Some of you may have noticed that we had a cold brew coffee station set up for Father’s Day.

Some of you may have also noticed that a fair number of people stared at it as though we had placed a small science experiment next to the real coffee.

So, in the spirit of hospitality, curiosity, and making good use of our resources, including our remaining cold brew supply, we offer this very unofficial introduction to cold brew coffee.

First Things First: What Is Cold Brew?

Cold brew is not just regular coffee that got tired and went into the refrigerator.

It is coffee that has been brewed slowly with cold or room-temperature water instead of hot water. Regular coffee is made quickly with hot water. Cold brew takes usually many hours to brew which gives it a smoother, less acidic flavor.

In other words, cold brew is not “hot coffee that forgot its job.” It is coffee made by a different method.

Where Did This Come From?

Cold brew may feel like something invented by people with tiny mustaches and strong opinions about pour-over kettles, but it is not actually new.

One of the earliest known versions is often connected to Kyoto-style coffee in Japan, dating back several hundred years. Some coffee historians believe Dutch traders may have helped spread the practice because cold-brewed coffee was easier to transport and did not require fire on wooden ships.

So yes, cold brew is older than Instagram.

Possibly older than Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Definitely older than Stanley cups.

What Does It Taste Like?

Cold brew usually tastes smoother, milder, and a little naturally sweeter than regular iced coffee. Because it is brewed without hot water, it often has less of the sharp or bitter taste some people associate with coffee.

That does not mean everyone will love it. Some people will take one sip and say, “No thank you, I love my coffee hot.”

That is perfectly acceptable.

But if you have only tried black coffee and found it too bitter, cold brew might surprise you.

Is It the Same as Iced Coffee?

Not quite.

Iced coffee is usually hot coffee poured over ice.

Cold brew is coffee brewed cold from the beginning.

That means iced coffee can sometimes taste a little sharper or watered down. Cold brew is often smoother and more concentrated. Think of it as coffee that took the scenic route.

How Should I Drink It?

There is no need to be fancy. You do not need a special vocabulary, a coffee subscription, or a beanie.

You can try it:

• Over ice

• With milk or half-and-half

• With a splash of flavored creamer

• Sweetened, unsweetened, or somewhere in between

Why Are We Talking About This?

Because we have some left over.

Also because church is a wonderful place to try things together, laugh a little, and discover that not everything unfamiliar is suspicious.

So this week, as part of our Fourth of July festivities, we will have cold brew available again. Consider giving it a try. Add a little cream. Add a little sweetness. Ask someone younger than you what to do with it. They always seem to be thrilled to be useful ;-)

And if you still prefer regular coffee?

That is fine too.

We are a church family. There is room for hot coffee people, cold brew people, tea people, and the brave souls who say, “Just water for me, thanks.”

Come thirsty. Come curious. Come ready to celebrate.