These days it seems like every coffeehouse brags about their “cold brew” coffee. It’s certainly trendy, but is it really the best-tasting way to get a cup of refreshing, ice-cold coffee? Here at Port City Java , we spent time exploring various iced coffee processes to ensure that our franchisees can consistently provide customers with a fast, flavorful cup of coffee throughout the summer months.
Cold Brew Coffee 101
Let’s start with a crash course in the cold brew method. This has been the “hot” method for making iced coffee for a while now, but it does have drawbacks.
For one, the cold brew method takes a lot of time. Coarse- to medium-ground coffee is submerged in room temperature water for an average of 12 hours. Wait, you’re still not finished. Next, the grounds are strained out and the remaining liquid is refrigerated. Then, when everything is nice and cold, you can enjoy a refreshing cup of iced coffee.
Second, if you’ve ever sipped a cup of cold brew coffee, you can tell something is missing — the flavor. It is the coffee beans’ oils and aromas that create a full-bodied cup of joe. The process of “brewing” coffee is what releases these into the water, creating that rich coffee flavor. Because the optimum temperature for releasing these is between 195 to 200 degrees, cold brewing simply doesn’t raise the temperature high enough to extract the same amount of oils and aromas from the grounds that hot water can. For this reason, a refreshing, cold brew beverage simply doesn’t get the full-bean flavor.
Japanese Iced Coffee
At Port City Java we don’t follow the trend; we follow the flavor. That’s why we use the Japanese Iced Coffee method, sometimes known as flash brewing. Here’s how it works: First, our baristas prepare a concentrated hot coffee brew, using less water than you would for your usual hot coffee beverage. Because we’re using hot water, we’re able to extract all the wonderful flavors and goodness out of the fresh-ground coffee.
Then, the concentrated brew is poured directly over ice cubes, so it’s instantly cooled. This ensures that the flavors and the aromas extracted by the hot water are locked into the final liquid, improving the richness and aroma of the coffee. Finally, a bit more water is added to prevent the coffee from being too intense.
Quality Processes Power the Brand
At Port City Java, our iced coffees are bright-tasting, smooth and refreshing, and made quickly. In a sea of cold brew coffees, the Port City Java Japanese Ice Coffee method stands out. We think that this is important to our brand, because customers trust Port City Java to provide a high-quality coffee drink — whether it’s hot or cold!
So, come in and sit a spell at a Port City Java location near you and experience all the flavors and fun that make us unique. Port City Java is a great way to start the day, as well as a great way to start your own business. Click here for information on how you can bring Port City Java to your city.