How to Make Flash Brew Coffee Uncategorized Are you a fan of cold brew coffee but don’t have the time (or the patience) to wait for it to brew? Do you enjoy iced coffee more than hot coffee? Consider making brew coffee! What is Flash Brew Coffee? Flash brew coffee, often referred to as Japanese Iced Coffee, is a process similar to making cold brew coffee, but it’s not quite the same. Coffee that has been flash brewed is chilled rapidly, locking in maximum flavor, and is served over ice. Learn how to make cold brew coffee here. The best methods to use for flash brew coffee are pour-over and Aeropress. If you’re looking for a pour-over coffee device, check out Atlas’ list of 5 Best Pour-Over Coffee Makers currently on the market. Cold Brew vs. Flash Brew They both result in an icy glass of coffee perfection, but cold brew and flash brew are not the same. To figure out which method is for you, ask yourself a few simple questions: How is your coffee roasted? If you’ve got a darker roast on hand, cold brew is for you! It emphasizes those nutty, chocolatey tasting notes for a super smooth cup. If you’re working with a light roast, opt for flash brew to let the whole spectrum of tasting notes shine! How much coffee do you need (want), and when do you need (want) it? Cold brew coffee can be stored, and even frozen, in larger batches to be effortlessly enjoyed in the future, but flash brew coffee is meant to be enjoyed immediately, and it makes just one serving at a time. Are you now-lazy or later-lazy? To make a batch of cold brew coffee, you have to grind an ungodly amount of coffee, wait 12 whole hours, and then filter it all out. You do most of the work upfront for the privilege of having a pitcher full of iced deliciousness waiting in your fridge for the next few days. To make flash brew coffee, you can likely make coffee however you normally make it, with some ice built into the process. You’ll have to put in the effort again next time you want an iced brew, but it’s easy in the moment and the results are impressive. Do you care about the quality of your coffee? We sure hope so! Whichever method you choose, you should use high-quality beans because you’ll taste any flavor flaws or shortcomings—trust us. Remember, any brew method will require some trial an error to master, and neither of these are an exception. The best way to achieve consistent results is to start with a consistent grind and make small changes to your technique from there. How Do You Brew it? You’ll need a brewing device, a brewing container (if your brewing device doesn’t have an attached carafe), and your favorite recipe for coffee. But don’t forget the “ice” in this iced coffee! Replace 1/3 to 1/2 of your water with ice, placed directly into your brewing container. The coffee is then poured over the ice in stages, melting it, until coffee is filtered entirely into carafe. Serve chilled and enjoy immediately (not tomorrow). Here’s a general pour-over recipe for flash brew coffee (aka: Japanese Iced Coffee) for your reference. What you’ll need: 1 oz. coffee (a lighter roast is recommended to start) Grinder (finer grind; we recommend hand grinding) Pour-Over brewer Filter Kettle or saucepan ~11-12 oz. Boiling water, cooled to 195–205 F ~5-6 oz. ice Instructions: Boil water and let cool. Meanwhile, load ice into the pour-over carafe or brewing container. Place filter on carafe/container, folding sides if necessary to make sure it fits tightly. Place dripper/filter over top of ice-filled carafe. Weigh and grind coffee, adding it to the filter. Pour just enough hot water to saturate coffee, stopping just before the coffee starts filtering into the carafe. Let coffee “bloom” (expand) for ~30-45 seconds. Pour water in a circular motion to fill cone about halfway. Continue filling with water in stages, keeping the coffee grounds saturated. The whole process shouldn’t take longer than 2 1/2 minutes. Once all the water has been added, stir and let filter drain entirely. The coffee grounds in the filter should look flat or slightly domed. Remove filter and enjoy immediately! Other Tips For Making Flash Brew Coffee: Use a finer grind (this is why the AeroPress is often recommended for this method). Because you’re using less water, the coffee needs to be fine enough to dissolve quickly. However, please note that if you’re using a Chemex, you’ll need a slightly coarser grind. Use large ice cubes—the larger cubes will melt slowly and decrease dilution; rapid dilution will result in watered-down coffee. 1:10 coffee to water ratio is a good place to start. Pour as little water as possible to saturate the coffee (step #6 above). This will also help ensure a more even dilution. It’s important to allow “bloom” time (step #7)—this will guarantee an even dispersion of liquid and therefore, a more even dispersion of flavor. Pour faster and keep your “coffee bed” a little higher than when brewing regular coffee. As an Amazon Affiliate, Atlas Coffee Club (at no cost to you!) earns a commission when you click through and make a qualifying purchase. We take coffee seriously and thoroughly research and/or test products before recommending them to our community of fellow coffee-lovers.
