Comments on: Cold-brew

by: Arizona Coffee » Best of 2007

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:49:12 +0000

[…] Cold-brew — A link to a NY Times article which was followed up with good discussion. […]

by: mikeftrevino

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:06:08 +0000

Caffeine content is not static. It can surely have more than a equivalent drip brew. It depends on the steep time. We typically go 24hrs and dose heavily on the coffee in ours and it has significantly more caffeine.

by: EJ

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:47:46 +0000

Toddy coffee is the best for summertime cool drinks, much better than “cooled” hot brewed coffee. If you haven’t found a Toddy “flavor” you like, try different types of coffee. Also, the notion that Toddy contains more caffeine is false, it actually contains about 20 mg less caffeine per 100 g of coffee than traditional hot brew. Also, home brewers should be sure to use Arabica beans for best results and not Robusto…personally I haven’t tried using Robusto, why waste 12 hours to get a bad result when the experts say don’t do it! I took a coffee class a Phoenix Cooks last year and have been a Toddy convert ever since.

by: Jason Haeger

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 06:18:07 +0000

I’ve not yet tried Toddy coffee, but I’m under the impression I wouldn’t much care for it.

Of course, I could be wrong.

by: steve kessler

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 10:14:18 +0000

Toddy all the way for me!! I generally make mine with Ethiopian Yirgacheffe.

by: Michael T

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:33:48 +0000

Fellow Mike - I’ve had a Toddy or two. Tasted like cold, smooth coffee. Maybe I haven’t had enough, but it was a simple flavor, unlike the more complex flavors I’ve tasted from hot coffee. Also, I suspect that tea is a much bigger tannin villain than coffee is.

Ditto on the Coffee Shark toddy endorsement…

by: Larry

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:31:08 +0000

Cabin Coffee @ 67th & Happy Valley

Coffee Shark Cafe’ @ McQueen & Ray

If you are in Tucson…

The Coffee Vein @ Stone & Drachman

are a few places that serve an excellent “Cold-Steeped” coffee as the base for their iced drinks.

I’m sure their are others I’ve unintentionally left out.

by: Thomas Reynolds

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:30:47 +0000

I have a Toddy system at home and am willing to drive 30 minutes to get Toddy at Seattle Espresso in Tempe. It’s the only way to go, plus more caffeine.

by: mikeftrevino

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:26:44 +0000

Michael, have you ever had a toddy? It’s an excellent drink; one of the summer time favorites.
I hate the term acidic. The layman doesn’t know and use it in the same sense the pro or knowledgeable coffee drinker uses it. What they are referring to are the tannins extracted during the brewing process. The cold process extracts much less than a hot and produces a smoother cup. It is fairly obvious that is what they are referring to.

“Tannins are naturally occurring complex polyphenolics found in many plants, particularly those with a woody habit. Their main function in nature seems to be one of protection; animals are deterred from eating plants high in tannins because of the bitter, astringent taste.”

by: Jerrid

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:07:53 +0000

I have a new found respect for Ice-Blended coffee drinks due in part to cold-brewed coffee. I do agree that acidity plays a huge part in the flavor profile of hot coffee and espresso beverages, but I personally find it an unpleasant nuance in cold coffee drinks, especially blended ones. With the use of Toddy you get the smooth flavor of the coffee and all the caffeine but with a whole new twist that actually makes iced coffee enjoyable for me. I have begun my own personal quest this summer to find the best Ice-Blended coffee drink in Phoenix and so far my favorites are the ones made with cold-brewed coffee.

by: Todd

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:22:10 +0000

I have a Toddy coffee maker at home and I really like it. I don’t know that I agree with the less acidity claims made here, but it does result in a smoother, sweeter concentrate that I find is excellent over ice - especially in this hot Phoenix summer weather.

by: Michael T

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:00:27 +0000

I’m pretty sure that the 67% less “acid” that toddy extracts is a huge part of the flavor profile in hot coffee. If you want to miss out on that, be my guest.

That said, if you make your iced coffee improperly, yes, it will taste bitter and nasty.

by: (bs.)

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:41:31 +0000

you said it, thomas, seattle espresso has the best toddy i’ve had in the valley - and it’s WAY better than iced coffee.

michael t - you are right, too! hot coffee needs the acid to taste delicious, but iced coffees will taste bitter if first brewed hot.

my conclusion: cold brew the iced coffees and hot brew the hot stuff. simple, eh?

being that we’ve now consistently hit 3 digit heat, i’ve found that the 45 minute commute to seattle espresso in the morning is well worth the drive for toddy.

tip for seattle espresso drinkers: save your plastic cup after you get off work, stop by and ask for a refill of your toddy for like 59 cents (i think).