Japanese Iced Coffee: Fun Facts and Recipes

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Cold brew coffee is extremely popular but does not resonate with everyone. There still could be a slow process that you can utilize to give you the flavor that you want the cold brew coffee has lacked. Critics of cold brew feel like the flavors are not as robust as a freshly brewed hot cup of coffee. Japanese style iced coffee could be the answer to all of your coffee needs.

Slow drip cold brew coffee, when compared to cold immersion brew, offers far more in terms of flavors. The drawback is that it could take more attention and simply will take more work. The beauty of Japanese pour over iced coffee is that it will deliver in flavor without the extra work. Below are a few things that you should know about Japanese style iced coffee.

Origins

The origins began in Japan in the 1920s as an alternative to tea. Plenty of tea is consumed cold, so this was a happy meeting between both drinks for many drinkers. The coffee was served with milk and gum syrup during its introduction. The ability to make an iced coffee is available at most major convenience stores in Japan.

Much like tea, coffee is usually enjoyed with sweets when consumed in the afternoon in Japan. The Japanese embraced this like another form of tea, which is a staple in their culture. The caffeine, when compared to a traditional cup of green tea, was just an added benefit. The efficiency of making this is similar to that of tea, as all you have to do is heat up water.

The result was an iced coffee that delivered in not just flavor but had a strong smell which appeals to nearly every coffee drinker.

Best beans and grind to make a cup of Japanese iced coffee

The best part of Japanese iced coffee is that you likely have everything you need to make it already. Below are tips for the best beans and grind for the perfect iced coffee:

You can use a coffee maker like that of a Keurig, but you will have little control of the flavor. The reduction in ice to make the coffee stronger might not lock in the flavors you would like.
The best beans depend on your tastes, but they need to be ground up.
A fine grinder should be used to maximize the strength of the coffee. Hot water over thick grinds will not extract the flavors desired. Take the time to look at reviews for the best find grinders as they do differ in quality.

What about the caffeine content?

The caffeine content in Japanese iced coffee will be the same as a normal cup of coffee. There are a few things to keep in mind about the amount of caffeine in your coffee:

Make sure that you take the time to grind up the coffee as finely as possible. For more caffeine, grind up a larger amount of beans as you only will be making one serving at a time.
The strength of the coffee beans is of utmost importance. A generic coffee bean is not going to have the same kick as that of an espresso bean.
The amount of ice that you put in the cup the coffee is brewed directly into has no impact on caffeine content. This will just impact the flavor by making the coffee taste too strong or weak.

The convenience combined with caffeine makes this the perfect option for iced coffee enthusiasts.

Japanese iced coffee vs. other cold coffee drinks

The best-kept secret of many cold brew coffees is that they lack in flavor when compared to a fresh cup brewed with hot water. Below is the difference between Japanese iced coffee and what makes it superior to other cold coffee drinks:

People that are putting ice in their coffee after a few minutes are missing out on massive amounts of flavor and aroma.
Japanese iced coffee is as simple as brewing a regular cup, but keep in mind water temperature is still extremely important.
Japanese iced coffee locks in the flavor of the coffee once immediately cooled.
Cold brew coffee can take up to 14 hours, while Japanese iced coffee takes just minutes.
Pre-made cold coffee drinks often lack flavor and aroma.

Japanese iced coffee is the king of cold coffee drinks due to the combination of flavor and the utter convenience of making it.

How to make proper Japanese iced coffee?

Japanese iced coffee is coffee that is brewed onto the ice, which provides the flavors a cold brew or slow drip coffee do without the additional work required. Below are a few details that you should know about this convenient type of iced coffee:

The ice immediately cools the coffee allowing the flavors to be expressed.
If you love the smell of coffee, this type of ice coffee has a pronounced smell.
This takes around the same amount of time that it takes to brew a regular cup of coffee.
The best temperature for brewing coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees. Over or underheating can lead to issues with the taste of the coffee. Overheating leads to a bitter taste, while underheating can result in a weak flavor.

How to drink Japanese iced coffee? What is the best occasion for it?

The method and occasion for drinking Japanese iced coffee differ on a variety of factors. Below are a few of these factors that you should take into consideration:

The time of day can make a huge difference as some people want a hot cup of coffee.
The weather outside will impact this as well as iced coffee can give you a refreshing boost on a hot summer day.
The best occasion is when you need a quick cup of coffee that has the flavor of cold brew in a matter of minutes. Drinking this with a pastry of some kind is a favorite way to enjoy this coffee worldwide.

Conclusion

Finding the right Japanese iced coffee recipe can really add flavor along with pep in your step daily. There are various recipes, so it will take some trial and error to find the one that appeals to you. For those that know their coffee is important, this more labor-intensive process will deliver in terms of flavor. For those that are looking for a robust smell in their morning cup of coffee, the ice will help deliver this as the coffee is poured onto it.