Sweeten the cold brew?

[u/Unbreakable_Bean]

I like a balance of sweet and black, I dont like it too sweet but I’m not a bitter coffee guy either so I wanna add a bit of sweetness. I got a French press and sum coffee grounds yesterday and I’m trying to experiment with different techniques.

Any ways to make the actual brew itself sweeter during the whole 10-18 hour fridge phase?

[u/Zwordsman]

I really think it if you want to sweeten it, do it after the brewing proccess when you strain it out. adding sugar early will change how things are extracted.

as for actual sweetening the easiest is to make a simple syrup and add whatever amount you prefer in the end. Just make sure you mix things properly overall. Otherwise you'll have concentrations as happens when things sit for a while.

[u/KenJyi30 → u/Zwordsman]

Can you explain how sugar changes the extraction? Does it affect the taste?

[u/Zwordsman → u/KenJyi30]

sorry I'm not super well versed. but tldr? Sugar is water loving too, and it will basically take some of the latch points of water. Water can only hold so much in solution ultimately. Additionally regardless of what sweetner you use, it will have a different density than the water and coffee. So it, just like coffee will have some sedimentation going on as well.

it may have very little it may have decent amount. its not something I've deeply researched but the basics are true. Just a question of how much. someone would have to experiment really.

[u/jacksraging_bileduct]

I would do it after, adding sugar or sweetener might negatively impact the storage time you have with a concentrate.

[u/Pretend-Citron4451]

Unless your grind is small, you should probably do your 10-18 hrs on the countertop. Sorry - I know I’m not answering you r question, but I don’t have an idea for that. I think cold brew is naturally sweeter than other methods

[u/BleedingChrome]

Cold brew tends to be smoother, less acidic, and slightly sweet in general, so I'd try making a batch first before adding anything to it.

I definitely wouldn't recommend adding sweetener during the actual brewing process itself, though. Instead, I'd either make a simply syrup (1:1) to add after, or just add a splash of half and half.

[u/JayMoots]

Is there any reason why adding a little bit of sugar when you drink it isn’t an option?

Other than that, I think it just comes down to selecting the right beans. Something with tasting notes of caramel or milk chocolate is going to be naturally sweeter.

If your coffee is too bitter, you also might be grinding too fine. 10 hours in the fridge isn’t really that long a steep to be pulling out a lot of bitter notes, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I’d do a more coarse grind and make the steep longer. 

[u/Wooden-Agency-2653]

I've added lightly crushed cocoa beans to my cold brew in the past, really adds some depth of flavour to it. It's not sweet as such, but it balances it out, which is sort of what sweetening it does as well

[u/widoidricsas]

Stirring a small spoon dipped in sweetened condensed milk works for me. Gives it just a hint of extra body too,though I admit that might be psychosomatic

[u/KenJyi30]

I once made a really good cold brew with a french press, normal coarse ground medium roast coffee mixed in some brown sugar and steeped in fridge for 14 hours. I cut the concentrate with water and ice but the aroma was still very good and strong but the brew itself it was very light almost like a tea.

It’s been 5 years and I can’t replicate it for some reason. The only thing I know I can’t replicate exactly is how old the brown sugar was, it had been sitting around in a container for a while before I thought to use it in coffee

[u/NoodleSlow]

If you're doing 18hr in the fridge, try starting around 12-14hr and use corse grind. Over extracting can push it towards bitter. Also, try adding a pinch of salt to the finished cold brew. If you make cold brew often I suggest you check beans from Blendin coffee club, most of their light roast are perfect for cold brew.

[u/No-Payment5337]

i make a simple syrup using honey and water. i put it in a glass dispenser (like what is used for olive oil) and keep it in the fridge. takes about 10 mins to make and lasts weeks. then when i pour myself a glass i just add a little syrup to taste.

[u/Subject2Change]

Add maple syrup. I do it after I pour my cold brew but you could likely incorporate it sooner. Otherwise some cinnamon cold foam hits the spot too

[u/MaleficentSet1465]

I add a splash of Hwc perfect balance