Your Kyoto Cold Brew Guide
All you need to know to get your Japanese cold brew journey started in under 5 minutes.
What is Kyoto cold brew?
Where does it come from? (spoiler: not Kyoto)
How does it work?
How can you make your own Kyoto cold brew at home?
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What is Kyoto cold brew?
First, let’s clear up all vagueness: Kyoto-style cold brew, Kyoto cold drip, Japanese cold drip, Japanese drip coffee. All of these terms refer to one specific style of coffee brewing with subtle varieties. For the sake of clarity, we will use the term 'Kyoto cold brew' throughout this article.
Instead of using hot water to make coffee, Kyoto cold brew employs iced water, dispensed drip by drip over freshly ground beans. We’ll delve into the specifics later.
Where does Kyoto cold brew come from?
Surprisingly, Kyoto cold brew does not find its origin in Kyoto, nor does it in Japan.
In the early 1600s, the Ottoman Empire had a monopoly that forbade other countries to trade in green beans. Until one Dutch trader had the great idea to smuggle out a couple of live coffee bushes from Ottoman territory. The bushes ended up being planted in Sri Lanka & Indonesia, slowly making their way throughout Asia.
Coffee trade was at an all-time high. On board the wooden ships, open fire was forbidden, so Dutch traders experimented with brewing coffee with cold water, resulting in a more richly flavored and less bitter coffee variety.
Dutch traders introduced the brewing technique in Japan, after which it got very popular very fast in Kyoto, resulting in it being known around the world as the ‘Kyoto-style cold brew’.
How does Kyoto cold brew work?
The Kyoto cold brew uses one key instrument: the brew tower. This iconic chemistry kit serves as the heart of the Kyoto cold brew process. The brew tower is an elegant, vertically stacked structure with multiple glass chambers and a slow-drip mechanism.
The top chamber: The Hopper
The top chamber, known as the Hopper, is where the process begins. Filled with ice blocks and water, this chamber controls the drip flow through a spout at its bottom. The goal is a steady rhythm of approximately one drip per second.
The middle chamber: The Filter
This is where the magic happens. First, place a paper filter at the bottom. Then, it’s time to fill the chamber with coarsely ground coffee beans. To finish it off, place another small paper filter, preferably wetted in advance, on top of the coffee grounds.
The bottom chamber: The Carafe
The journey concludes in the bottom chamber, the Carafe, where each drip navigates through the coffee grounds, resulting in the collection of your cold brew coffee.
Patience is key, as this process takes over three hours or longer, depending on your desired yield.
Also read: 10 Best Specialty Coffee Shops In Tokyo
How can you make your own cold brew at home?
If you fancy a next level coffee tower that will, without a doubt, impress every guest you bring home, look no further. Just make sure you’ve got the coffee ready in time of their arrival.
When it comes to finding the right coffee tower, we’re selective. Let’s look at the 2 best Kyoto cold brew towers produced by quality manufacturers.
Yama Cold Drip TowerAMA COLD DRIP TOWER
This is the first brew tower that comes to mind when one mentions a Kyoto cold brew. The Yama cold drip tower features the iconic spiral down from the spout to the carafe. The bamboo frame divides the three chambers, and Its unique and crafty design is the perfect conversation piece for any coffee shop, home, or office.
This one will set you back $290 / €260. The Yama tower has momentarily run out of stock.
You can check if the Yama drip tower is back in stock here.
Hario Water Dripper Clear
A modern and minimalistic approach to the cold brew tower by Japanese manufacturer Hario. While the filter chamber in the Hario version features a French press spring plate, its core process remains the same. The Water Dripper straightforward design makes it a standout in your kitchen, dining room, or brew bar. Watching the almost zen-like brewing process is a vibe – it's like a mini relaxation session and a surefire way to kick off some cool conversations.
This slick looking cold brew tower comes at $235 / €215.
You can check out the Hario Water Dripper Clear here.
While there are more budget-friendly options to explore, when it comes to OG cold brew, we advocate for a worthwhile investment.
This crash course in 'Kyoto cold brew coffee' has merely scratched the surface. Like any coffee discipline, the world of cold drip coffee invites experimentation, from fine-tuning with different beans to discovering your golden ratio or the ideal grind. One thing is clear – mastery requires patience. So, as you embark on this journey, savor each drip and relish the slow, rewarding process of perfecting your brew.
