Cold brew coffee has exploded in popularity over the last few years. The smooth, low-acid cold brew flavor profile has coffee lovers hooked. But for those looking to limit their caffeine intake or avoid it completely, regular cold brew can be off-limits. That’s where decaf cold brew comes in!
Decaf cold brew combines the delicious cold brew flavor with the benefit of reduced caffeine levels. While not completely caffeine-free, decaf coffee removes around 97% of the caffeine versus regular. This makes decaf cold brew an ideal afternoon or evening pick-me-up.
Crafting perfect decaf cold brew takes some care and the right technique. Follow this comprehensive guide to mastering decaffeinated cold brew and make it a part of your coffee ritual!
Choosing The Right Beans
As with any coffee brew, quality beans are essential for great flavor. You want decaf coffee beans with rich, complex flavors that will come through in the cold brew. Single-origin beans from Central or South America are ideal picks.
Opt for a medium or light roast. Dark roasts lose many distinguishing flavor notes, resulting in one-dimensional, bitter cold brew. Light or medium roasts allow the sugar molecules to really pop. Buying pre-ground decaf beans is not recommended. Grinding right before brewing maximizes flavor and freshness. Purchase whole decaf beans and use a burr grinder if possible, for uniform grinding.
Consider buying beans from specialty roasters that use chemical-free decaffeination methods like Swiss Water or Carbon Dioxide processes. This retains more complexity versus harsh solvent methods.
Preparing Your Decaf Cold Brew Concentrate
Once you have quality decaf beans, it’s time to start brewing. We’ll be making a concentrated decaf cold brew that can be diluted to taste later on.
For the immersion brewing process, you’ll need:
- Whole bean decaf coffee
- Burr coffee grinder
- Digital kitchen scale
- Large glass jar or pitcher
- Filter
- Cheesecloth or nut milk bag (optional)
Start by weighing out your coffee. The standard ratio is 1:4, or 1 part coarsely ground coffee to 4 parts water. Some prefer less concentrated up to 1:8 ratio.
For a 32 oz mason jar, use 200g of coarsely ground beans. Grind to resemble coarse sea salt. Too fine and it may be sludgy; too coarse and it will be weak.
Add the ground beans to your glass brewing jar or pitcher, then slowly pour in 32 oz (950ml) of cold or room temperature filtered water. Using cool or room temp water helps extract the sweeter notes.
Gently stir the mixture to integrate the grounds and water. Cover and let it steep at room temperature for 12-24 hours. Recommended time is 18-20 hours.
Set a timer if needed to keep track of the hours for best extraction. Resist peeking until time is up! Oxygen will alter the flavor.
After it has fully steeped, prep your filter setup. Use a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a nut milk bag inside a large pitcher.
Slowly pour your decaf cold brew through the filter to separate the liquid from the soaked grounds. Cheesecloth helps filter out fine particles.
You can discard the soaked grounds or save them to use in baked goods, compost, etc. They will have a slightly bitter, over extracted flavor.
Transfer the filtered concentrate to a clean airtight jar or bottle and store in the fridge. It will keep fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Diluting & Enjoying Your Decaf Cold Brew
The concentrated decaf cold brew liquid will be quite strong. Dilute it before enjoying as a cold or iced drink. In a glass filled with ice, add 1-part cold brew concentrate to 2 parts water. Adjust more or less to taste. Non-dairy milk like oat or almond can also be used for a creamy drink.
If you prefer a hot coffee-like drink, dilute 1 part concentrate with 1.5 parts hot water. Decaf Americanos, here we come!
Some other serving suggestions:
- Decaf vanilla latte – Add cold brew, milk, vanilla syrup to taste
- Decaf mocha – Mix cold brew with chocolate syrup & milk
- Decaf iced Caramel Macchiato – Top diluted cold brew with milk & caramel drizzle
- Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte – Add pumpkin puree, cinnamon, cloves
- Tropical Iced Decaf – Mix mango or pineapple juice with cold brew
The convenient concentrate lasts for weeks refrigerated, letting you enjoy decaf iced or hot coffee anytime.
Tips for Troubleshooting & Improving Your Decaf Cold Brew
Now that you’ve learned the decaf cold brew process, let’s go over some troubleshooting tips for perfecting your brew:
- If it tastes weak, try a less diluted concentrate, longer steep time, or less water.
- Bitter or acidic flavor means it was overextracted. Use a coarser grind or less time.
- Cloudy or gritty means your grind size is too fine. Aim for sea salt crystals.
- Getting flat or stale? Drink within 5-7 days and store in airtight bottles.
- For sweeter brew, experiment with a lighter roast or infusion additions like vanilla.
- Adjusting your coffee-to-water ratio will control the strength. Standard is 1:4.
It may take a few tries dialing in your perfect decaf cold brew. But once mastered, you’ll be able to enjoy sweet, smooth, decadent caffeine-free cold brew any time of day!
