Many people love to start their day with a hot cup of coffee. But a warm beverage on a hot summer morning isn’t always satisfying.

If you are looking for a cool, refreshing way to get your caffeine fix, consider cold brewing your coffee.  

How to make cold-brewed coffee

Cold-brewed coffee is made by soaking coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water for a few hours or days, allowing it to steep like tea. The coffee is then strained to separate liquids from solids and poured over ice.

The benefits of cold-brewing your coffee

Cold-brewed coffee: 

• Is easier on your stomach. Coffee is very acidic, and drinking too much of it can irritate the stomach and aggravate certain conditions like indigestion, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome. Cold-brewing coffee creates a cup that’s almost two-thirds less acidic than its hot-brewed counterpart.

• Cold-brewed coffee tastes better than hot coffee. It uses time, not heat, to extract the coffee’s caffeine, sugars and oils, so the flavor is less bitter and smoother than hot or iced coffee.

• Doesn’t require as much cream and sugar. Because cold-brewed coffee is sweeter and smoother than hot coffee, there is no need to add cream, sugar and flavored syrups. Sweeteners and cream can pack a whopping 500 to 1,000 calories, depending on the size. Common grocery store creams are full of trans fats that can cause weight gain and increase your risk for chronic illnesses.  Cold-brewed coffee is easier on the waistline.

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