Basic Coffee Brewing: Flash-Chilled Iced Coffee Edition

While the cherry blossoms scatter and winter coats are relegated to the back of the closet, I've been feeling the change of seasons in various ways lately. At Base Coffee, there's one particular sign that tells us spring has arrived with its warm sunshine... That is, the recent increase in iced coffee orders! I'm sure it will only increase further when summer arrives... Perhaps some of you might be tempted to brew iced coffee at home too? So, this time, in anticipation of the full swing of summer, I'd like to introduce you to how to brew iced coffee and some key tips!

How to Brew Iced Coffee the Base Coffee Way

When it comes to brewing iced coffee, there are many methods, such as differences in brewing equipment and cooling methods. Among them, this time I'll introduce the easiest method: the flash brew method using paper drip! The method for brewing iced coffee with a paper drip is almost the same as for hot coffee. The differences are...

Put ice in the server

Brew coffee more concentrated

These are the only two points. For how to brew with a paper drip, click here → How to brew Base Coffee: Paper Drip Edition

What you need to brew iced coffee

Ice

Coffee beans (medium grind)

Hot water (90-95°C)

Dripper

Filter

Kettle (with a narrow spout)

Step 1: Set ice in the server

First, put ice in the server. By pouring the brewed coffee onto the ice and rapidly cooling it, more of the flavor can be preserved. The amount of ice should be approximately one-third of the final volume. At Base Coffee, for one serving of flash-brewed iced coffee, we use 20g of coffee and 75g of ice. For two servings, we use 30g of coffee and 150g of ice.

Step 2: Set the filter and beans

From here on, it's almost the same as brewing hot coffee. Fold the seam of the filter and set it, then add the coffee grounds and level the surface.

Step 3: Blooming

For iced coffee, just like hot coffee, pour a small amount of hot water and let it bloom for 30 to 60 seconds.

Step 4: Extraction

Aim for the center and slowly pour hot water in a circular motion, like drawing the hiragana character "no" (の), to extract the coffee. In the case of iced coffee, considering the ice, you need to brew the coffee a little more concentrated. Therefore, use slightly less hot water: for 20g of coffee, pour hot water until it reaches 150ml, including the amount used for blooming. For 30g, pour hot water until it reaches 300ml.

Step 5: Pour into a cup

Once brewing is complete, remove the dripper and stir gently. Finally, pour into a glass with ice, and it's done. The ice crackles pleasantly during extraction, so if you brew it in the summer, you'll feel refreshed just by the sound!

Precautions for selecting beans

When brewing the same beans hot and iced, iced coffee tends to have a stronger acidity and loses some of its body. Therefore, deeply roasted beans are more suitable for delicious iced coffee. At Base Coffee, we also offer an Iced Blend, a coffee characterized by a strong body and refreshing aftertaste, which is used for the iced coffee served in our shop. Beans perfect for iced coffee can be found here → Iced Blend 250g (Dark Roast)

Cold Brew Iced Coffee

What I introduced this time was flash-brewed iced coffee, but Base Coffee also offers "cold brew iced coffee" at our shop. "Cold brew" is a brewing method that has gained particular attention in recent years. By slowly extracting coffee over a long period using specialized equipment, you get a smooth coffee with less bitterness! Beyond just the taste, there's a different kind of enjoyment, such as observing the extraction process, compared to flash brewing. So, next time, I'd like to delve deeper into "cold brew coffee"! Stay tuned.