Can You Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee? Here's How!
Who doesn’t love a delicious cup of cold brew? It’s strong, it’s refreshing, and most of all it’s packed with tons of caffeine to give us that pick-me-up we so desperately need from our coffee.
But we’ve all been in that place where we have a bit of extra cold brew, but we just want a hot cup of coffee instead. Well, heating your chilly cold brew is definitely a route you can take to get hot coffee without having to go back to the shop and order a new drink.
So let’s go through some of the ways you can go about heating up your cold brew. There are several different methods, but by the end, you’ll know the best way to do it. Let’s jump right in.
What Is Cold Brew?
Cold brew is one of the more popular coffee drinks at the moment. It might just look like a regular cup of iced coffee, but there’s a lot more to cold brew than meets the eye.
How Is It Made?
Cold brew is named according to its brewing method; it’s brewed in the cold. While brewing a regular cup of coffee uses medium-fine grounds, uses boiling hot water, and takes a matter of minutes, cold brew is completely different.
To make cold brew, you use a higher ratio of coffee grounds to water and grind the beans much coarser than regular coffee. In this case, you use room temperature water and let the water and the grounds meld together for 20 hours.
The result is a brew with far less acidity than you’d get with the usual method of preparing coffee. Cold brew coffee tastes rich, has a nice smooth finish, and even has more caffeine than regular coffee. And on top of that, it’s cold and refreshing.
All of this has made cold brew quite a popular drink, especially in the summertime when it’s hot. Its applications are vast, and the coffee is absolutely delicious.
Are There Different Types?
There are a lot of different types of cold brew. Of course, there’s traditional cold brew, which is made as we described above. There are all sorts of ways to spice things up and make it your own.
One of the more common variations of cold brew is the popular nitro cold brew. Nitro cold brew is made the same way as cold brew but with one special twist at the end. The cold brew is put in a keg and pressurized with nitrogen gas.
The nitrogen infuses into the cold brew to make for an entirely new texture to the cold brew. Nitro has the same mouth feel as a draft Guinness. It’s creamy, rich, and has a beautiful, natural foam on top.
There’s also cold brew coffee concentrate, one of the most popular up-and-coming trends in the at-home coffee world. Cold brew concentrate is made with a 1:1 ratio of grounds to water and uses a longer brew time to make a concentrated form of coffee.
To make drinks with it, simply add a couple of spoonfuls to a glass and top it off with water, milk, your favorite creamer, or whatever you like. Make drinks in seconds and even create your own lattes, Americanos, and other fun drinks at home easily.
How Do You Drink Cold Brew?
Cold brew can be drunk in a variety of different ways. Lots of people love to drink it straight. Because of the way it’s brewed, it’s a little smoother, less harsh than regular coffee, and has a more natural sweetness, so it’s great to drink just as is.
But don’t let that stop you from adding your favorite flavored syrup or creamer and topping it off with some whipped cream. People drink cold brew in all sorts of ways, and you’re free to customize it to suit your personality.
People also use cold brew to create interesting mocktails that utilize coffee, such as an old-fashioned cold brew. Cold brew and coffee concentrate are even used in recipes to make all sorts of delicious baked goods, adding richness to your sweets. The possibilities are limitless.
Can You Make It at Home?
You can make cold brew at home, but it might be a bit more difficult than you think. For starters, you’re going to need a quality grinder to get the coarseness necessary, so it’s not necessarily accessible to everybody.
Also, it takes 20 hours to make a cold brew coffee. Some people are willing to wait that long, but many of us need to just wake up, make coffee, and get out the door. Making cold brew isn’t always practical.
How To Heat Up Cold Brew Coffee
Now that we’ve unpacked the basics of cold brew, let’s talk about heating it up. You can heat your cold brew coffee to give yourself a nice hot cup if you want. Here are some of the different methods you can use, so keep reading to find the best one.
The Microwave
Of course, there’s the classic microwave option. This is probably the first method you think of when it comes to reheating anything. And you can definitely use it to heat up your cold brew too.
Simply put your cold brew in a microwave-safe mug, and push start. Start it off for 45 seconds, and if it isn’t hot enough, keep heating it for 30-second intervals until it reaches your desired temperature.
However, this method isn’t the best for getting that cold brew nice and hot. Microwaving changes the chemical structure of coffee. It’s still perfectly safe to drink, but it does change the way the coffee tastes, so it won’t taste the same as when you first made it.
An Electric Kettle
You can also use an electric kettle to heat your cold brew. Not everybody has an electric kettle in their kitchen, but it’s a really handy tool. With a flip of a switch, you can have boiling water, and you don’t even have to use a stove.
To use an electric kettle to heat up a cold brew, simply pour in your cold brew and turn it on. But you’re going to want to make sure you keep an eye on it and don’t let it come to a boil. If you forget and boil your coffee, the coffee will burn and taste extra bitter and unpleasant.
Stop heating your coffee once you see some steam coming off the surface. Don’t let it bubble.
The Coffee Machine Hot Plate
There is always the hot plate method. The hot plate is already built into your coffee machine. This little contraption is designed to keep a pot of coffee warm, but it can also do the job of reheating your coffee too.
Simply put your cold brew into your coffee pot and turn on the hot plate. It may take a while, but you’ll have a warm cup of joe.
Dilute With Hot Water
One of the better methods of heating up your cold brew is by diluting it with hot water. This might not be the best method for regular cold brew because it will give you a watered-down version of your cold brew.
However, if you’re working with cold brew concentrate, this is the best method of getting hot coffee by far. In fact, it will give you a drink that’s somewhat similar to an Americano. This is the best way to enjoy cold coffee, but you want it hot.
The Stovetop
Finally, you can always use the stovetop as well. As with the electric kettle, you’re going to want to make sure that you don’t bring the coffee to a boil, lest you burn it. So to give your coffee a quick warm-up via stovetop, you’re going to want to put the burner on medium or medium-low.
And be sure to keep an eye on it. In a short while, your coffee will be ready to go.
Are There Better Ways to Drink Cold Brew and Coffee?
As we mentioned above, the best way to have cold brew heated up is to use cold brew concentrate and dilute it with hot water. In fact, this is just one of the best ways to enjoy coffee, period.
Javy Coffee Concentrate
Javy coffee concentrate is the solution to your coffee-making woes. With Javy, you can make any delicious coffee drink you want in seconds, guilt and judgment-free.
Simply grab your bottle of Javy from the fridge, pour a couple of tablespoons into a glass, and top with water, milk, or your favorite flavored creamer. Enjoy iced lattes, cold brews, and whatever else you create — without all the expensive equipment or having to spend a bunch of money at a shop. It’s one of the most inexpensive ways to get your caffeine fix.
So next time you’re in the market for a new coffee experience, check out Javy. You’ll never want to return to your coffee machine again.
Sources:
How to Make Nitro Cold-Brew Coffee | The Splendid Table.
