How To Make Easy Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee is so delicious and so easy to make. Once you discover how easy it is to make cold brew coffee, you will skip the coffee shops. You can store the cold brew coffee in the fridge and then use it to make a coffee drink over ice or heat it up for a delicious latte.

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 There is something about the warmer weather that makes me want a glass of cold-brew coffee. I then remember how easy it is to make cold-brew coffee and wonder why I waited until summer to enjoy the best-tasting coffee. Cold-brew coffee is popular right now in the coffee shops as it makes the best ice lattes and other summer coffee drinks. This popular coffee concentrate is so easy to make so save your money and make your own cold-brew coffee at home. You don't need any fancy coffee beans or machines to make this delicious coffee. If you are a coffee lover, you probably have everything that you need to make a pitcher of cold-brew coffee.


COLD-BREW VS. ICED COFFEE

 Cold-brew is different from iced coffee. Iced coffee is simply brewed coffee that has been cooled and then poured over ice. Cold brew coffee is coffee that has brewed in cold water, which results in a smoother cup of coffee that is sweeter and less acidic. Cold-brew coffee will stay fresher longer, up to a week in the fridge while hot brew coffee gets stale rather quickly.


COLD-BREW VS. ICED COFFEE FACTS:

+ Cold Brew is slowly brewed in cold or room temperature water, rather than being quickly brewed with hot water.

+ Cold brew is higher in caffeine – cold brew contains 100-200 mg of caffeine, compared to about 95 mg of caffeine in a traditional cup of coffee.

+  Regular coffee only tastes fresh on the day it’s made, whereas cold brew coffee stays fresh for 5-7 days when refrigerated.

+ Cold brew coffee has less acid so does not have a bitter taste.


  I love cold brew coffee as it has a way better less bitter taste than traditional coffee. Cold-brew coffee also has a rich sweet smooth taste that can only be achieved by soaking the coffee grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours. You see, the bitter taste that traditional coffee can have is caused by brewing the coffee grounds in hot water and that can also cause the coffee to have more acidity. When I drink cold brew coffee, I add way less sugar to my cup as it has a sweet delicious taste. You can also mix it up by using flavored coffee beans. Bones Coffee has an impressive array of diverse flavors to add a unique twist to your traditional cold brew. 

HOW TO MAKE COLD BREW COFFEE

 There are many ways to make cold-brew coffee. You can use special cold brew filters, a Mason jar, or even special cold brew K-cups. There are many products for sale for making cold brew coffee but all you really need is a jar, coffee, water, and a way to filter the coffee. Those paper coffee filters work just fine to strain the coffee but if you are going to be making cold brew coffee often, I would invest in a mesh filter or nut milk bag to make straining easier. You can also buy a pitcher or a cold-brew coffee kit that is made for cold brew coffee making. These Cold Brew Mason jar kits even come with the mesh filters that make straining the coffee grounds so easy.. Cold-brew coffee can be stored in the fridge for up to a week so I like to make enough concentrate to last for a couple of days. The below recipe makes enough cold brew concentrate to make 6 or more cups of coffee.

MASON JAR COLD BREW METHOD:

  My favorite way to make cold brew coffee is with a Mason jar. I simply add the coffee grounds to a  Mason jar and then cold water. I then let the coffee brew at room temperature for 24 hours. If you are short on time 12 hours will make a nice cold brew coffee but 24 hours will yield more flavor. Most of the time I just make enough coffee to drink every day, but in the summertime, I will make more cold brew coffee so I have plenty to share with my husband. Sure it seems like you are using more coffee when making cold brew coffee but you are making a concentrate. Make sure to use the right amount of coffee. If you have a kitchen scale weighing the coffee will give you better results. Using a coarse coffee will also provide better results so using whole bean coffee is recommended. You can use ground coffee also but use a coarse blend of coffee like ones made for drip coffee makers.

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Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate

3 cups of water

+ 3 ounces coarse ground coffee, about 3/4 cup

+ a large glass mason jar with a lid

+ 1 paper coffee filter or fine mesh cloth nut milk bag

strainer or mesh coffee filter

+ a pitcher or glass mason jar to store the coffee concentrate in

 Combine the filtered water and coffee in the large mason jar. Stir the water and grounds up well so they are thoroughly wet.  Place the lid on the jar and place it in the fridge or on the countertop for 12-24 hours. After the coffee has brew place the paper coffee filter in the strainer or filter. Then place the filter on top of the other empty mason jar. Pour the coffee concentrate through the filter to strain out all the coffee grounds. A mesh cloth nut milk bag makes straining the coffee so easy. If you are using a coffee filter, I recommend using the mason jar lid to hold back the coffee grounds so they don't clog the paper coffee filter.

Store the coffee concentrate in the fridge for 7-10 days. To enjoy the coffee cold, use 1 part coffee concentrate to 1-3 parts to water, milk, or nut milk. To enjoy hot, combine the coffee concentrate with 1-3 parts hot water. The amount of water that you add to the concentrate depends on how strong you prefer your coffee. Add your sugar, if desired, and enjoy. This makes 3 cups coffee concentrate which then makes 6 or more cups depending on how much you use per serving. 

Make sure to weigh your coffee grounds as I discovered that 3 ounces of my coffee equaled a 3/4 dry measure cup. 

Want to make cold brew coffee for one?

Click HERE to learn about a unique product that allows you to brew a delicious one cup of cold brew coffee at a time.  This coffee product is ao simple to use and is great for home and travel. With this coffee product, you can have a cup of cold brew coffee in as little as 12 hours.

Items to buy to make cold-brew coffee