Cold Brew For The Summer: 5 Delightful Cold Brew Coffee Drinks For Summer

It's summer time - it is that time of the year when you're most likely to reach out for those cold fizzy soft drinks, totally disregarding the advice of your dietitian. Of course, you can blame it on the heat. Over the last couple of summers, there's a new fix to beat the summer heat that's on the rise across the world - the Cold brew. Cold brew coffees are no longer a niche phenomenon; they have begun making their appearance on the menus of major coffee chains like Starbucks. A cold brew combines the refreshing properties of a cold drink along with the coffee kick; just the invigoration you need minus some of the calories, and no, it's not a complex process to fix at home.

I spent a couple hours on a hot summer afternoon in Chennai at the Lavazza Corporate office along with one of their coffee experts - Abdul, trying my hands at a cold brew. The key difference between the regular hot brew and a cold brew is the brewing time and technique. The hot cup of filter coffee depends on quick extraction resulting in a more acidic cup, whereas the cold brew is brewed at room temperature or lower over a longer period - 12 to 24 hours. This concentrate is good for consumption for almost a fortnight and also boasts of deeper flavours. While the hot brew depends on heat to extract the essential flavours of the coffee and its sugars, oils and caffeine, the cold brew is all about time.  

(Also Read: Here's How You Can Make Cafe-Style Cold Brew Coffee At Home)

^{Cold brew coffees are no longer a niche phenomenon; you can now see them on the menus of major coffee chains.}

Fix a cold brew at home: it's ridiculously simple! Take a cup of coarsely ground cup of coffee and stir into five cups of water (1: 5 ratios) in a tall glass jar/container. Make sure this container is sealed and leave it in the fridge or a cool dry place (a fridge is a safer bet, especially in summer) for about 12 to 24 hours. Strain the coffee (you can use a muslin cloth or a mesh strainer - repeat, if required) into a jar or vessel and store it in the fridge. You can enjoy a cold glass - serve it over ice or milk, when you need a caffeine kick or a refreshing beverage or also choose to blend this into a variety of cocktails or non-alcoholic beverages.

Here Are Some Amazing Cold Brew Coffee Recipes That You Can Try At Home:

The All-Dark Cold Brew Cocktail

I'd recommend this if you are a true coffee fan and don't mind the slightly dark, almost one-dimensional coffee flavour of this refreshing cocktail

(Also Read: How to Make Cold Coffee: The Ultimate Recipe)

^{The All-Dark Cold Brew Cocktail}

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Cold brew
• 30 ml Bourbon whisky
• 30 ml Coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
• Liquid jaggery or sugar syrup (1 - 2 tablespoons)

Method:

1. Shake these contents in a cocktail shaker along with ice.
2. Pour into a 12 oz. glass with ice cubes. 

Citrus Coffee Twist

Orange with coffee? It's not as outrageous as it seems. This refreshing cocktail combines the refreshing tang of orange with coffee.

(Also Read: 8 Best Coffee Recipes)

^{Citrus Coffee Twist}

Ingredients:

• 150 ml sweetened orange juice (tetra pack drinks work well)
• 60 ml Cold brew
• 45 ml Vodka

Method:

Shake these contents in a cocktail shaker along with ice.

Lemon Ginger Cold Brew

A refreshing option for a hot summer's day with the spicy finish of ginger.

(Also Read: Ketogenic Coffee Benefits: 4 Reasons To Consume This Healthy Morning Drink)

^{Lemon Ginger Cold Brew}

Ingredients:

• 75 ml Cold brew
• 75 ml cold water
• Juice of half a lemon
• Crushed ginger - about three tiny wedges
• Liquid jaggery or sugar syrup (1 - 2 tablespoons)

Method:

1. Shake these contents in a cocktail shaker along with ice.
2. Pour into a 12 oz. glass with ice cubes. 

Cherry Cold Brew

Recipe Courtesy - Lavazza

(Also Read: Know Your Coffee: Cappuccino, Latte and 15 Different Kinds)

^{Cherry Cold Brew}

Ingredients:

• 250 g sour cherry syrup
• 375 g bottled lemonade
• 4 sliced sour cherries
• 400 ml diluted cold brew - Use the above method (200 ml pure cold brew + 200 ml water)
• 1 glass of crushed ice

Method:

1. Pour the bottled lemonade and the sour cherry syrup into a large jug and mix well.
2. Fill a glass with crushed ice and pieces of sour cherry.
3. Pour 150 g of cherry lemonade and 100 g of the diluted cold brew into each glass.

Vodka Coffee Tail

Recipe Courtesy - Lavazza

^{Vodka Coffee Tail}

Ingredients

• 3 parts ginger ale
• 2 parts cold brew coffee concentrate
• 2/3-part Vodka
• Splash of Grand Marnier
• Splash of simple syrup
• Sliced lemon, orange and cucumber
• Maraschino cherries
• Fresh mint

Method

1. Fill a 12-oz. glass with ice.
2. In a shaker, combine cold brew, Grand Marnier, vodka and syrup.
3. Pour over the ice. Top with ginger ale.
4. Decorate with wheel or slices of orange and/or a lemon. 

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About Ashwin RajagopalanI've discovered cultures, destinations and felt at home in some of the world's most remote corners because of the various meals I've tried that have been prepared with passion. Sometimes they are traditional recipes and at most times they've been audacious reinterpretations by creative chefs. I might not cook often but when I do, I imagine I'm in a cookery show set - matching measuring bowls, et all!