Blog / Cold Brew

  • Cold Drip And Cold Brew: How The Two Coffee Types Vary

    Cold Drip And Cold Brew: How The Two Coffee Types Vary

    Cold brew coffee and cold drip coffee sound quite similar, that the average Joe may mistake them as being the same. However, that is far from the truth. Everything about these drinks-from their brewing process, flavour, and equipment used-are very different. We’ll get down to the nitty-gritty details of what differentiates cold brew coffee and cold drip coffee to clear the confusion. Let’s get started! 

    The brewing process

    Cold brew is made using the immersion brewing method. If you fancy making your own cold brew at home, do note that creating it from scratch will involve a long process that ranges from 12 to 24 hours, most of that time spent on letting the coffee beans steep in water. To make cold brew coffee, place your freshly ground coffee beans in cold or room-temperature water and leave them to steep for a while (this is where those long hours come in). Be aware that steeping for longer than 18 hours or a maximum of 24 hours can significantly change the taste of your brew.

    Once you’re satisfied with your cold brew concentrate, you have plenty of options for the beverages you can make with it. You can mix and match hot or cold water, cream, milk, and any other liquid to dilute the concentrate for starters. Adding sugar is fine but probably unnecessary as cold brew coffee already tastes sweet. You can even get creative and use cold brew to make cocktails and other unique creations.

    In contrast, making cold drip coffee is entirely different and uses the percolation brewing method. Instead of steeping coffee grounds and water together, cold drip coffee entails separating cold water from the grounds using a drip tower. In this apparatus, cold water slowly drips over a bed of coffee grounds instead of being submerged in it. Once the grounds become saturated, they will proceed to slowly drip the coffee into the final vessel of the drip tower. Making cold drip coffee usually takes only 4 to 12 hours and is generally enjoyed like an espresso poured on ice.

    Differences in flavour

    Cold brew coffee is well-known for bringing out the most distinct flavours from various coffee beans, thanks to the long steeping process that gives the beans enough time to extract their full potential in the coffee concentrate. These unique flavours are why cold brew is so beloved by coffee lovers and why they can be pricier in cafes. 

    In addition, cold brew coffee is naturally less acidic and features a more rounded taste, i.e. it is naturally sweeter and generally less bitter than hot brewed coffee. It’s regarded as having a floral, light, and less intense signature, which certainly tastes just as incredible as it sounds. 

    On the other hand, cold drip coffee is an intense coffee concentrate but packs more sweetness than coffee made with hot water. It has a fuller and richer taste but is less acidic than hot brew coffee. Lastly, the flavour of cold drip coffee can be so strong that it remains noticeable even after adding thick additives like cream or milk.

     

    Which one is for you?

    Cold brew coffee and cold drip coffee are ideal for different occasions and tastes. You could go with a cold drip coffee for those interested in a sweet yet strong pick-me-up before a workday. However, if you’re in the mood for something light and well-rounded, a glass of cold brew is the one for you. 

    If you’re raring for some cold brew coffee but don’t have the means to make it yourself, check out our ready to drink cold brew coffee in Singapore today!

    Shop for your cold brew coffee and tea concentrates at Wake The Crew and subscribe to your favourites so you’ll always have them in stock! All our products are freshly brewed in our SFA-approved microbrewery in Singapore and are made to order to ensure that no liquid goodness goes to waste. We offer cold brew coffee delivery, wholesale options, and more! Contact us today to get your caffeine fix!

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  • Why You Should Care About Sustainable Coffee Practices

    Why You Should Care About Sustainable Coffee Practices

    Coffee is a popular drink in many parts of the world. It is estimated that people globally consume around 400 billion cups of coffee daily. It’s everyone’s morning wake-me-up and afternoon pick-me-up, and as such, any average person can guzzle more than one cup per day (we all know someone!).

    It’s easy to discount one’s coffee drinking habits. But taken with the world at large, it becomes compelling to confront the sustainability impact of your daily brew. It begs the question, “How green is your coffee?”

    Why should you care?

    Many conditions put the coffee industry on the radar of environmental activists: troubling farming practices, excess food waste, and bad coffee-shop habits. Consumers may protest that they can do little about farming practices, but just as much environmental footprint stems from the end stages of the supply chain.

    For instance, did you know that when coffee grounds are dumped at landfill sites, they release methane which has a greenhouse effect 20 times higher than carbon dioxide? Traditional coffee businesses also encourage a throw-away mindset with their single-use cups, disposable filters, and eco-unfriendly practices.

    How can you help?

    Whether you are a business owner who wants to tailor your brand to sustainable practices or a conscious consumer who wants to be more mindful of your environmental impact, many behaviours and practices are actually within your control! Here are some ways you can help.

    1. Use recyclable containers

    You can imagine the staggering amount of waste generated in a single business day, and they end up in the landfill after one use! Consider alternative options for single-use plastic materials, such as wooden stirrers, paper straws, or glass bottles. You may also consider supporting businesses that incentivise their customers for using their own reusable containers or bottles, or run bottle return programs to encourage recycling.

    2. Reuse coffee grounds

    Did you know that used coffee grounds make great fertilisers? Earthworms love them, and garden pests hate them! They’re an organic compost that adds nutrients to the soil like potassium and nitrogen to improve plant growth. Make arrangements with your local community garden or other compost drop-off points — anyone would be glad to receive them!

    3. Support local

    When you acquire products from local suppliers, you empower not just your local economy — you reduce your carbon footprint too! Imagine the difference it makes when your coffee products aren’t shipped from across the globe to get to your location. Get yourself a bottled cold brew coffee in Singapore that is brewed and bottled locally — you are sure to find a local option that’s as good, if not better, as from countries far away!

    4. Choose sustainable coffee methods 

    Cafes uses a range of power-hungry equipment like espresso machines and water heaters. If your choice of coffee makes a difference to you in terms of sustainability, you may want to consider cold brew.

    Cold brewing is probably the most sustainable method there is. It requires minimal equipment and uses fewer ingredients — you need only cold brew concentrate, a steeping filter, and a storage container — on top of that, you can use a reusable container and a washable or compostable filter! You can even be adventurous and try out different cocktail recipes with your cold brew!

     

    Conclusion 

    Sustainability is not a walk in the park. But coffee lovers, whether business owners or consumers, should take stock of their environmental responsibilities. At Wake The Crew, we take sustainability seriously. We are always on the lookout for alternatives to use more responsibly and sustainably, and are open to any collaborations that allow us to do so. If you are looking for a B2B wholesale supplier for cold brew coffee and coffee concentrate, feel free to reach out to us!

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  • 4 Reasons You Should Cater A Coffee Cart For Your Next Event

    4 Reasons You Should Cater A Coffee Cart For Your Next Event

    The premise of onsite coffee shops has always been that coffee-lovers are willing to walk the distance to buy their favourite speciality drinks — but when you arrange for a mobile coffee catering service, you bring their favourite beverages to them instead! For free! What’s not to like? 

    Besides, there is a reason why cold brews are so popular in Singapore. So instead of opting for time-worn food catering, why not switch up your next event or party with a mobile coffee cart stacked with bottled cold brews? You can even upgrade that with a coffee machine and hire a barista to make speciality drinks! Talk about trendsetting. 

    A cup of caffeinated goodness may be what you need to create a splash at your next party or event. Here are some reasons why coffee catering is the next big thing to perk up your social get-togethers. 

    1. It meets the need for coffee 

    Waking up in the morning is a hard gig. If someone were scheduled to attend early-morning meetings, conferences, or other professional meetups, they want to be in their element. They want to be clear-eyed and sharp-witted. In other words, they need a caffeine boost!

    Some events, like conventions and exhibitions, require attendees to be on their feet for hours on end — this results in the need for a coffee fix to keep their energy levels up or convince them to stay longer. And in any case, it’s always nice to keep a coffee mill on standby for the traditional coffee break!

    2. It keeps people together

    Event planners and organisers cannot afford guests to “wander off” looking for a good brew. It’s better to work around this situation by hiring a coffee caterer, so coffee is always available to the guest.

    A coffee stall is also a crowd puller. It provides a dedicated space for attendees to enjoy their coffee and engage with their fellow guests. In professional events, this results in a valuable networking session, and in celebratory shindigs, it results in a livelier party. 

    3. It improves the guest experience

    Coffee offers something for everyone. Not everyone drinks alcohol, so providing a coffee bar alongside the traditional wine bar will be a considerate option for non-drinkers. 

    Moreover, coffee can be served in countless ways. If it’s too hot for lattes, one can whip up a mocha cold brew coffee instead. Having a good cup of joe after a fancy dinner might be what some people would go for instead of wine or brandy.

    4. It provides positive branding and association

    Coffee carts can bring an element of brand awareness to your event by customising the setup with your company name, brand logo, event hashtags, etc. At Wake The Crew, we offer a highly customisable coffee cart with free label design on all our bottled beverages.

    The experience can create more awareness and positive branding for your brand or event, converting them into loyal customers or potential ones more likely to choose your brand in the future. 

     

    Conclusion

    If you need a coffee caterer to bring the above special touches to your event, let us help! We provide and deliver ready to drink cold brew coffee in Singapore, as well as cold brew coffee on tap at your event venue (subject to safe management measures). Get in touch with us today for more information!

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  • The Cold Brew Craze: What Makes This Coffee So Popular?

    The Cold Brew Craze: What Makes This Coffee So Popular?

    Everyone has that co-worker who always enters the office holding a bottle of mocha cold brew coffee in the morning. Since this kind of coffee was brought into the mainstream, it has grown trendy, especially among millennials and Gen Zs. But what is it about cold brew coffee that makes it so famous these days?

    Considering that iced coffee has been around for so many years already, perhaps you might be wondering what makes cold brew coffee different from ordinary iced coffee. The answer to this question mainly lies in how these coffees are made: while iced coffee is made by simply pouring hot coffee over ice, cold brew coffee is brewed through cold water extraction over hours.

    The result of the cold brewing process is a distinct kind of coffee that smells, looks, and tastes nothing like an ordinary, traditional coffee. To help you understand the rationale behind the current cold brew craze, here are 5 of the best reasons cold brew coffee has become a favourite coffee choice.  

    1. Cold brewing produces the smoothest coffee

    One of the best things about cold brewing is that it produces a far smoother finish than any other coffee brewing method, which appeals most to so many fans. Aside from smoothness, cold brewing offers more sweetness than an ordinary cup of hot coffee because eliminating high temperatures removes all the bitterness from the equation. 

    2. Cold brew coffee contains lower levels of acidity

    Coffee is a great drink to sip on at any point during the day. However, it usually contains high levels of acidity that can cause problems for some people, especially those with acid reflux and other gastrointestinal issues. Fortunately, cold brewing has already solved this problem by offering a coffee that’s not only smooth and sweet but also low in acidity levels. Compared to a regular cup of hot coffee, which typically has a high level of acidity, a cup of cold brew coffee can be around 67% less acidic.

    3. Cold brew coffee still provides a good caffeine kick

    Some people question its caffeine content because cold brew coffee is a lot less bitter and acidic than regular hot brew coffee. They assume that this kind of coffee has higher caffeine content or no caffeine. However, the truth is, cold brew coffee contains a good dose of caffeine, which makes it as effective as regular coffee when it comes to keeping you awake and boosting your energy.

    4. Cold brew coffee is conveniently ready to drink

    With everyone’s busy lifestyle today, the convenience brought by ready-to-drink beverages has become quite essential, especially for those “grab and go” moments. With life becoming increasingly fast-paced, you probably don’t have much time to wait for a cup of coffee to brew anymore. This is where cold brew coffee comes in. Many brands are offering ready-to-drink cold brew coffee in Singapore. You can easily grab a cold brew from the fridge or purchase one on the run at the grocery or any local café.

    5. Cold brew lets you experiment a lot with coffee

    The cold brew method is perfect if you love experimenting with your coffee and exploring different coffee flavours! This coffee brewing method produces a concentrated mixture that you can use in limitless ways. You can heat it, keep it cold, or get creative with cocktail recipes! You can bring as many unique and weird additions into the equation as you want.

     

    Conclusion

    There are several reasons why cold brew coffee has been well-received and loved by many coffee lovers. Aside from being a flavourful coffee with lower acidity levels, cold brew coffee is a convenient on-the-go drink you can bring when you’re running late for work or cramming for an exam. Hopefully, the reasons you’ve read in this article have convinced you to jump on the cold brew bandwagon.

    For a quick and convenient boost of caffeine to delight your every morning, why not try our ready-to-drink bottled cold brew coffee in Singapore? These drinks are perfect for your busy days since they require no mixing. Just open the bottle and savour the aroma of cold brew coffee right away!

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