Roasting For Cold Brew

[JohnD18]

Does anyone on here have experience roasting for cold brew? I am developing a cold brew product, and it would be a huge help if I knew what has worked for some of you. I currently have Indonesian, Peruvian, Ethiopian, Tanzanian, and Colombian coffees to work with. I had some success with a blend of Ethiopia and Colombia, but I think it could be better.

Any thoughts on roast degrees for cold brew? I was doing lighter roasts, like a nice city roast, perhaps a tiny bit darker. I feel like darker roasts, cold brewed, tasted acrid and char-ish.

Thanks

 

[Musicphan]

I tend to like washed coffees with med/high acidity roasted to City+

 

[JohnD18]

Thanks Musicphan. Is there a reason why you like the med/high acidity? I feel like the acidity doesn't come through so much in a cold brew.

 

[JohnD18]

I tend to like washed coffees with med/high acidity roasted to City+

Do you roast any differently for the cold brew than you do for brewing the same coffee hot?

 

[topher]

Cold brew takes away 3/4 of the acidity. If you use a low acidic coffee you lose all acidity. I use higher acidity so you don't end up with a mouth full of mud...all body and nothing to back it up. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Musicphan]

Topher nailed it on the acidity.. hopefully you get some acidity if you use a high acidity coffee. No diff on roasting... I do have to say some of the best cold drip I made was from a Mexican coffee that was probably a Full City or more... nice chocolaty notes came through. I use a drip tower so you get a little bit more taste of the coffee varietal.

 

[JohnD18]

Excellent, thanks for the feedback Topher, Musicphan.

The first batch I made I got a mix of positive and negative feedback on. The negative was that it was too bitter. I dispensed it still, and on nitro using a beer gas mix, which only intensified the bitterness.

I used a blend of a washed Colombian and a natural Ethiopian. The Ethiopian is never bitter with hot brewing, but the bitterness I think came out more in the cold brew. Steep time is 12 hours and both coffees were at a city-ish degree of roast. Anyway, I am going to try the two coffees again at a darker roast. I'll post my findings.

If anyone else has any info on cold brewing, and the best type of roast degree please hop in.

 

[topher]

What grind are you using and what kind of water?

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[JohnD18]

What grind are you using and what kind of water?

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Coarse, like French press and I am using filtered water through an RO system.

 

[vickenyon]

it's a good idea to make sure your coffee isn't too freshly roasted as the CO2 will partition into the water and you'll get carbonic acid (bitter). you can side-step this by degassing the beans prior to steeping. also, use cold, cold water and elongate your steeping time.

 

[Bereka]

 

[peterjschmidt]

I think that chart is bogus, and don't know any roasters who would agree with it, specificallly that City is med-dark. Never heard the Medium or High before City either.

 

[JohnD18]

So after many batches, I have figured out that darker roasts, not too dark though, like a good Full City +, jussssst as the oils begin to emerge, but do not develop further, is best for a flavorful cold brew. Also, elongated steep time, 18 hours or so, creates a much smoother concentrate than shorter steep.

Also, as far as Nitro coffee goes, use 100% nitro at a higher PSI, ~40 or so. Do not use beer gas (75% N, 25% CO2) as the CO2 is soluble in water and creates a bitter taste.

That's what I have learned.

 

[JumpinJakJava]

I think that chart is bogus, and don't know any roasters who would agree with it, specificallly that City is med-dark. Never heard the Medium or High before City either.

I am with you Peter. I use the term Full City+ before French roast.
Of course I still never figured the difference between a Spanish roast and an Italian roast.

 

[Jaycamp]

I agree with the FC + but I would add that we go for 24 hours on the steep. Great tip on the post roast brew...I've brewed the day of roast and it was rough. My sweet spot seems to be around 5 days of rest. Good luck.