Increasingly popular 24-hour cup of coffee

WASHINGTON — Some things are worth waiting for, but would you be willing to wait a full day for a cup of coffee that was delicious and healthy?

A growing number of people are making cold brew, or cold press coffee, which involves steeping coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water for an extended period of time.

Starbucks is launching “Starbucks cold brew” in its shops on March 31.

Aficionados say cold brew coffee is naturally sweeter, and less bitter than coffee brewed with hot water.

bodybrew
Room temperature or cold water is used in cold brew coffee (Courtesy BodyBrew)

A company called BodyBrew is accepting preorders for what it says is the most user-friendly coffee system, called The Bod.

“Cold brewers on the market today range from DIY Mason jars, buckets and corks, three foot tall glass towers or tubs and spigots,” reads The Bod’s promotional material.

In addition to being convenient, the company says the super-concentrated coffee extract contains significantly lower levels of oily compounds, which can cause cholesterol problems. The system also has less tannic acid and total acid, making it stomach and smile-friendly.

The Bod includes a timer — it generally takes 18 hours to brew eight to 12 cups of coffee, or 24 hours for stronger coffee.

After it’s brewed, the coffee extract can last in the refrigerator for up to three weeks, but for optimal flavor and freshness one to two weeks is suggested.

When ready to serve, the user adds hot water to the brewed extract, adjusting for taste.

The Bod is expected to arrive at customer’s homes in July.

Neal Augenstein

Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.

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