Which is healthier: cold brew coffee or regular black coffee? & bull; hello healthy

All eyes and tongues of coffee connoisseurs in Indonesia are currently on the cold brew coffee trend. Indeed, sipping a glass of cold coffee on a hot afternoon is much more refreshing than a cup of hot coffee. But is this new trend really any healthier than regular brewed coffee, as they say? (Psstt… Don't be in a hurry to close this article if you want to know how to make cold brew coffee yourself at home!)

What is cold brew coffee?

Simply put, cold brew is the technique of "brewing" black coffee grounds in cold water (or room temperature water) for approximately 12-24 hours for optimal flavor.

You can "brew" the coffee powder of your choice by soaking it in a glass and then letting it stand and filtering, or using a special coffee brewing tool, such as french press or cold drip .

This cold brewing technique will produce a thick coffee concentrate. This coffee concentrate can be drunk directly as black coffee without further ado, or you can add milk, creamer, sugar, or other sweeteners to mix other coffee creations. For example, cappuccino.

Cold brew coffee concentrate can stay fresh for up to two weeks if you store it in the refrigerator.

What's the difference between cold brew coffee and iced coffee?

Even though the name contains the word "cold", cold brew coffee is different from ordinary iced coffee. Making a cup of iced coffee takes less time than "brewing" cold brew coffee. Iced coffee is mixed with coffee powder dissolved in hot water and added with ice cubes afterwards to make it cold. Cold brew coffee concentrate is obtained from soaking black coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water.

Different techniques produce different flavors. Hot espresso which is used as the basis for iced coffee must be processed more strongly so that the taste and aroma does not fade easily after diluting it with ice. This method of steeping hot water is what gives black coffee (both hot and iced) its taste and aroma strong bittertypical of coffee in general.

Meanwhile, cold brew takes up to 18-24 hours to produce concentrate. This process, which is similar to infused water, results in a smoother taste and aroma. This is what causes coffee cold brew tastes sweeter. You can also serve this concentrate cold with ice cubes without having to be afraid of the taste that is too bland because of the runnyness. For this reason, cold brew is generally considered the best method for cold brewing.

Which is healthier, ordinary black coffee or cold brew coffee?

Brewed coffee, espresso, and cold brew coffee are basically ordinary black coffee. The only difference is the manufacturing technique. Therefore, both a cup of traditional black coffee and a cup of cold brew concentrate can be said to have nearly zero calories and have no significant nutritional value. A cup of black coffee and cold brew coffee concentrate served without sugar is equally devoid of carbohydrates, fats, protein and other important macronutrients, such as calcium and fiber. The nutritional value of all versions of this drink only changes when flavorings or sweeteners are added.

In addition, the taste of cold brew coffee is not as acidic as traditional brewed coffee. This "brewed" coffee with cold water has a pH level of 6.31, as opposed to the hot version which has a pH of 5.48 - on the pH scale, the lower the number the more acidic the substance is. This means cold brew coffee could be a safer option for satisfying coffee cravings for people with digestive problems, such as gastric ulcers or acid reflux, explains Joan Salge Blake, RD, clinical associate associate at Boston University and author of Nutrition & You. reported from Health.

Additionally, foods / drinks that are low in acid have been linked to a variety of health benefits, such as supporting bone health, reducing muscle mass loss, maintaining heart health and memory, to reducing the severity or incidence of hypertension and stroke, according to an article in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health.

Cold brew coffee is also lower in caffeine than black coffee brewed hot. One cup of black coffee blended with hot water contains about 62 milligrams of caffeine, while the caffeine in cold brew coffee concentrates is generally only around 40 milligrams.

Tips for making cold brew coffee at home

Tempted by some of the goodness of cold brew coffee above? You don't have to bother leaving the house to buy up a lot if you have the ingredients at home and know how to make them. Here are the steps:

What you will need:

• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Ground black coffee, maybe Arabica or Robusta
• Coffee filter, lint-free cloth, or large colander
• A glass jar or large container with a lid
• Big bowl
• Cold water

How to make:

1. Pour the coffee grounds into the container of choice, then follow with cold water. The best ratio is 1: 8 coffee and water.
2. Stir until the coffee is well blended. Close the coffee container tightly, let stand for 18-24 hours (can be at room temperature or in the refrigerator).
3. After that time, strain the coffee through a sieve into a large bowl. Repeat the filter 2-3 times until the color of the coffee concentrate is clear without any residual coffee grounds.
4. Serve. You can add ice, creamer, milk, or sugar to taste. Store the rest in the refrigerator. If stored properly, cold brew coffee can last up to 2 weeks to a month.

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