Embracing a cold change

How long does it take the barista in your local cafe to make your coffee in the morning? Two minutes? Four? Five hours?

If you picked five hours you must have already discovered the cold drip coffee at Bean Drinking in Crows Nest.

I was invited to this snazzy little cafe this morning to check out their new hand built Slayer espresso machine, an espresso behemoth with more adjustable bits than my first car and a $30,000 (give or take a couple of thousand) price ticket. After sampling a cappuccino (exceptionally good) and listening to champion barista and Bellaroma coffee ambassador Scottie Callaghan run through the machine's unique features (many), I was genuinely impressed. The Slayer is one sexy coffee machine.

And then Bean Drinking's owner Keith brought out the cold drip coffee for us to try. Oh boy... This is coffee made from cold water slowly dripped through a filter for five hours and served over ice, and it is quite unlike any other coffee I've ever tasted. In a good way, rather than a brewed-and-stewed American diner way, for example.

The Bean Drinking website says that the cafe is dedicated to "riding the third wave", going on to say that the third Wave coffee is all about letting the coffee speak for itself:

The 'third wave' is about taking coffee to a whole new level of sensory experience, enjoyment and appreciation. 'Third Wavers' appreciate each coffee for what it truly is and take whatever necessary steps to highlight the amazing, unique character in every coffee. They acknowledge that everything and everybody involved every step of the way is centered on the quality of the coffee that fills the cup.

Hyperbole aside, I think the team are on to something with the cold drip coffee. Served shot-style, this coffee has a very clean, refreshing flavour that allows you to savour the unique fruit and spice characteristics of the beans used. To me, it almost tasted like a liqueur (and it is certainly tastier than the coffee grappa I tried earlier in the week). Delicious.

Obviously cold drip coffee isn't for everyone (apparently 70% of all coffee drunk in Australia is still instant - erk), and don't ask for it with milk, but if you are in the area I would recommend trying one. I know I'll be back.