One of our favorite Milk Jar staples (besides the cookies, of course) is our Cold Brew Iced Coffee! Made with espresso beans roasted by Sightglass Coffee, this cold cup of joe is the perfect way to perk up a hot summer day.
The silky smoothness of Cold Brew is still somewhat of a recent novelty, so we were curious to learn more about its origins. Turns out Cold Brew has a history dating all the way back to 17th century Japan! From Scott's awesome article over at Driftaway Coffee:
"Kyoto-style coffee, named for its popularity in Kyoto, Japan, is the earliest record of cold-brew coffee. It’s clear that the Japanese were brewing coffee this way in the 1600s, although the record prior to that is unclear. One suggestion speculates that the Japanese may have learned about it from Dutch traders, who would have used it as a way to make coffee that could be carried on their ships.
Over the centuries, Kyoto-style brews have become highly artistic. Instead of submerging grounds for hours, the coffee is brewed drop by drop. A single bead of water is let down through the coffee grounds at a time, creating a process that takes just as making toddy does but is much more beautiful to watch. It wasn’t long until tall, elegant towers were being used in Kyoto to make cold-brews."
Pretty cool, right?
So thank you, Japan, for the ultimate summertime beverage! We raise our jars to you! For more information on the history of cold brew, hop on over to Driftaway Coffee, and be sure to stop by our shop for a cookie and cold brew treat!
