Is it true that cold brew coffee is not cost-effective?

Have you ever heard the rumor that "cold brewed coffee is not cost-effective"? This rumor seems to be spread due to various factors, such as the cost per cup being relatively high, or the time and effort required to brew it. So, this time we will take a closer look at whether cold brewed coffee is really inferior in cost-effectiveness from the perspective of actual numbers, effort, and the amount of finished coffee.

The demand for cold brew coffee and how to enjoy it

First of all, the demand for cold brew coffee actually exists all year round. Many people stock it in the refrigerator not only in summer but also in winter and enjoy it casually like cold barley tea. It is especially convenient to have "cold coffee that can be drunk immediately" between work and housework, and if you make it in the morning, it will taste good until the next day.

Cost comparison: considering beans and processing costs

The rumor that it's "poor value for money" is often used to mean that the cost per drink tends to be high. Let's do some calculations based on the actual conditions at our shop.

Our cold brew coffee recipe uses the same brew ratio as drip coffee. For example, let's say you use 12g of water per 1g of beans. If you use 75g of coffee beans, you will need about 900g (about 900ml) of water. If you use the same amount of beans when making drip coffee, the total amount of coffee you get will be roughly the same. Therefore, if you are comparing the cost of beans and water alone, there should not be a big difference.

However, if you ask a store to process the coffee in a special cold brew bag, the processing fee (100 to 150 yen per bag at our store) will be added to the cost. This may be one of the reasons why cold brew coffee has the impression that it is "poor value for money."

Also, there may be subtle differences in the amount of coffee extracted. There may be a slight difference between the amount of coffee immediately after dripping and the amount of coffee after removing the cold brew pack, but the difference is not so extreme that it is within the margin of error if consumed at a daily pace.

Comparison of time: "actual effort" required for extraction

Next, let's look at the time cost. With drip coffee, you need to boil water, grind the beans, insert a paper filter, pour the water at the right pace, and stay there until the coffee is done. It can take about 10 minutes from preparation to being able to drink it.

On the other hand, what about cold brew coffee? If you have a pack or bottle specifically for cold brewing, the procedure is very simple. Just put the pack and water in the bottle, leave it in the refrigerator, and take out the pack after 8 to 13 hours. Even including the time to grind the beans, the actual "work time" is about 1 minute. Of course, you have to wait about half a day until the extraction is complete, but you don't have to do anything during that time. In other words, the "constant time" required for extraction is overwhelmingly less for cold brewing, and if you can manage your long-term schedule, it can actually be said to reduce a lot of effort.

However, drip coffee is advantageous when you want to drink it right away. As long as you have boiled water, you can enjoy fragrant coffee in about 10 minutes. On the other hand, if you have unexpected guests or you just want to drink it depending on your mood that day, with cold brew, you can't "prepare it now" in time. It's best to think of these as differences in lifestyle and drinking style.

Comparison of yield and convenience

Finally, let's look at the yield. When brewing one cup of drip coffee, the general guideline is about 200ml. In contrast, for cold brew coffee, if you use the same 75g of beans and 900g (about 900ml) of water, you can get about 800ml of coffee after brewing. A major advantage of cold brew is that if you prepare a larger amount of coffee the first time, you can have enough for several days at once.

Of course, if you do batch brewing with drip, you can prepare a lot of coffee at once. However, doing it at home requires large equipment and it is difficult to control the flavor. Cold brew is often made with the assumption that you will extract a large amount of coffee in the first place, so it is very compatible with the style of "making a large amount and drinking a little at a time."

Summary: Is cold brew coffee really a bad value for money?

Considering these points, it is difficult to say that cold brew coffee is poor value for money. It is true that if you ask a shop to process the coffee in a specialized package, the cost will be added to the price of the beans, making it a little more expensive. However, if you compare just the beans and water, there is actually not much difference. Also, in terms of the effort required for brewing, cold brew coffee can be made in large quantities with almost no effort, and you can enjoy cold coffee immediately the next day or later.

On the other hand, drip brewing requires a lot of manual labor and takes time to extract each time, but the advantage is that you can enjoy aromatic coffee immediately after extraction. Cost performance varies greatly depending on which of "effort, time, cost, and yield" you prioritize, so it is difficult to say which is better.

In our shop, We can process cold brewed coffee beans into bags for an additional fee of 100 to 150 yen per bag. If you order the number of options you need along with the beans, we can process them after roasting and deliver them to you. Why not try making cold brew coffee easily and enjoy a more convenient coffee life?

On the page for cold brew coffee bean packs, you can choose from a variety of options. Please choose the amount per pack based on the bottle you have and the amount you want to drink.