Why cold brews and flavoured coffees are taking over

Five years ago, "cold coffee" in most Indian cafés meant one thing: instant coffee blended with milk, sugar and ice. It still has its fans. But walk into any new café today and the menu looks very different: cold brew, Vietnamese coffee, sweet cream, flavoured lattes, protein coffee. Here is why this shift is happening, and what makes cold brew different.

What cold brew actually is

Cold brew is not hot coffee that has been cooled down. It is coffee that never sees hot water at all. Ground coffee is steeped in cold water for many hours, then filtered. Because there is no heat, the extraction is slow and gentle.

The result tastes noticeably different from hot coffee poured over ice:

• Smoother. Many people find cold brew less sharp and less bitter.
• Naturally sweeter-tasting. The flavour leans towards chocolate and caramel notes rather than sharp, sour ones.
• Strong but easy to drink. Cold brew concentrate packs a lot of coffee flavour, which is why it stands up so well to milk and syrups.

Why it is taking over

Coffee culture has grown up

More people now drink coffee for the taste, not just the caffeine. They know the difference between a filter coffee and an espresso, and they are curious about new ways to brew. Cold brew is an easy next step: familiar enough to feel safe, different enough to be interesting.

It suits the weather

For most of the year, a cold drink simply makes more sense than a hot one. Cold brew was made for that. It is refreshing without being watery.

It is a great base for flavours

Because cold brew is smooth and rich, it pairs well with other flavours. That is why you see so many variations: condensed milk in a Vietnamese cold brew, vanilla sweet cream on top, a citrus twist in an orange creamsicle, or even a fizzy ginger ale version. Each one feels like a new drink, not just "coffee with syrup".

Delivery made it accessible

Cold brew travels well. It does not go lukewarm on the way to you the way a hot coffee does. With delivery apps, a café-style cold coffee is now something you can have at home or at your desk.

Flavoured coffees: what to look for

Flavoured coffee is a broad term, and quality varies a lot. A few things are worth checking:

• Start with real coffee. A flavoured coffee is only as good as the coffee underneath it. Our cold brews start with fresh cold brew, not instant powder.
• Balance matters. The best flavoured coffees still taste like coffee. The flavour should support it, not bury it.
• Know what is in it. Our cold brews are finished with condensed milk and chocolate or caramel syrups. We are upfront about that, so you can choose what suits you.

What we are brewing at The Quench Store

Our cold brew menu today includes the Vietnamese Cold Brew, Ginger Ale Cold Brew, Orange Creamsicle, Vanilla Sweetcream and our Triple Shot Cold Coffee, made with cold brew. Protein coffees and more flavoured coffees are launching very soon.

If you have only ever had blended instant cold coffee, start with the Vietnamese or the Triple Shot. Then work your way through the rest. Order on Zomato, Swiggy or WhatsApp, anywhere within about 7 km of Kalyan.