Cold brew isn't worth the hype - I learned this 3 years ago at a shop in Portland

I watched a barista spend 20 minutes dialing in a pour-over last week and it had way more flavor than any cold brew I've ever tried. Has anyone else found that cold brew just tastes flat compared to a good hot brew?

2 comments

2 Comments

john_hunt210d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah the "cold brew is flat" thing is spot on. I've had the same experience with cold brew tasting kinda muted and one-note. Try a Japanese iced coffee next time you want cold coffee, it's just hot brew poured straight over ice. Way more of those bright fruity notes come through, especially with a light roast. I started doing that at home with a simple Hario V60 and it beats any cold brew I've tried.

the_eric10d ago

Read something from James Hoffmann about this exact thing. He said cold brew extracts different compounds than hot brew, which is why you lose all those delicate floral notes. Japanese iced coffee hits that sweet spot where you get the brightness but it's still cold and refreshing. Been doing it with a Kalita Wave and it honestly ruined store bought cold brew for me.