Foamed milk was first introduced to Italian coffee in the early 20th Century, and since then, its has shown little sign of disappearing. Aside from adding a texture to the much-beloved beverage it accompanies, foamed milk can provide an otherwise absent flavor when steamed correctly. It’s clear that the steamed foam fascination is more than a simple fad, but the future of new cold foam beverages is a little more unclear. With the introduction of this new product (and the new method of creation that it necessitates), we thought it prudent to look at the process that makes foam so magical in a mug.

Let’s begin with the science behind steamed milk. Milk is primarily a composition of three main ingredients: fat, carbohydrates, and proteins. When cold milk is exposed to heat (in this case, the heat introduced via an espresso machine’s steam wand), the proteins that are typically bundled together begin to unfold, allowing them to more strongly hold together. Heat also breaks down the carbohydrates within the milk into simpler, sweeter tasting sugars, and it melts the milk’s fat for an even creamier texture, which is why whole milk tends to be the coffee aficionado’s go-to foaming agent. The introduction of air throughout this process creates small bubbles that in turn form the foam we adore.

An important factor in this “denaturing” process is to begin with cold milk and to then heat it while also introducing air. This ensures that the milk has little time to denature naturally and is instead heated rapidly for smaller bubbles, thus creating a smooth and tasty microfoam.

Microfoam is that creamy goodness that sits at the top of your latte, your cappuccino, or your grande half-caff 185-degree soy half-syrup added caramel drizzle vanilla latte! You know the stuff. It’s warm, sweet, and it makes our favorite coffees complete. But is it possible to achieve true microfoam with the cold foam process?

We’ll want to begin by considering how the cold foam production process differs from that of steamed milk. If you’ve ever blended your own whipped cream, then you’re likely already familiar with the process that cold foam requires. By whipping nonfat milk at a rapid speed, the milk becomes aerated and fluffy. Of course, by removing the element of heat, this new foam introduces new possibilities for iced coffees. Instead of drinking plain old coffee over ice, you can add a touch of decadence to your beverage in the form of a foamy new texture.

However, with the absence of heat in its foaming process, this cold foam does miss out on the denaturing enjoyed by its warmer counterpart. This means that you’re unlikely to find cold foam to be quite as creamy and dense as you’re used to. By choosing a nonfat milk for cold foam, whipping is easier, since the lighter substance is more prone to bubbling, but the result is a much dryer foam due to the absence of warmed, melted fat. Additionally, any sweetness experienced in the foam needs to be introduced separately, likely in the form of a sweetener product.

So, is cold foam here to stay or is it a mere fad? Ultimately, that’s something the market will decide. It can’t be denied that cold foam adds something new to the everyday cold-brew but, if it adds little more than texture to the overall experience, it could quickly lose popularity as a result. One thing we can say is that it certainly looks inviting and is a welcome innovation, even if it does only last for the summer.

The post Hot and Cold – Is Cold Foam Here to Stay? appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Kohana Coffee Company – Cold Brew Concentrates Available Now!

Kohana Coffee’s mission with cold brew coffee is to let the consumer be the barista – whether working at a coffee shop or using the coffee at home. The instructions are simple: Open bottle. Be creative.

Taking its name from kohana flowers – the small white flowers that bloom just before the arrival of the coffee fruit on the plant. The flowers herald the coming of the coffee beans, just as Kohana’s beverages usher in a new day when incorporated into your morning routine. The name itself has a shared origination with both the Japanese and Native Hawaiians.

Here, at Houston’s, we carry Kohana’s 32oz Cold Brew Concentrates in three varieties: House Blend, French Vanilla, & French Roast. The 1:2 concentrate is elegantly composed, impeccably smooth, and naturally sweet. You can enjoy it hot or pour it over ice. Ultimately, this is a very versatile staple for any coffee shop as it can be used in a wide variety of applications. It’s even a great option for intrepid chefs who want to include the richness of coffee in their dishes.

Some advantages to cold brewed coffee are:

• Low acidity
• Extended shelf life
• Smooth & bold flavor
• Ready for drinks or cooking
• Easy to take on-the-road
• Highly Customizable

As a recent addition to the Houston’s product line-up, Kohana Cold Brews are ideal for quick, easy, and delicious chilled coffee drinks. And peak-season for promoting cold brew is rapidly approaching with the warmer weather of Spring and Summer. The House Blend is easily customizable with any flavored syrup, or blend with ice for a thicker consistency frappe. The options are endless!

The post Kohana: The Perfect Pick-Me-Up… appeared first on Houston's Blog.

Cold brew may have been invented as early as the 1600’s in Japan but this refreshing process of brewing coffee has, over the past few years, increased in popularity by leaps and bounds! And as the trend of cold brew continues to grow, the cleanliness of these brewing machines and tools is becoming more and more vital to the coffee industry. The questions is – how does one keep all these different setups clean?

Urnex Brands® has provided an efficient answer to that very question. They recently introduced a cleaning product designed specifically for professional cold brew equipment called the 1-2-Cold Brew! This system is a two-step cleaning and sanitizing kit ideal for any cold brew coffee supplies and is comprised of a liquid cleaner called Clearly Cold and a liquid sanitizer called Complete Café. Clearly Cold is specially formulated and designed to remove coffee oil residue from cold brewed coffee equipment. Complete Café is an EPA sanitizer specific to cold brew equipment, but is acceptable for use with other coffee brewing equipment as well.

With the demand of cold-brewed coffee surpassing initial expectations in the market, 1-2-Cold Brew proves to have limitless benefits in the coffee world. Here are our top 3 benefits of the 1-2-Cold Brew Cleaning and Sanitizing Kit.

1-2 Cold Brew is easy to use

First and foremost, this product is very easy to use! With its liquid formulation and built-in measuring device for controlled dosing, Urnex has created an effortless cleaning process for coffee equipment. It’s as simple as mixing Clearly Cold with water and letting it soak in your tap system, keg, brew container, etc. Once you’ve let the solution soak for about 5+ minutes, you just repeat the same steps with the Complete Cafe and voila, your cold brew equipment is as clean as a whistle!

*The cleaning methods slightly vary based on the setup. Click here for full cleaning instructions.*

Coffee residue from taps

Clearly Cold and Complete Cafe

Photos courtesy of Urnex®

People can enjoy cold brew without worrying about the safety concerns

There are many safety concerns when it comes to food and beverages. In terms of cold brew, the concern of bacteria growth is at the top of the list.

Urnex Marketing Associate Lee Gordon explains, “Because cold brew coffee is brewed without hot water and often sitting out at room temperature for an extended period of time, brewing containers and dispensing systems are prone to bacteria growth. “

By routinely using 1-2-Cold Brew to clean your coffee equipment, any concerns of bacteria growth are eliminated so you can enjoy your cold brew without having to worry about getting sick!

Clean coffee equipment leads to better tasting coffee

Fresh cold brew after taps have been cleaned

Did you know that dirty coffee equipment can affect the flavor of your coffee? This is due to the oils from your coffee. Coffee is naturally a very oily substance. Any parts of your machine that are exposed to coffee, whether it is in the form of beans or grinds, will be exposed to these oils and is subject to buildup.

“Cold brew is typically brewed between 12 and 24 hours, so coffee oil residue has a much longer time to build up compared to other brew methods,” said Gordon. “If coffee residue is left uncleaned on coffee equipment, it will eventually clog the machine’s filters and tubes and cause it to malfunction. But even before this occurs, stale residue in coffee equipment will have a noticeably negative effect on the taste of coffee or espresso.”

Simply put, clean equipment leads to better tasting coffee!

In the end, if you are looking for an easy and effective cold brew coffee cleaner, 1-2-Cold Brew is your answer!  Urnex products clean and maintain your equipment. So nothing gets between you and your perfect brew!

Contact Houston’s today to order your own 1-2-Cold Brew or if you have any questions regarding this great product!

The post 3 Benefits of Urnex’s 1-2-Cold Brew Cleaning and Sanitizing Kit appeared first on Houston's Blog.