Cold Coffee, perfectly balanced
A glass of cold coffee, a few ice cubes, and perhaps a splash of milk or a plant-based alternative – sometimes that is all it takes to create the perfect refreshment on a warm summer day.
Iced Coffee or Cold Brew? Two ways to enjoy coffee in Summer
Summer is the season when coffee reveals its versatility. Among the most popular choices are cold coffee creations, especially iced coffee and cold brew. While both offer a refreshing coffee experience, they differ significantly in preparation, character, and flavor. Unlike cold brew, which is brewed hot and then cooled, iced coffee is prepared using cold water and extracted slowly over time. This gentle process creates a remarkably smooth and balanced coffee with a subtle natural sweetness and well-defined aromas. The result is less acidity, no pronounced bitterness, and a quiet depth of flavor that pairs beautifully with ice, milk, or plant-based alternatives.
Carefully crafted, down to the finest detail
What appears effortless at first begins much earlier. The way a coffee develops when brewed with cold water – known as cold brew – is largely determined during the roasting process. For cold brew in particular, this precision is essential. Roast profiles are carefully developed to enhance the coffee’s natural sweetness while allowing its fruit-forward notes to shine with clarity.
These roast profiles evolve over time, shaped by years of experience and continuously refined through modern technology. The Espresso Classico from Sirocco reflects this balance perfectly: roasted in Schmerikon on the shores of Lake Zurich, influenced by a roasting tradition dating back to 1908, yet crafted to retain its clarity and balance even when extracted cold. The result is not a heavy or overpowering coffee, but one that is smooth, balanced, and quietly expressive.
The grind makes the difference
The grind size plays a key role in preparing cold brew coffee. To make cold extraction even easier, Espresso Classico for Cold Brew is now available in a coarser grind developed specifically for this brewing method. This allows the water to extract the coffee’s aromas slowly and evenly, resulting in a particularly smooth and well-defined flavor profile.
If the grind is too fine, the coffee can quickly become bitter and lose its clarity. With the right grind, however, it remains smooth, rounded, and beautifully balanced.
The preparation itself is remarkably simple. Once brewed, the coffee gradually develops its character over several hours – without any heat. By the next day, it is ready to enjoy: cool, clean, and surprisingly complex. A coffee that fits naturally into everyday life and can be enjoyed in many different ways.
For a mild and refreshing cold brew, we recommend a coffee-to-water ratio of approximately 1:10. For a cold brew concentrate – ideal for serving with milk or a plant-based alternative – a ratio of around 1:5 works particularly well.
Once combined, allow the coffee to steep in the refrigerator for approximately 20 hours. Afterward, simply filter it through a standard paper coffee filter.
Cold brew is best served over ice. Enjoyed on its own, it reveals its full clarity and freshness. Add milk, and it becomes softer and more rounded. For an especially refined touch, top it with cold milk foam, which adds a delicate, creamy layer to the drink. With a milk frother, cold foam is easy to prepare. The milk becomes light and airy, settling gently over the coffee. It complements the clean, well-defined character of the cold brew without overshadowing it.
For those who enjoy a subtle twist, cold brew can be refined with a hint of vanilla, a touch of sugar or a carefully selected syrup. Often, however, less is more. A few ice cubes, exceptional coffee, and a layer of fine milk foam are often all that is needed.
The result is a refreshing summer drink that can be prepared effortlessly in advance, offers true refreshment, and reveals a surprising depth of flavor.