, showing a marbled effect. The middle glass sits on a wooden coaster. Coffee beans are scattered nearby.

While iced coffees can use cold brew coffee, a more commonly used method is chilling hot brewed coffee and serving it over ice. How the coffee is brewed will affect the taste, so making iced coffee comes down to your preferred flavour attributes and brewing method.

How to Make Cold Brew: Large Batch Edition

There are a variety of different ways to make cold brew coffee. To brew a larger batch of cold brew, here is Canterbury Coffee’s recommended method using the Toddy Cold Brew Commercial Model.

Toddy Cold Brew Commercial Instructions

Brews 8 L (2.5 gal) of coffee concentrate

A large Toddy cold brew coffee container sits on a kitchen counter next to a glass carafe with a green lid. In the blurred background, two people are talking near a couch in a warmly lit room with shelves and red flowers on the counter.

Download printable PDF Instructions here

Ingredients:

2 kg (5 lbs) of coarse ground coffee
11.2 L (14 quarts) of fresh cool water

Equipment:

Toddy Cold Brew Commercial Model
Toddy Paper filter bag with string
Toddy Reusable nylon strainer

Steps:

Insert 1 paper filter into the nylon strainer. Put strainer and filter into brewing container with the open end facing upwards.
Add 2 kg (5 lbs) of coarse ground coffee into the filter.
Slowly pour 11.2 L (14 quarts) of cool water into the open filter, making sure to saturate all the coffee grounds.
Tie the filter bag closed with string, around 3 inches (8 cm) from the top of the bag. Leave room for the coffee to move around inside.
Gently massage the coffee grounds through the strainer to ensure saturation.
Cover with the lid and let brew for 12-24 hours.
Drain coffee concentrate into a lidded storage container and refrigerate.

Clean up: Lift coffee grounds and filter from brewing container using strainer. Dispose of filter and grounds. The filter is fragile when wet and tears easily. Rinse strainer and air dry for reuse.

Important Note

Serve cold brew coffee concentrate as a 1:1 ratio with water (or milk).
Lasts for up to 2 weeks if refrigerated in an airtight container.

Don’t Have Time to Make Your Own Cold Brew?

Try Spirit Bear’s Ready-to-Use LEGENDARY Cold Brew Concentrate. Mix at a ratio of 1 part coffee concentrate to 5 parts water or milk and serve. 1 L bottle makes up to 6 L of cold brew coffee.

Brew Cold, Be Bold

A glass of iced coffee sits on a wooden table against a warm, tan backdrop. Swirls of creamy milk are being poured into the dark coffee, creating a marbled effect. Scattered coffee beans surround the base of the glass.

Cold brew’s smooth taste mixes seamlessly with a variety of flavours. Test out different Torani syrups with cold brew coffee to easily add new and exciting drinks to your menu. Also, try using cold brew concentrate as an ingredient in milkshakes, cocktails, and baking. The opportunities are endless.

Check out Iced Caramel White Mocha recipe here

For additional menu ideas, visit Canterbury Coffee’s Drink Recipes Page, and stay tuned for more cold brew drink recipes coming soon.