CoF Barista | Coffee On Fleek

March 6, 2026 By CoF Barista

Cold Brew and Iced Coffee: What’s the difference?

The warmer months whet the appetite for cold coffee beverages. Iced coffee and cold brew both can provide a refreshing caffeinated drink. There is sometimes confusion between iced coffee and cold brew coffee. There is a difference between iced coffee and cold brew coffee.

Iced coffee is coffee that is brewed in the “normal” way, using hot water and then subsequently cooled with ice. It is typically served sweetened and possibly with other flavorings.

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping ground coffee beans in room temperature or colder water. As you might imagine, this requires a longer brew time (perhaps over-night or even longer) and results in a smoother taste.

Is cold brew healthier than ice coffee?

There is increasing evidence that coffee in general is good for your health as it includes beneficial antioxidants. Since cold brew coffee typically tastes smoother, it is more often consumed black—without potentially harmful sugar, etc.

However, there is some concern that cold brewing is less efficient at extracting antioxidants from coffee beans, which might provide a marginal health benefit to hot brewed coffees. But the differences are likely small.

Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

Does cold-brew coffee have more caffeine? Typically, cold brewed coffee is brewed with more coffee (vs. water) than hot brewed coffee, so you start with a stronger coffee drink. However, caffeine is water soluble, and hot water will generally be more efficient at extracting the caffeine. The amount of caffeine in your drink is dependent on how you brewed it, the amount of coffee used, and any dilution before consumption.

How long does cold-brew coffee last in the refrigerator?

Since typically cold brew coffee is concentrated, it may be readily stored for later use. Unlike hot brew coffee, cold brew coffee can last 10 to 15 days in the refrigerator.

Can I make cold brew using a French Press?

Here’s an easy recipe for great cold brew coffee made with a French Press:

Put ground coffee into a French press and add room-temperature water.
Place plunger lid on top and press the plunger down only 1-2 inches to fully submerge the coffee.
Do not press the plunger all the way down.
Let coffee steep at room temperature for 16 to 18 hours.
Pour the coffee through a coffee filter and transfer to an airtight container in your refrigerator.
Serve in a glass over ice with equal parts of milk or water.

Want to make coffeehouse cold brew at home?

Do you want the convenience of cold brew that tastes like it came from your favorite coffee house but only takes minutes to make rather than hours or days? You might consider:

Cuisinart DCB-10 Automatic Cold Brew Coffeemaker

View Product on Amazon.com

This Cuisinart machine can produce delicious, smooth, and less acidic cold brew coffee in 25-45 minutes (depending on desired strength). A push of a button can cold-brew up to 7 cups of triple-filtered coffee with your choice of 3 strengths.

Traditional cold brewing methods take 12-48 hours to make delicious cold brew coffee. Now you can enjoy your triple-filtered, sediment-free coffeehouse cold brew in minutes.

The carafe can be used to store your cold brew coffee up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Clean-up is a breeze, as all removable parts are dishwasher safe.

Includes Limited 3-year warranty.

Note that this fine machine produces cold brew that is ready to drink but does not produce concentrate.

How to make bulk cold brew coffee?

Start with the coffee-1 pound coarse grind.
Place ground coffee in a 3-4-quart open container.
Add 1 quart of water and stir enough to wet all the grounds. Then add another quart of water.
Let steep for 24 hours.
Strain into another container with a wire mesh filter and then filter again using a paper coffee filter.

Now you have about ½ gallon of cold brew concentrate.

You can adjust quantities to fit your needs.

Types of cold-brew coffee

Once you have your cold brew concentrate, what do you do with it? There are many options. Most commonly, the concentrate is either mixed with cold water or with milk in equal quantities. Mixing with milk makes for a richer drink, but it is enjoyable both ways.

Some drinkers use the concentrate mixed with hot water to make a warm drink.
Cold brew concentrate also can serve as the base for many other beverages.
For example, New Orleans Style cold brew coffee calls for mixing ground chicory with the ground coffee for steeping. This beverage is finished by combining the coffee-chicory brew with generous quantities of milk and sweetener.
You can also try a cold brew martini for a little extra kick.

Nitro cold brew?

Infusing cold brew coffee with nitrogen is a relatively recent invention. The nitrogen gas (“nitro”) introduces many very small bubbles into the coffee, which give it a smoother, less bitter taste and a smooth mouthfeel. The nitro gives the drink a foamy top.

Nitro cold brew has been around for about 10 years and really gained notoriety when Starbucks began offering it in 1500 stores in 2016.

There are now pre-made canned nitro beverages and home machine that allow infusion of nitrogen by the home cold-brew maker.

What do you need to make cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee is made with only three ingredients: coarsely ground coffee beans, cold or room temperature water, and time. You can make a better tasting cup of cold brew coffee at home quite easily following one of our recipes above. Of course, you will need to plan ahead because of the need to steep the coffee for at least 25 minutes with an automatic Cold Brew Coffeemaker, and 12-24 hours without one, to extract the flavors.

March 1, 2026 By CoF Barista

Coffee and Your Health

I woke up this morning to the headlines that yet another study had been done of coffee to see whether it was actually healthy or unhealthy to have our daily cup. Since we drink coffee ubiquitously, there is also been a continuing desire by scientists to study and understand the effects of drinking coffee on our bodies. This study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Fortunately for those of us who are coffee aficionados, studies increasingly have been showing that drinking coffee regularly may have a positive effect on delaying premature death. Over the past five years, multiple studies have shown that regular consumption of coffee is associated with us on average, living longer.

The classic study to report on the health benefits of coffee was published in 2012 in the New England Journal of Medicine and was titled “Association of Coffee Drinking with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality”. That study examined the association of coffee drinking with subsequent total and cause specific mortality among a very large population of 229,119 men and 173,141 women from the National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study who were 50 to 71 years of age at baseline.

Although there have been many subsequent studies regarding the consumption of coffee and health, we really haven’t done much about saying what kind of coffee are we consuming. Is it weak coffee? Or is that a hearty espresso? If we put sugar in our coffee does that cancel out all health effects? How about artificial sweeteners?

An article published today in the annals of internal medicine concluded from analysis of a very large British database that people who drink one and ½ to 3 ½ cups of coffee per day were 29% to 31% less likely to die from any cause during the seven-year study period. And that result did not seem to change whether people consume their coffee black or sweetened it with a small amount of sugar. The data for this study represented more than one half million participants in the UK Biobank.

This study found the data linking consumption of coffee whether unsweetened or sweetened with sugar to be directly associated with reduced mortality. The results were not so clear with respect to artificial sweeteners as the data as to which subjects use which artificial sweeteners was less clear.

The conclusion of the study was, “moderate consumption of unsweetened and sugar sweetened coffee is associated with lower risk for death.”

Not so very long ago, coffee was considered a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization. By 2016 coffee research found that the beverage was not associated with an increased risk of cancer. In fact, statistically coffee was found to decrease the risk of certain cancers. Nonetheless, in 2018 California passed legislation that coffee must bear a cancer warning.

Caffeine has long been suspected of being the active compound that would make coffee good or bad for one’s health, but the truth is that coffee is chemically very complex and is difficult to tell whether the effects observed are from the caffeine or from other chemicals in the beans.

Coffee and cancer

It appears that coffee may affect how cancers develop. Here the results might be primarily good for coffee (and for us). Some of the polyphenols (there are over 8000 polyphenols which are micronutrients that naturally occur in plants) in coffee have been shown to prevent cancer cell growth in animal studies. Caffeine itself may have the power of interfering with the growth of cancer cells and subsequent spread.

Coffee also appears to reduce inflammation and improve antioxidant response which is not only a risk factor for many cancers, inflammation is known to have other deleterious effects on the body. The American Institute for Cancer Research concluded that the risk for endometrial and liver cancers might be reduced in regular coffee drinkers.

Type II diabetes

In seemingly contradictory results, we know that caffeine can increase blood sugar in the short term but longer-term studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers have a measurably lower risk of developing type II diabetes compared to nondrinkers.

One large-scale meta-study of people with type II diabetes followed for a period of 20 years showed that the more coffee a person had to drink per day was directly associated with lowering the risk of developing type II diabetes. The effect ranged up to 33% reduction for drinkers of 6 cups of coffee a day. The same result has been found in other studies.

Heart health

Caffeine is a stimulant which affects the central nervous system. As such, the medical community worried that it might be bad for heart health. In fact, available evidence suggests that drinking coffee regularly may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Analysis of the large Nurses Health Study database showed those drinking four or more cups of coffee each day were associated with a 20% lower risk of stroke as compared with non-coffee drinkers. Interestingly, decaffeinated coffee also reduced the incidence of strokes by 11%. The consumption of other caffeinated drinks had no such effect, so it is reasonable to conclude that the results are from other compounds in coffee rather than caffeine.

Looking at the data for a large number of women (37,514) concluded a 21% risk of heart disease was associated with drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day. Similarly, meta-analysis of studies of both men and women found a favorable link of a 21% lower risk of cardiovascular disease death among coffee drinkers as compared to nondrinkers.

Depression

Polyphenols, which occur naturally in coffee, can act as antioxidants reducing inflammation of cells. Large-scale studies have shown coffee drinkers are less likely to become depressed than nondrinkers. In fact, the risk of suicide in men was found to be 45% lower for those who drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily and 53% lower among those who drank four or more cups daily. Data analysis suggests the result may be from the caffeine in coffee, so decaffeinated coffee does not have the same result.

Neurodegenerative diseases

Studies have shown the consumption of coffee reduces the probability of developing Parkinson’s disease. It is thought this may be caused by the caffeine in coffee tending to protect cells in the brain that produce dopamine. Here are the results seem to suggest the more coffee you drink the better. A Finnish study found the greatest benefit for those who drink at least 10 cups of coffee per day!!!

Alzheimer’s disease

There have been a limited number of studies of the effects of coffee consumption on the probability of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Because of the small number of studies, scientists have been reluctant to draw strong conclusions.

One study (CAIDE studying cardiovascular risk factors in aging and dementia) suggested that those drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day in middle age was associated with a significantly decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

Mortality

Consistent with other studies, a large study of more than 200,000 participants for up to 30 years found that drinking large amounts of coffee appeared to lower the risk of early death from all causes by 15%. These results seem to be consistent across caffeinated decaffeinated and instant coffees.

The bottom line

There is a growing body of evidence from studies of the effects of drinking coffee to suggest that coffee might be beneficial with its associated reduced risk for several chronic diseases. In particular, data suggests that coffee may be beneficial for cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

So drink up!

How to choose the best coffee beans?

A great cup of coffee starts with using the best beans. You may think that only professional baristas can make a really good brew with all their fancy equipment, but the essence of a great cup of coffee is found in the beans themselves – are they richly flavored, roasted for peak flavor, and freshly ground?

The fresher the grind, the more flavorful the cup of coffee. Some baristas use the rule of thumb that coffee should be used within 3 minutes of grinding to maximize taste and subtle flavors.

So, if you can get your hands on a good coffee grinder (or your super automatic espresso machine has a a grinder built in), recreating your favorite coffee beverage without having to leave home is only a few grinds away.

For the best-tasting drink, you should buy your beans whole and grind them yourself right before brewing. If you like to grind only the exact amount of coffee you need for each shot of espresso, check out the best single-dose coffee grinders to give you more control over freshness and flavor.

Choosing the best coffee beans for you

Baristas and most espresso drinkers are familiar with the more common Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, but there are actually are four different types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. The most popular and common coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta; you should try the other two if you find them. It is likely that you will encounter specialty or single-origin beans by geographic region — such as Kona Coffee or grown organically or following free-trade guidelines. Learn about all these bean varieties and and tips to choose the best coffee beans in this article.

Arabica vs. Robusta coffee beans

Most coffee drinkers prefer Arabica to Robusta. Although Arabica coffees can have a wide range of taste profiles depending on exactly how and where the beans were grown, Arabica coffees tend to be less bitter than Robusta coffees and to have subtler flavors with hints of fruit or chocolate.

You might also like to read: Ethiopian coffee regions which include Arabica coffee beans grown in the Sidamo region.

That being said, the more bitter taste of Robusta beans often has a place when brewing espresso. Often a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans are used for the best flavor in espresso.

Because of its more subtle and nuanced flavor, most coffee drinkers prefer Arabica. So, Arabica is the most produced and exported coffee worldwide (estimated to be about 60% of coffee traded), but Robusta coffee trees are easier to grow and are less subject to disease for the grower. You will find both beans at your favorite roaster (or for roasting).

If you would like to try coffee made from pure Arabica beans, we would suggest Kauai Whole Bean Coffee, Koloa Estate Medium Roast (view on Amazon) – 100% Arabica Whole Bean Coffee as a wonderful starting point.

Does Robusta produce better Crema?

Many espresso drinkers prefer the smooth, creamy texture from their crema. Using at least some Robusta when making espresso makes it easier to achieve that smooth, creamy texture that many espresso drinkers desire.

Robusta tends to have more caffeine

In fact, it appears to be the higher caffeine that makes the Robusta plant more disease resistant.

If you would like to try the unadulterated flavor of Robusta coffee beans, we suggest that you purchase the following Robusta Whole Bean Coffee from Vietnam (view on Amazon).

Also, make sure you try Liberica and Excelsa Coffee Beans to broaden your coffee experience.

Liberica Coffee Beans

It would be difficult to guess now that more than 100 years ago, Liberica coffee used to be a very popular coffee bean. Now they are considered an unusual treat.

Liberica coffee grows on “trees” 20-30 feet tall and typically in jungle environment. The height of those trees and the typical jungle environment in which they grow make the harvest more difficult than other coffee varieties.

The climates in which they are grown are not conducive to very large-scale production. But at the height of Liberica’s popularity a plant disease called “coffee rust” had wiped out much of the Arabica coffee production worldwide.

The Philippines were first to really commercialize the growth of Liberica coffee, having a climate and geography well suited to the plant.

Liberica Coffee is known for its fruity, floral, and slightly wood flavor, and it was well received in the marketplace. Unfortunately (for the Liberica coffee market), the Philippines which, at that time, belonged to the United States, declared its independence.

In retaliation, the U.S. imposed trade sanctions on the Philippines which dealt a fatal blow to the new coffee industry and to the Liberica coffee bean industry. Now Liberica beans are grown in other, similar tropical locations such as Malaysia.

To try the pure flavor of coffee brewed from library Beans, you might try Aik Cheong Kopi-O Liberica Beans (view on Amazon).

Excelsa Coffee Beans

Excelsa coffee beans are typically from Vietnam where it is often used as a blending coffee that can add complexity to other coffees. Excelsa beans are typically processed using traditional methods including sun-drying.

If you’d like to try the taste of pure Excelsa beans, we suggest ordering this Vietnamese Excelsa Whole Bean Coffee (view on Amazon)

Which Beans Are Best?

All of the coffee bean varieties are “best” for some specific purposes. Why don’t you try a virtual coffee tour and try all four major varieties of coffee beans so you can learn what each brings to the table.

Often coffee aficionados who prefer their coffee “straight up”, unadulterated with creamers, sweeteners, and other flavors, will prefer a light or medium roast Arabica coffee. Those who appreciate a good crema and more caffeine may well chose a hearty Robusta.

Make yourself more knowledgeable and appreciative of coffee varieties!

Check out our suggested choices for coffee beans.

Which coffee beans should I buy?

The best coffee is a very personal decision. Do you value crema? Do you want a mild coffee with floral bouquet? Do you want enough caffeine to knock your socks off?

We’ve tried a wide variety of beans, and we find that many combinations of bean types and roasts are “just right” for particular situations. We suggest that you sample a variety of coffees made the ways you prefer (espresso, pour-over, etc.) and form your own opinion through that experience.

FAQ’s

What are the best beans for espresso brewing?

As always, the ultimate judge of which are the best beans for brewing espresso is you. You should always prefer to use the freshest beans you can find. Especially check out the roast date. Many people find a blend of Arabica beans beans for smooth taste and subtle flavors and Robusta beans to add bold flavor and excellent Crema. You might find it beneficial to start with beings from a big roaster (like Peet’s), and then you can try other beans and have a baseline for comparison.

What are the best coffee beans to use in a French Press?

A French Press can be used to brew great coffee from almost any good beans. With a French press you can brew great coffee from dark roasts, blends, or single origin, either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee. So pick your preferred coffee style, put it in your French press, and go for it!

What are the best coffee beans cold brew coffee?

Cold brewing tends to bring out the subtle flavors in coffee beans. You should start your search with beans that emphasize these subtle flavors. For example, you might start with Stonestreet cold brew coffee (view on Amazon) which is both smooth (low acid) and strong. It’s a Colombian single origin Arabica coffee. Use that coffee as your baseline, and feel free to explore from there.

How does Starbucks make cold brew coffee?

Don’t confuse cold brew coffee with iced coffee. Iced coffee is conventional hot coffee poured over ice, whereas cold brew coffee is ground coffee added to cold filtered water and allowed to steep for about 20 hours. If you want to make it easy on yourself, you can buy pouches at Starbucks of cold brew coffee concentrate that you can mix up at home. Otherwise, take your favorite coffee beans, grind them, put them in a picture of cold water and let steep for 20 hours…

Is there such a thing as GOOD decaffeinated coffee?

While the very terms good and decaffeinated coffee seem to be an oxymoron and sacrilegious to some of us, decaffeinated coffees have made huge improvements over earlier chemical tasting decaffeinated coffee. You might start by trying Decaf Dark Roast by Black Ink Coffee (view on Amazon) which is a medium roast decaffeinated by the Swiss water process.

You might also like to read: What is decaf espresso?

What are the best coffee beans in the world?

Some might argue (especially based on price) that kopi luwak, made from coffee beans plucked from the feces of civets, are the best to beans in the world.

Assuming we don’t have any civets handy, many would suggest that Hawaiian coffee from Kona or Kauai beans are among the best in the world.

What is the best whole bean coffee?

While you should always start with whole bean coffee, there is no single best whole bean coffee. The answer, of course, is it depends on your personal tastes and mood. A good start would be to ask your local roaster to give you a quick tour of the coffees they have available–then you can branch out from there.

Is it cheaper to buy green coffee beans?

While it is cheaper to buy green coffee beans, the cost difference is a lot less than you might expect. Green coffee beans contain excess water and oil which is partially lost during the roasting process. Thus, by weight, you will end up with a smaller amount (by weight) of beans than you started with. Additionally, the roasting process itself is energy intensive and certainly will cost you something. The final risk to consider is that you need to buy significant quantities of green beans to save much money, and you may not want to do that because of the beans aging out before you use them. However, there would be a real benefit to buying green beans and roasting them yourself if you have some secret roasting process that produces just the taste you want.

You might also like to read: Composting coffee grounds to turn them into nutrient-rich compost for your plants.

February 20, 2026 By CoF Barista

5 Ways to add a healthy boost to your coffee

Superfood ingredients and spices that will transform your daily brew!

For many of us, coffee is more than just a drink—it’s a ritual, a comfort, and often a necessity. But did you know your favorite morning beverage can also be a delivery system for wellness? With a few simple additions, your daily cup can support your skin, digestion, immune system, and more.

Let’s explore five easy ways to give your coffee a healthy boost using nutrient-dense superfoods and powerful spices.

1. Blend in Collagen Peptides for Skin and Joint Health

Collagen is the structural protein responsible for the elasticity of our skin and the strength of our joints, tendons, and bones. As we age, collagen production naturally declines, which can lead to wrinkles, joint pain, and brittle nails.

Enter collagen peptides. These flavorless, easily dissolvable powders can be stirred into hot coffee without affecting its taste or texture.

Benefits of collagen peptides include:

Improved skin elasticity and hydration
Reduced joint discomfort
Stronger hair and nails
Enhanced gut health

Tip: Add 1–2 scoops of high-quality collagen peptides to your morning brew and stir until fully dissolved.

2. Add Raw Cacao Powder for Antioxidants and Mood Support

Craving a mocha? Skip the sugary syrups and go for raw cacao powder instead. Unlike processed cocoa, raw cacao retains its natural antioxidants and nutrients.

Raw cacao is rich in:

Flavonoids: Help lower blood pressure and support heart health
Magnesium: Boosts energy production and relaxes muscles
Theobromine: Gently energizes without the crash
Phenylethylamine (PEA): A compound that promotes feelings of happiness

Just 1–2 teaspoons stirred into your coffee can turn it into a nutrient-rich, mood-enhancing treat. Add a dash of plant-based milk and natural sweetener for a creamy superfood mocha.

3. Sprinkle in Cinnamon for Balanced Blood Sugar

Cinnamon isn’t just for lattes and holiday desserts—it’s a powerhouse spice with real health perks. It adds a cozy, sweet flavor to coffee while delivering notable wellness benefits.

Cinnamon can help:

Regulate blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity
Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
Lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and support heart health

Opt for Ceylon cinnamon (the “true” cinnamon) over the more common Cassia variety, which can contain higher levels of coumarin—a compound that may be harmful in large doses.

How to use it: Add a pinch directly into your brewed coffee or mix it into your coffee grounds before brewing for an infused flavor.

4. Mix in Turmeric (with Black Pepper!) for Anti-Inflammatory Power

Turmeric has become a staple in wellness circles for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, thanks to its active compound, curcumin.

Curcumin supports:

Reduced chronic inflammation
Improved joint function
Brain health and cognitive function
Enhanced immune response

To make the most of turmeric’s benefits, combine it with a pinch of black pepper, which contains piperine—a compound that dramatically boosts curcumin absorption.

Golden Coffee Tip: Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of turmeric, a dash of black pepper, and a little cinnamon to your cup. Stir in some oat or almond milk for a cozy golden latte vibe.

5. Infuse Ginger for Digestive and Immune Support

Ginger’s warming zing pairs surprisingly well with the bitterness of coffee. It’s been used for centuries in traditional medicine and is still beloved for its digestive and immune-boosting benefits.

Ginger can help:

Relieve nausea, bloating, and indigestion
Reduce muscle soreness and inflammation
Strengthen immune defenses

To incorporate ginger into your coffee:

Stir in a pinch of ground ginger powder
Add a slice of fresh ginger to your brewing process
Or steep ginger in hot water and mix it with espresso for a ginger coffee tonic

For a wellness-forward drink, blend ginger with turmeric and cinnamon, then top with frothy milk.

Bonus Tips for a Healthier Coffee Ritual

Choose organic, high-quality coffee beans to avoid pesticides
Ditch artificial creamers and refined sugars—opt for coconut milk, oat milk, honey, or stevia
Stay mindful of your caffeine intake to avoid crashes or anxiety
Experiment with adaptogens like maca or ashwagandha for stress resilience and hormone balance

Final Sip

Upgrading your coffee doesn’t have to be complicated. By adding collagen peptides, cacao, and immune-boosting spices like cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger, you can transform your daily cup into a delicious, functional elixir.

Not only will these ingredients make your coffee taste amazing, but they’ll also deliver long-term benefits for your body and mind—one cup at a time.