Flash Brew: Why You Must Try This Brewing Method + A Recipe
You want cold brew, and you want it now. I get it; I’ve been there. What if I told you there was a way to satisfy your cold coffee craving without waiting overnight or dropping big bucks at the coffee shop?
Allow me to introduce you to flash brew and why you must try this brewing method. I’ll even throw in a recipe for you. Read on for more.
What Is Flash Brew Coffee?
There are many ways to brew coffee, including multiple methods that make cold coffee.
Flash brew coffee is a method of making cold coffee. It entails immediately chilling freshly brewed hot coffee over ice. This method retains as much flavor as possible in the final cup as certain coffee oils and aromatics only extract into hot water. These subtle nuances are lost in cold brewing methods.
What Is Japanese Flash Brew?
Japanese flash brew, often called Japanese iced coffee, is another name for this coffee. As its name suggests, this Japanese-style cold brew originated in 1960s Japan.
Mastering the art of making pour over coffee is key since flash brew is best prepared with a pour over dripper.
You can make Japanese iced coffee using any pour over cone, such as the Chemex. However, there are quite a few products that are designed to thrive with this type of coffee brewing specifically.
One example of a dedicated brewer is the elegant Hario glass iced coffee maker for chilled Japanese brew (1).
What Is The Difference Between Flash Brew Vs Cold Brew?
The difference between flash brew and cold brew is the brewing method, with the two methods yielding different flavors in the cup – even using the same coffee beans. With the former, you pour hot water over coffee grounds, and immediately drain it into a container full of ice. With cold brew, you steep the coffee grounds in cold water overnight and filter it. Flashbrew produces a bright, complex, and acidic cup, while cold brew is known for being sweet and smooth (2).
What Is The Difference Between Flash Brew And Iced Coffee?
The difference between flash brew and iced coffee is more subtle. In a flash brew, the coffee is poured over ice. In iced coffee, ice is added to the coffee. The longer you wait before drinking your iced coffee, the more watered down and bitter it will become.
Flash Brew Recipe For One
To make flash brewed iced coffee, freshly grind your favorite coffee beans to a medium-fine grind. We recommend using a specialty single-origin light roast to get a vibrant cup full of nuanced tasting notes.
Wet and insert a cotton or paper filter into your pour over brewer and add 15 g ground coffee. Place a mug of ice cubes underneath it, or add them directly into a Chemex before fitting your filter.
To make flash brew, heat water until it reaches a temperature between 195 and 205 F.
Pour some hot water from your kettle over the grounds in a spiral motion to saturate them. Let your coffee bloom for 30 seconds.
Continue to pour up to the filter’s edges in spirals to a total of 240 g (8 ounces) of water. Wash over any residual grounds and stir as needed. Use less hot water than normal when brewing; otherwise, the melting ice will dilute your brew. Once it drains, pour the coffee over the ice cubes, serve, and enjoy!
For a one-minute recipe overview, check out this YouTube video from Steady State Roasting:
Final Thoughts
Flash brew coffee, aka Japanese flash brew or Japanese iced coffee, is a quick method of making cold coffee. Brew hot coffee using a pour over brewer, then immediately pour it over ice. The result is a brightly flavorful brew with far more complexity than traditional cold brew, best experienced with a light or medium roast single origin coffee.
FAQs
The ratio for flash brew is typically 1:16 ground coffee to water. So to serve two people, a standard recipe would use 30 g of ground coffee and 480 g of water, equivalent to about 16 ounces of water. Of course, you can experiment to your own taste.
The most forgiving coffee brewing method is the Kalita Wave. Because of its three small holes, the water you pour into it pools in its flat bottom before gradually coming out. This guarantees a consistent cup of pour over coffee (3).
Soft brew is a method of coffee brewing similar to an espresso but more gentle. It involves forcing water through the group head under pressure. You won’t need to balance the flavor of your cuppa joe with any milk or sugar, so it’s also healthier for you.
References
- Alternative Brewing. (2018, July 5). Japanese Iced Coffee VS Cold Brew: 3 Key Differences. Retrieved July 5, 2023, from https://alternativebrewing.com.au/blogs/news/japanese-iced-coffee-vs-cold-brew-coffee
- Two Bears. (n.d.). FLASHBREW VS. COLD BREW COFFEE. Retrieved July 4, 2023, from https://www.twobears.ca/blogs/the-den/flash-brew-vs-cold-brew-what-is-the-difference
- Newton, T. (2017, August 9). Brewing Methods Compared: How Should You Make Coffee at Home? Retrieved July 4, 2023, from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2017/08/brewing-methods-compared-how-should-you-make-coffee-at-home/
