Arjun, we’ve heard the creation of Quick Brown Fox happened rather serendipitously, do tell… I’d never planned on starting a coffee liqueur business but when I couldn’t find a job in Dunedin in 2010 I started tinkering with liqueurs for fun. I realised there was a potential market for a sophisticated coffee liqueur (given the number of coffee fanatics out there), so I got serious about working on a recipe and building a business.
Where did the idea for Harpoon cold brew first start to percolate? I noticed the increased normality of drinking cold coffee in America – particularly on hot summer days. It was being enjoyed as a refreshing mid-afternoon drink instead of what we’re used to as a morning ritual.
What equipment do you use to make the cold brew? Essentially a giant Aeropress which is a coffee gadget used in specialty coffee bars and at home. It’s a brewing device that gives us good control of the variables but what is most special is that it uses a layer of air to push the coffee through a paper filter, this minimises pressure on the grounds.
How should people use the cold brew concentrate? I reckon 50ml Harpoon, 150ml milk and a bit of maple. Cold Brew Concentrate is super versatile. You can add water or milk, freeze it into ice cubes or add it to cocktails, shakes or baking.
What’s your serving suggestion for the Ready To Drink? Straight from the bottle, or over ice with a dash of cream!
What kind of coffee do you use? We developed a special blend and roast profile for the product – 100% Fair Trade Organic Coffee from Colombia, Sumatra and PNG.
What is special about cold brew? The benefit of cold extraction is that it keeps a lot longer than hot brewed coffee. Flavourwise we don’t have as much bitterness or harsh acidity, so the sweeter, toasty, delicate notes of the coffee come through (and you don’t need to add milk or sugar because it’s not bitter. You get the complexity and caffeine without the calories.
A round-up of cold brew
Harpoon Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, 500ml, from specialist food stores nationwide, visit harpooncoldbrew.co.nz
Kokako Cold Brew Coffee, 300ml, made with Kokako Certified Fairtrade Organic ‘Aotea Blend’ coffee and filtered water, visit kokako.co.nz/cold-brew-coffee for stockists
Deco Cold Brew, 500ml, made with fair trade beans from Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, batch roasted on site at Deco Eatery, 117 Titirangi Road, Auckland. decoeatery.co.nz
Eight Thirty Cold, Sturdy & Black, and Cold, Smooth & Milky, 300ml, available in-store at Eighthirty Coffee Roasters, 553 K’Rd, Auckland. eighthirty.com
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