While you can prepare an iced coffee by merely pouring hot brewed coffee over ice, hot coffee will melt the ice and result in a weaker watered-down flavor.
What exactly is cold brew coffee? It’s not a typical iced coffee.
Instead, cold brewing is a process of using coarse coffee grounds and room temperature or cold water and steeping the coffee in the water for anywhere from 12-24 hours. The result of this is a smooth yet complex, less acidic and less bitter strong coffee. It is ideal for those who suffer from acid reflux or have a sensitive stomach.
Cold brew coffee concentrate is very strong. You can use it to make different types of coffee from hot coffee to frozen coffee beverages. It can also be used in recipes that call for coffee. Just keep the cold brew in the fridge for a week or two in an airtight container.
Recently I decided to buy an affordable cold brew coffee maker from a reliable coffee gear company – Hario. So check out my review of Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It comes in red, black or brown options so you can match it with your kitchen appliances. It is also available in two different sizes (1000ml, 600ml) to suit your needs.
Design
Hario Mizudashi’s minimalist design makes it very approachable. The slim, simple, and modern concepts make a great addition to any type of kitchen. It utilizes an eco-friendly glass carafe and a removable permanent mesh filter to ensure that maximum flavor is extracted from the brewing process. This specific 1000ml carafe is capable of making 8 cups of servings at one time, which is good to serve a small group of people.
Quality
The coffee maker is made in Japan with Hario’s famously durable glass. The handle, lid, and filter frame are made with the sturdy hard plastic called polypropylene. The mesh filter is constructed with polyester resin. This is not some flimsy cold brew coffee maker. It will last for a long time if you take a good care of it.
Maintenance / Cleaning
It is easy to disassemble, and all pieces can be removed and washed. However, all parts should be handled carefully, and probably hand-washing is recommended. One of the best things about this coffee maker is the reusable filter. You’ll never need to purchase paper filters as you would for many other brewing devices which add to the already worthwhile nature of this brewer.
Ease of use
Hario Mizudashi is relatively simple to set up, and it produces a robust and smooth cup in the refrigerator in just one step.
For this recipe, I weighed 80 grams of fresh coffee beans and ground them in my Breville Smart Grinder Pro with a grind setting of 50 for medium coarse.
Simply fill the filter with the coffee of your choice and pop it in the carafe filled with water. Put it in the refrigerator and let it steep for up to 24 hours.
You will have a pitcher of cold brewed coffee waiting for you the next day. Yes, it seems like a long brewing process, but if you plan, it will not require too much effort to prepare.
Ready to drink 18 hours later.
Pros
- Eco-friendly minimalist design
- Small and compact
- Easy to use
- Good quality
- Easy to clean
- Permanent filter
- Least expensive cold brew coffee maker
Cons
- Delicate and must handle with extra care
- The narrow opening makes it hard to wash
- It takes time and some patience
Verdict
All in all, this is a cold brew system that will make beginners very happy. The beauty of the Hario Mizudashi is that there is no complication involved, you just need time.
After experimenting with the Hario Mizudashi for a week with different beans and different recipes, I was not able to produce a cup of sweet, full-bodied coffee, but it did produce a decent smooth cup for a daily fix. For a fraction of the price, it gives you everything you need to get started, thus making the Hario Mizudashi affordable to anyone to start learning how to make cold brew coffee. I am sure this is one investment that you are going to earn back quickly once you have mastered the skills and have conquered the learning curves. Making cold brew at home doesn’t have to be hard or confusing after all!
Note: We bought Hario Mizudashi through Amazon.com for less than $20. You too can get it at that price and let us know your experience.
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