We're calling it: cold coffee season is officially here. But let’s be real, navigating the world of cold coffee can get a bit confusing. You’ve got iced lattes, cold brews, flash brews, concentrates... What does it all actually mean?
If you’ve been eyeing up the fridge and wondering which bottle to take home, we’ve got you. Today, we’re stripping it back and looking at the science, the brew methods, and the taste differences between the two heavyweights of our summer lineup: our Coffee Concentrate and our true Cold Brew, made in partnership with our ready-to-pour drinks sister brand Midnight Oil.
Here is exactly what makes them different.
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Coffee Concentrate: flash-brewed magic
Let’s clear something up right away: our Coffee Concentrate is not a cold brew. Instead, we use a pretty innovative flash-brewing technique.
As coffee experts, we believe that hot water is absolutely essential if you want to deliver a perfectly balanced, complex brew. Hot water dissolves more of the coffee's volatile compounds, which means it extracts that perfect, well-rounded mix of acidic, bitter, and sweet notes. So, we brew the coffee hot, and then immediately flash-chill it. This locks in all the flavours and delicate aromas that you’d normally only get from a freshly pulled espresso.
The beans
We source this exceptional coffee from Daterra in Brazil—a farm at the absolute forefront of sustainable coffee farming. It's incredibly smooth and sweet, packed with notes of dark chocolate, hazelnut, and marzipan.
How to use it
Think of this as instant expertise. It acts exactly like a fresh shot of espresso, meaning you can have barista-quality coffee at home without needing any expensive espresso machines. Simply add ice and your milk of choice for a perfect iced latte in seconds, or shake it up with vodka and our coffee liqueur for an Espresso Martini that tastes like it came straight from your favourite bartender.
How to store it
Keep it in the fridge! It’s good for 3 months from purchase, and you have 28 days to use it once opened (though we doubt it'll last that long).
The Cold Brew: a slow & steady sweetheart
If the Concentrate is all about hot extraction and flash-chilling, our Cold Brew is the exact opposite. This is crafted through true immersion brewing, meaning it never sees a drop of hot water.
Instead, it’s all about patience. We take coarse coffee grounds and steep them in cold water for a solid 18 hours. Our tasty version will be out in the world soon, but until then, here is some more info about it:
The taste
Because the coffee steeps for so long at a cold temperature, the extraction process is completely different. It bypasses the acidic and bitter notes and instead brings out the massive natural sweetness of the bean. The result is a beautifully creamy, intense coffee with a much bolder, heavier body.
The kick
If you need to shake off a slump, this is the one. Thanks to that 18-hour steep, our Cold Brew packs a serious punch with a caffeine content of 1110 mg/L.
How to use it
This is your ultimate mid-afternoon pick-me-up. It is designed to be poured straight from the fridge over ice. Drink it black, add a splash of milk, or throw in a slice of orange.
The verdict
So, which one deserves a spot on your fridge shelf?
If you want a versatile, punchy espresso substitute to easily whip up iced flat whites, lattes, and cocktails at home, grab the Coffee Concentrate.
If you want a naturally sweet, heavy-bodied, and highly caffeinated brew that is ready to drink straight over ice, the Cold Brew is calling your name.
Or, do what we do, and sip on both all summer long.
