Using coffee as a pre-workout supplement is nothing new—it's been a morning ritual for generations. However, making coffee simple – in this case, cold brew coffee – has changed the game for coffee lovers (and athletes) worldwide.
Cold brew coffee has steadily grown in popularity over the past few years due to its unique flavor profile, lower acidity and performance-enhancing ability, and can now be found in many supplements, from protein powders to pre-workout shakes.
Packed with a smooth, rich flavor, cold brew coffee is known to be gentle on the stomach and an excellent source of pre-workout liquid energy.
Although cold brew coffee and a regular cup of joe come from the same coffee bean, their processing creates two very different coffees.
So if you're new to the cold brew crowd, here's everything you need to know about that not-so-typical cup of Java.
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HOW COLD BREW COFFEE IS PREPARED
While traditional coffee relies on hot water to pull the flavor and caffeine out of the coffee beans, cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee beans or ground coffee in cold or room temperature water for 12 to 24 hours. This steeping method not only makes this chilled cup of joe less bitter than hot coffee, but also adds a smooth, almost sweet, finish.
You can thank cold water for bringing out the best in coffee beans, making cold brew coffee less acidic and bitter, and easier on the stomach. The compounds in coffee beans, often attributed to bitterness and other unfavorable flavors, are not readily released in cold water, leaving them in the ground coffee that is discarded.
Hot water, on the other hand, strips the acids and oils from the coffee bean, providing higher levels of acidity that can cause digestive problems.
So if you want to enjoy your sober cardio minus the acid reflux, Cold Brew could be your new best friend when it comes to pre-workout energy.
CLEAN AND READY TO DRINK COLD BREW COFFEE
Pre-made coffee can be loaded with sugar and other ingredients that you may not want in your cup (or your body). Here are cold brew options that are pre-made for your convenience with your health in mind.
Courtesy of wanderingbearcoffee.com/
Wandering Bear Coffee
What's better than cold brew on tap?! Each glass of this extra strong, sugar-free cold brew is equivalent to two espresso shots and stays cool in your fridge for 30 days.
SWALLOW IT: Organic Cold Brew On Tap (96 oz) - Straight Black - Wandering Bear Coffee
Courtesy of bizzycoffee.com
Bizzy coffee
With 186 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces, Bizzy Cold Coffee is micro-brewed for 18 hours, sugar-free and organic.
SWALLOW IT: Dark Roast | Ready to drink | 48oz - Bizzy Coffee
Courtesy of bluebottlecoffee.com
Blue bottled coffee
This bold, deeply flavored cold brew with notes of chocolate is organic and comes in 8 ounces. Convenient single-serving tins that are perfect for overcoming a cold right before a sweaty session.
SWALLOW IT: Coffee Roasters - Brewers, Subscriptions & Brewing Guides - Blue Bottled Coffee
Courtesy of califiafarms.com
California farms
This ready-to-drink, unsweetened cold brew coffee is made from 100 percent Arabica beans, which contain notes of blackberry, brown sugar and cocoa.
SWALLOW IT: Pure Black Blonde Roast Cold Brew Coffee – Califia Farms
Courtesy of Black Rifle
STOK Cold Brew
This Colorado-based company only uses responsibly-grown Arabica beans to get the unique flavor of their coffee—all 10. Each batch is steeped at lower temperatures than most cold brews for a slow 10 hours, resulting in a smoothness never seen before is bitter. for a dial, unique
STōK Smoothness that is never bitter. It's available in a 13.7-ounce standard bottle or a huge 48-ounce mega brew. And if that's not enough, SToK also offers 40 mg "shots" to add to your brew or any other beverage.
SWALLOW IT: STOK Cold Brew Coffee
COLD BREW COFFEE MACHINES
Cold brew coffee machines are gaining momentum for many reasons: they are easy to prepare, the coffee stays fresh for several days, the coffee strength can be regulated and you have cool, smooth coffee at hand every day.
To brew your own cold coffee, simply add your choice of coffee beans (whole or ground) to a Cold Brew coffee maker, fill with water and allow the coffee beans to steep for 12 to 24 hours.
If you want to sip on a hot cup of joe, simply heat a single cup after the brewing process is complete.
Courtesy of Amazon.com
Yorkshire 1 gallon coffee maker
You'll never run out of cold coffee with this one gallon Yorkshire glass mason jar coffee maker. Equipped with a stainless steel tap and a metal spigot, you can sip to your heart's content.
BREW IT1 Gallon Glass Coffee Maker - Authentic Wide Mouth Mason Jar Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Faucet and Spigot Metal Lid Filters 100% Leak Proof & Drip Free - NCCOFF87: Kitchen, Home & Home
Courtesy of oxo.com
OXO Compact Coffee Maker
Perfect for those who want to enjoy a fresh cup of cold brew every day, the compact OXO coffee maker brews 16 oz. of cold coffee per unit. With a patented Rainmaker lid that helps distribute water evenly and a cork stopper that keeps your brew fresher and longer, you can enjoy making your brew any day of the week.
BREW IT: Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker (oxo.com)
Courtesy of primulaproducts.com
Primula Cold Brew Maker
Budget-friendly, this high-quality coffee maker brews six cups of cold brew coffee with each brew. This tempered glass coffee maker is lightweight and dishwasher safe.
BREW IT: Primula Burke Cold Brew Maker, 1.6 Qt, Removable Brew Filter (primulaproducts.com)
Courtesy of toddycafe.com
Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Unleash the delicious aromas of your coffee beans with this classic coffee maker. This BPA-free device is not only suitable for brewing coffee beans, but also for tea.
BREW IT: Staycation Edition | Toddy Cold Brew Coffee (toddycafe.com)
Courtesy of Amazon.com
Takeya's patented deluxe cold brew coffee maker
This easy-to-use coffee maker has received well over four thousand reviews on Amazon. It's strong (and smooth) with a non-slip handle and a mesh filter that's perfect for keeping all the coffee grounds where they belong.
BREW IT: Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1 qt, White: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home
Courtesy of amazon.com
Coffee Gator Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Reusable filters, BPA-free, temperature-resistant glass, leak-proof lid, and an easy-to-clean filter cap are just a few reasons why this coffee maker should be in your fridge as soon as possible.
BREW IT: Coffee Gator Cold Brew Coffee Maker - 47 oz Iced Tea and Iced Coffee Maker and Pitcher with Glass Carafe, Filter, Funnel and Measuring Spoon - Black: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home
