FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 23, 2016) – When someone soon asks you if you’d like a cold-brew first thing in the morning in downtown Fort Myers or on Sanibel Island, don’t be alarmed.

This cold-brew refers to Bennett’s Fresh Roast’s newest item to its fresh roast line-up: Bennett’s Fresh Roast Cold-Brew.

“This is probably the biggest thing we’ve rolled out in the past few years,” said Bennett’s owner Bob Grissinger. “Few, if any, companies offer cold-brew and especially don’t offer it fresh roasted. It’s not inexpensive to make, but it’s oh, so worth it.”

According to Grissinger, cold-brew is coffee brewed in refrigeration. The process takes a large amount of coarsely ground coffee and steeps it in cold water for 12 to 18 hours. Cold-brew is never heated. The concentrate is used to make a rich, smooth, low acidity and mellow coffee that actually tastes sweeter. Additionally, cold-brew’s high bean-to-water ratio gives it a significant caffeine kick.

“It differs greatly from iced coffee, which is hot coffee cooled down and then poured over ice,” Grissinger said. “Iced coffee becomes diluted and weak, containing some bitterness and unpleasant aftertastes.”

Cold-brew is poured over ice already cold, so minimal dilution occurs.

In order to launch this new offering, Grissinger had to invest in equipment including a kegerator that uses nitrogen instead of CO2 to draw the brew out of tap much like a beer keg. It takes five pounds of ground coffee to make two-and-a-half gallons of concentrate, which results in five gallons of brew.

According to Consumer Reports, sales of cold-brew coffee rose 115 percent between 2014 and 2015. Cold-brew and a hot-brew coffees made with identical grounds will have a completely different flavor profile because compounds in the beans react very differently to cold water than they do to hot. Cold-brew might also be a healthier choice than traditional iced or chilled coffee drinks. Because of its distinctly mild flavor, drinkers are less likely to load up cold brew with milk and sugar – and all of the added calories they bring.

Both Bennett’s locations offer the Fresh Roast Cold-Brew in 16 oz. for $3.50 and 20 oz. for $4.20.

Bennett’s Fresh Roast has prided itself on its fresh-from-scratch donuts made daily and being the only Fort Myers donut shop to serve fresh roasted coffee from the finest beans, resulting in the most flavorful and freshest cup of coffee around.

In addition to fresh roasted coffee and hand-cut-from-scratch donuts, Bennett’s also offers fresh desserts from Grissinger’s own recipe book including praline bread pudding and lemon bars, giving area residents an alternative for afternoon treats. It also features packaged whole bean or ground coffees, breakfast muffins, oatmeal and breakfast sandwiches. On the weekends, Bennett’s Strata (a layered baked breakfast dish) is a regular sellout at its downtown location, while the Strata is available every day on Sanibel. The Sanibel shop also offers a pancake dish for breakfast. Tea lovers may choose from a large variety of Harney & Sons Fine Teas. Lunch offerings, including paninis, soups, sandwiches, three signature salads and Bennett’s ‘Chicken & Donut’ and ‘Donut Dog,’ are available Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bennett’s Sanibel location also offers Artisan Gelato by Norman Love daily beginning at 11 a.m. until closing.

Bennett’s downtown Fort Myers shop is located at 2011 Bayside Parkway and is open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Its Sanibel shop is located at 1020 Periwinkle Way and is open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit www.BennettsFreshRoast.com.