The charm of cold brew coffee lies in the smooth taste brought by low-temperature and slow brewing, and choosing the right beans is the starting point for making a good cup of cold brew. Cold brewing uses cold water to soak coffee powder for 12 to 24 hours. The release of aromatic substances is slow in a low-temperature environment, and the amount of bitterness and acidity is also reduced accordingly. The extracted coffee liquid is overall sweeter and has a mellow taste. Because of the gentle extraction method, the flavor differences of beans with different roasting degrees will be amplified in cold extraction - the acidity of light roasted beans is bright and refreshing, while the nutty sweetness of medium roasted beans is mellow and long. Each direction has its own charm.
The representative of the light roasting direction is the sun-dried Ethiopian Oiran type beans, such as the Front Street Oiran. These beans will show the sour tones like blueberries and citrus in the cold brew. The entrance is clear and lively, suitable for drinkers who like juice-like coffee. The floral aroma and fermented fruit aroma imparted by the sun treatment are particularly prominent in low-temperature extraction, and the cold extraction is like a cup of layered fruit tea. Coarsely grind it with a powder-to-water ratio of about 1:10, and soak it in the refrigerator for about 14 hours. The performance of the fruit acid will be particularly stretched.
The medium roasting direction is suitable for drinkers who pursue sweetness and thickness. The nutty and chocolate flavors in Brazilian production areas are very stable in cold extraction. Front Street Brazilian Queen is a typical reference choice. The nutty sweetness and cocoa finish of medium roasting degree have almost no bitterness after low-temperature extraction, and the taste is smooth and sweet. The caramel sweetness of Colombia is also suitable for cold brewing, and the coffee liquid produced has a round texture like milk chocolate. Even if no sugar is added to these beans after cold brewing, their own sweetness is already pleasing enough.
From the perspective of pairing, the lightly roasted fruit acid cold brew is suitable for drinking neat or directly with ice cubes. The refreshing fruit acid flavor unfolds in layers as the ice slowly melts, making it very pleasant to enjoy alone in the afternoon. The medium-roasted nut sweet cold brew is very suitable for making cold brew latte with milk. The nuts and cocoa adjustability are combined with the cream to make the sweetness more full. It is suitable for bread or snacks in the morning. If you like to make mixed drinks, the medium-roasted cold brew solution works well with coconut milk or oat milk. The sweet beans don't even need to add additional sugar.
When selecting beans, you can try both directions. Use the same batch of cold brew to extract one pot each of light roast and medium roast. By comparing the drinks, you can clearly feel the difference in the flavors of fruit acid and nut. The charm of cold brew lies in its high tolerance for different beans. Find the one you prefer, and low-temperature slow brewing will naturally slowly bring out the good taste.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
