A coffee concentrate is a concentrated form of coffee that is made by brewing coffee with a higher ratio of coffee grounds to water. The resulting liquid is stronger and more concentrated than regular brewed coffee, and can be used as a base for a variety of coffee-based drinks and recipes.

There are different methods for making coffee concentrate, but the most common is cold brewing. To make cold brew coffee concentrate, coffee grounds are steeped in cold or room temperature water for an extended period of time, usually between 12-24 hours. The longer steeping time allows for more of the coffee's flavor and caffeine to be extracted, resulting in a strong and concentrated coffee.

Once the coffee has been brewed, the liquid is strained to remove the grounds and any sediment. The resulting concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks and used as a base for a variety of coffee-based drinks, such as iced coffee, lattes, and cocktails.

Coffee concentrate can also be made using hot water, which is known as hot brewed coffee concentrate. In this method, a higher ratio of coffee grounds to water is used, and the coffee is brewed using hot water, similar to traditional coffee brewing. The resulting liquid is then cooled and strained to remove any sediment, resulting in a concentrated coffee that can be used for various recipes.

Using coffee concentrate to make your coffee has several advantages over using traditional brewed coffee. Here are some of the benefits of using coffee concentrate:

Convenience: Making coffee is quick and easy when you use a concentrate, and can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks, so you can enjoy a cup of coffee anytime without having to brew a fresh pot every time. This is especially convenient for busy mornings or when you want a quick and easy caffeine fix.

Customizable strength: Coffee concentrate is more concentrated than regular brewed coffee, so you can easily adjust the strength of your coffee by adding more or less water. This makes it ideal for those who prefer stronger or weaker coffee.

Consistent flavor: Because coffee concentrate is made using a consistent ratio of coffee to water, the flavor is consistent and predictable, unlike traditional brewed coffee which can vary depending on factors such as water temperature, brewing time, and grind size.

Versatile: Coffee concentrate can be used as a base for a variety of coffee-based drinks and recipes, such as iced coffee, lattes, and cocktails. This versatility allows you to experiment with different flavors and styles of coffee, and creates opportunities for creative expression in your coffee-making.

Less waste: When making traditional brewed coffee, it can be difficult to brew just the right amount you need, which can result in wasted coffee. With coffee concentrate, you can easily make just the amount you need, reducing the amount of coffee wasted.

Smooth flavor: Coffee concentrate is often praised for its smooth and less bitter flavor, as the longer extraction time used to make it results in a more nuanced flavor profile. This makes it a great option for those who find traditional brewed coffee too bitter or acidic.

Hosting benefits: As a host, using coffee concentrate as a base for your coffee and cocktails allows you to prepare multiple servings for your guests very efficiently compared to traditional brewing methods.

In summary, using coffee concentrate can save you time and effort, provide consistent and customizable flavor, and allow for versatility in your coffee-making. Additionally, the smooth and less bitter flavor of coffee concentrate can be a refreshing change for those who are tired of traditional brewed coffee.

From an economical point of view, using a coffee concentrate can be more cost-effective than using an espresso machine for several reasons:

Initial investment: Espresso machines can be expensive, with some models costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In contrast, making coffee concentrate requires minimal equipment which can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of an espresso machine.

Lower maintenance costs: Espresso machines require regular maintenance, such as cleaning and descaling, which can add up over time. Coffee concentrate, on the other hand, requires little to no maintenance beyond regular cleaning of the equipment used to make it.

Lower coffee bean usage: Espresso machines require a significant amount of coffee beans to make a single shot of espresso, which can be expensive over time. Coffee concentrate, however, uses a higher ratio of coffee to water, resulting in a more concentrated product that requires less coffee beans per serving.

Reduced waste: Espresso machines can produce a lot of waste, as the grounds used to make espresso are often discarded after a single use. Coffee concentrate, however, can be brewed in larger batches and stored in the refrigerator for later use, reducing the amount of coffee waste.

Versatility: Coffee concentrate can be used as a base for a variety of coffee-based drinks and recipes, such as iced coffee, lattes, and cocktails, which can provide more value and variety than just using an espresso machine for traditional espresso shots.

Flavor: Coffee concentrate can have a smoother, less bitter flavor than espresso, which can be preferable for some coffee drinkers. Coffee concentrate can be made using cold brewing techniques, which can result in a sweeter, less acidic coffee flavor than hot brewed espresso
shots.

In summary, coffee concentrate can be a more convenient, cost-effective,
versatile, and flavorful option than an espresso machine, especially for those who prefer cold brewing methods or want to use the concentrate as a base for a variety of drinks. However, espresso machines are still the go-to option for those who want to make traditional espresso shots with crema and a distinct espresso flavor profile.

The amount of coffee concentrate to be used per serving will depend on the desired strength of the coffee and the recipe being used. As a general guideline, a ratio of 1:3 (coffee concentrate to water) is commonly used for making coffee drinks with Brown Rush coffee concentrate.

For example, if you want to make a 160ml cup of coffee, you would use 40ml of coffee concentrate and 120 of water.

However, some recipes may call for different ratios or volumes of coffee concentrate depending on the specific drink being made. It's important to follow the recipe instructions carefully to ensure that the coffee concentrate is used correctly and the resulting drink has the desired flavor and strength.

At Brown Rush, we brew our coffee concentrate at room temperature without adding sugar during or after. Therefore, in a sealed container, our concentrate can last a very long time in a refrigerator. There is almost nothing in brewed coffee that can “spoil” by supporting the growth of microorganisms.

As it sits in the fridge, some of the chemical compounds that are flavor elements can and do degrade; but they do so rather slowly when chilled. It would take a couple of months for some of the lipids in the coffee, for instance, to go rancid—and even if they did, this would just cause the coffee to taste badly.

Safety-wise, a cold-brew concentrate could be stored in the refrigerator for 2 months— around a year in the freezer. From a “freshness” and flavor point of view, however, your concentrate has a refrigerated “shelf-life” of 4 weeks before the flavor begins to suffer through chemical degradation and/or taking on spurious flavors from the refrigerator or the storage vessel. Stored in a well-sealed glass container, you might get 2 months of acceptably flavored coffee from the concentrate.

We suggest to always store it in a refrigerator in the bottle we provide. Remember, we make our concentrate fresh and to-order, so you can get the most of your purchase. Consume it within 6 weeks to enjoy a flavorful cup of coffee.