Like iced tea, cold brew coffee is made from grinding coffee beans and allowing them to soak in cold, clean water for 12 hours or more to gain flavor and caffeine from the grounds. The result is silky-smooth, potent coffee that can be poured over ice or enjoyed at room temperature. Here is a brief history of this delicious beverage. 

Origins

Cold brew coffee originated in Japan before 1600 when cold river water was combined with beans and allowed to saturate and brew. Researchers suspect the Japanese may have heard about the idea from Dutch sailors, who were creating coffee concentrate on boats, bottling it, and selling the concoction at ports.

By about 1640, Japanese artisans in Kyoto, Japan had refined their methods of creating cold brew concentrate, using tall towers and tubs to drip water through grounds slowly so that the liquid had time to absorb even more flavor.

By the 1800s, concentrate was being made and sent to troops fighting at war, since the concoction could be enjoyed without heating.

In the 1840s, people in Algeria were experimenting with combining sweeteners, milk, lemon, and rum with coffee concentrate to create cool, refreshing drinks. 

Modern History 

Between 1920 and 1950, Cuban coffee aficionados began refining the cold brew process even more carefully, using finer coffee grounds and repeatedly saturating them with fresh water. In 1964, an American man named Todd Simpson witnessed cold brew being made in Peru. When he came home, he invented the toddy.

By 1969, vending machines throughout Japan offered cold brew coffee, and by the 1990s, the beverage was well established in the United States as a way of enjoying a morning pick-me-up even in the heat of summer.

When you are craving a delicious cup of cold brew coffee, turn to Learning Through Play Cafe, Inc. Serving the West Chester, OH, area, they offer a menu filled with tasty frappes, coffees, smoothies, and muffins. During these unconventional times, show your support by ordering a drink online or purchasing items from their retail shop. They also still offer play opportunities for kids. However, to keep everyone safe, reserve a spot on their indoor playground for your little one by calling (513) 847-8133.