Decaffeinated cold brews are all delightful and dreamy until it’s post-dinner and you’re at the comfort of your home with no more energy to go out for a coffee run. How do you deal with your cravings then?
There’s no way to ease nights like those except when you can brew a cup all by yourself! If you want to learn how, you better keep your eyes glued!
Why use decaf coffee for your cold brew?
Those who are coffee lovers to the core laugh at the word “decaf.” What’s a brew without caffeine, they say. But just like all else, of course there are people on the other end of the spectrum who adore this non-caffeine drink. While others say it’s bad for you.
Decafs are blessings from above especially when it’s nighttime and your body craves for the creamy taste of coffee. If you’re all for the sweet and silky taste of coffee, this should hit the spot just right.
It takes a great roast and a high quality variant to brew a brilliant decaf coffee. There are specialty decaf coffee that houses the flavors and notes caffeinated coffee has. Specialty coffees can win your heart in a heartbeat if you’re willing to try.
The beans
A lot of people hate the idea of decaf coffees because there really are a lot of bad tasting variants out there. Thus, it’s safe to say that the quality of the coffee beans play a humongous role.
Six basic things to look out for a great decaffeinated cup:
- Freshness: The closer the roasting process is to brewing time, the fresher your coffee will be. As a rule of thumb, coffee beans that are roasted 5-12 days before using them are at their freshest.
- Specialty coffee: Don’t sacrifice the quality of your beans. Remember, you get what you pay for! There are so many bad variants out there, make sure to find the one that suits you best.
- Flavor notes: Be cautious! It’s easy for brands to slap on some “bold coffee” claims on their packaging to mask a low quality coffee. To ensure a specialty coffee, find flavor notes such as walnut, caramel, orang, or red apple.
- Roast level: Know what you want! Whether it’s light, medium, or dark roast, the choice is yours!
- Whole bean coffee: If you want no less than a fresh and most delicious cup possible, go for whole coffee beans!
- Arabica beans: Coffee plants are basically divided into two: Arabica and Robusta. Specialty coffees can be extracted from both, but robusta gears towards the more intense and rubber side. Also, robusta houses higher caffeine content. In our opinion, Arabica is far more superior!
Here’s our best decaf coffee beans you can buy today.
Check out our top organic decaf coffee beans
For those who are lazy and want to just use instant decaf coffee over ice.
Benefits of decaffeinated cold brew
- No coffee jitters
Most coffee lovers love caffeine because their bodies are accustomed to it. Ten cups of Joe a day? No problem! But, this is not true for those who are not used to it.
Side effects of caffeine include insomnia, restlessness, jittery hands, headaches, and anxiety. Although I have never experienced it, it sounds as if it’s no fun at all.
Decaf coffee can never be caffeine-free. Little amounts can still be present regardless of the brew or roast utilized. Decaf coffee has approximately 2 milligrams of caffeine versus a regular coffee houses anywhere from 80-100 milligrams.
To avoid excessive caffeine intake and still enjoy the flavors of a great coffee, opt for decaf options instead!
- Decaf is stacked great benefits
Decaf coffee is proven to boast of the following benefits:
- Decreased cancer risk
- Decreased type 2 diabetes risk
- Improved heart health
- Decreased neurodegenerative diseases risk such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s
Decaf coffee has hydroxycinnamic acids and polyphenols which work to fight and decrease oxidative damage. This decreases the harmful free radicals in the body and therefore decreases illnesses from developing.
- It works even in creative coffee drinks
Other variants of beverage possible are cold brew lemonade, cold brew tonic, and cold brew cocktails. Sky’s the limit!
How to brew some good quality decaf cold brew
Decaf cold brew may sound intimidating, but it’s pretty easy to do!
A well-balanced coffee is made of 1:17 coffee-to-water ratio, but if we want a concentrate, we reduce that to a 1:5 ratio. This adjustment creates a creamy body while emphasizing the natural flavors of coffee.
The concentrate is then reduced with 2 parts water before drinking to bring it to the preferred 1:15 ratio. Ice it up thereafter!
What you need:
- Device: Toddy cold brewer, mason jar, french press, or a big pitcher
- Decaf coffee: 100g coarsely ground (approximately 20 tablespoons)
- Filter: any coffee filter will do!
- Water: 500ml or 17oz of cold water
- Time: 12-18 hours
- Measure and grind. Measure the cold water and coffee beans to the desired amount. Coarse grind the decaf beans then mix everything up. Evenly saturated ground is ideal!
- Wait for 5 minutes and stir up. Let the grounds saturate for about 5 minutes then gently stir with a spoon or a spatula. Make sure that the crust at the surface is allowed to submerge. Then, cover.
- Wait for 12 to 18 hours!
- Filter the decaf cold brew concentrate. Gently pour the coffee through a filter.
- Dilute and consume. Add 1 part decaf cold brew concentrate to 2 parts water and enjoy!
Lifespan of decaf cold brew
To maximize its lifespan, it’s a must to store it in the fridge in an airtight container such as a mason jar. If properly stored this way, it can last up to two weeks. But take note that the most enticing flavors are more readily available right after brewing/
Decaf cold brew doesn’t have enough acidity to survive more than 2 weeks. Thus, once you hit the mark, get up and brew another batch.
Another tip: Do not pre-mix cream, milk, or sugar into your decaf cold brew to even prolong its lifespan!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
