The increasing popularity of cold brews, iced coffees, and other cold coffee concoctions is attributed, in part, to younger generations seeking caffeinated alternatives to sugary soda drinks. Additionally, warmer summer temperatures encourage coffee enthusiasts of all ages to reach for their favorite cold coffee beverage.
A trending choice of millennials (& Gen Z’s) or modern alternatives in warmer temperatures might seem the apparent catalyst for the creation of craft cold brews and iced coffees.
Iced Cold brew on VCC’s patio
You might be surprised that cold brew originated centuries ago in Japan. Dutch traders brought cold brew to Japan in the 17th century. Kyoto coffee (Japanese cold brew) soon developed and has been popular ever since.
Isn’t Cold Brew just Iced Coffee?
Cold brew should not be confused with its cousin, iced coffee. In simple terms, iced coffee is traditionally hot -brewed coffee and cooled immediately - either by flash cooling, pouring over ice, or chilling it with refrigeration. This method is much quicker than cold brewing methods and produces an entirely different coffee experience from cold brews.
Brewing a Cold Brew
The production of a quality cold brew is not quick, and the correct method is integral to a quality cup. Water is stirred into coarsely ground beans and allowed to steep in a cool room (or refrigerated) for 12 to 24 hours. The result is a smoother, sweeter, and less acidic cup of coffee.
At Vienna Coffee Company, Dark Horse Blend is the crucial ingredient to our delightful in-house cold brew. Dark Horse Blend is smoky sweet, and dark, which lends perfectly to our cold brewing method. Fresh water is added to the coarsely ground blend, mixed by hand, and refrigerated for 18 – 20 hours per twelve-gallon batch. The resulting brew is filtered and diluted before heading to our Coffee House to purchase by the glass or mixed into one of our signature cold coffee beverages.
Nitro Cold Brew
Nitro Cold Brew & Palomino on tap at the Coffee House
You can also enjoy our cold brew on tap in a Nitro-brewed option in the Coffee House. Nitro brews take the rich qualities of our cold brew to another delightful level. To achieve a nitro brew, cold brewed coffee is infused with nitrogen, stored in a keg, and offered as a draft.
The resulting coffee has a smoother, almost creamy texture, and the nitrogen enhances the sweetness of the cold brew. The cup features a light, foamy head similar to a pint of beer.
At Vienna Coffee Company
we realize that cold coffee drinks are not a flashy new coffee trend; instead, they are many of our customers’ favorites year-round.
Whether you reach for a Nitro brew on tap, a traditional cold brew, or one of our featured cold drinks or Frappes, we strive for every menu item to support our mission to provide craft coffee that enriches the lives of customers and producers alike by providing an experience grounded in excellence and hospitality.
Our entire coffee line demonstrates our continued pursuit to provide craft coffee that enriches the lives of customers and producers alike by providing an experience grounded in excellence and hospitality. We choose our green coffee beans from regions across The Coffee Belt and always seek responsible sourcing from seed to cup.
Explore our coffees online or stop by the Vienna Coffee House and let our coffee shop baristas do the brewing for you. We hope that exploring what we offer (whether its organic, single-origin, a VCC custom blend or your favorite flavored coffee) continues your journey in discovering that “Great Coffee is an Adventure.”