Rich and deep flavor, milk-brewed coffee you can make at home

Adding milk to coffee has been common practice for a long time, but what happens if you brew coffee with milk instead of water? In this article, we'll introduce you to milk-brewed coffee, a less familiar method!

What is milk-brewed coffee?

Most of you are probably aware of how well coffee and milk complement each other. There are many coffee and milk drinks, such as café au lait, where milk is added to drip coffee, and café latte, where milk is added to espresso. However, these drinks are made by first extracting coffee with water or steam, and then adding milk. In contrast, milk-brewed coffee is made by extracting the essence from coffee beans using milk. This results in a different texture and a unique harmony of coffee and milk that you won't find in café au lait or lattes.

How is brewing with milk different?

What's the difference between adding milk to coffee and brewing coffee with milk? Milk-brewed coffee is significantly different because it's not diluted with milk, resulting in a much richer milky flavor. While café au lait and café latte, depending on the ratio, soften the bitter taste of coffee with milk, the coffee flavor tends to be slightly more prominent, leaning towards "coffee > milk." However, with milk-brewed coffee, since the coffee dissolves into the milk, the sweetness of the milk is enhanced by the aroma and pleasant bitterness of the coffee, allowing you to fully appreciate the milk, making it "milk > coffee." Therefore, milk-brewed coffee leaves a rich, milky aftertaste that provides a pleasant lingering sensation. Brewing with milk results in a very mild and easy-to-drink coffee, making it highly recommended for those who find coffee a bit strong or always add a lot of milk to their coffee.

How to make milk-brewed coffee

The method for brewing milk coffee is very simple; you can essentially think of it as replacing the water in cold brew coffee with milk. This time, we'll introduce the easiest method using a tea bag, which also simplifies cleanup.

What you'll need (for about 1 glass)

Coffee cold brew pack (tea bag also acceptable)

Coffee beans (30g)

Milk (300ml)

Step 1: Prepare the coffee beans

First, measure out the necessary amount of coffee and grind it. Grinding it a bit finer at this stage will result in a stronger coffee flavor, so if you want a robust taste, adjust the grind to be slightly finer. Place the ground beans into the pack.

Step 2: Pour in the milk

Place the coffee beans in the pack into a server and pour in the milk. Similar to cold brew, a good ratio is approximately coffee beans (g) : milk (ml) = 1:10. You can adjust the ratio slightly to suit your preference.

Step 3: Refrigerate

Place the server from Step 2 in the refrigerator and let it sit for 6 to 8 hours. Before placing it, lightly shake it to moisten the entire pack for proper extraction. You can adjust this time to your liking, but avoid leaving it for too long, as it might become too strong or develop an unpleasant taste.

Step 4: Remove the pack and it's done!

Once the time is up, remove the pack, stir gently, and it's complete! This time, the brewing took about 7 hours. A rich flavor spreads through, and the milky aftertaste lingers pleasantly, making it very easy to drink. Milk-brewed coffee is easy to make and very easy to drink. It's perfect for hot days, so give it a try!