How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home
Cold brew coffee has been growing in popularity in recent years due to its smooth, rich flavor and lower acidity compared to traditional hot-brewed coffee. It’s also incredibly easy to make at home, requiring only a few simple steps and a bit of patience.
If you’re a coffee lover looking to try your hand at making cold brews, then you’re at the right place. In this article, we will guide you through the process of making cold brew coffee at home, including the equipment you’ll need, the coffee-to-water ratio, and tips to help you perfect your cold brew recipe.
What is Cold brew coffee?
Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period, typically 12 to 24 hours. This slow and gentle extraction process results in a coffee concentrate that is less acidic and smoother than regular coffee, with a subtly sweet and chocolatey flavor profile.
Cold brew coffee can be enjoyed independently, diluted with water or milk, or used as a base for coffee beverages such as iced lattes, frappuccinos, and more. It is a popular summer drink but can be enjoyed year-round.
What You Need to Make Cold Brew at Home
- Coffee beans – 1 cup (around 113g)
- Cold water – 4 cups (around 907g)
- A coffee grinder
- A mason jar
- Cheesecloth, muslin, or drip coffee filter
- A French press (optional)
If you don’t have any cheesecloth and don’t want to buy some to experiment with cold brew coffee, a French press coffee maker will work fine. A standard-size French press will fit the measurements given above.
Also, this makes a pretty strong cup of cold brew (which is exactly how it should be!). It’ll be equivalent in strength to espresso, but there’ll be more coffee – this recipe makes around 3 cups.
You can always reduce the amount of coffee if you prefer a weaker cold brew or add more if you like it stronger! Remember, always water it in your glass with iced water or milk.
Method for Making Cold Brew
You’ll need:
- Coarsely ground coffee beans
- Cold water
- A large jar or pitcher
- A fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Optional: flavorings such as vanilla extract, cinnamon, or sweeteners such as simple syrup or honey
1. Grind Your Coffee
As with any coffee you make in a French press, you’ll want a coarse grind. Put your coffee grinder on the coarsest setting and run it until it looks evenly ground. You want it to look like cornmeal rather than fine sugar or flour.
If you’re using ready-ground coffee, buy the coarsest one. Pretty much any French press coffee will be fine. However, avoid “all-rounders,” as these will often be ground finer so they can be brewed in an espresso maker.
Whichever you use, you should have roughly 1 cup of ground coffee by the end of this step.
2. Brewing Your Coffee
Add the ground coffee to your mason jar or French press. Pour in the water, which doesn’t need to be chilled – tap or bottled water at room temperature will be fine. Considering you don’t need to refrigerate cold brew while it’s steeping, there’s no need to use cold water.
Leave it for 20-30 seconds to bloom. This is the process of the water settling into the coffee, so you’ll see some bubbling as it makes its way down. Next, stir it with a spoon until all the grounds are saturated. Don’t expect all the coffee to dissolve in the water, so just stir it for 30 seconds or so.
3. Steeping Your Coffee
Put the lid on the mason jar or cover your French press with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. It’s best not to use the French press lid, as you don’t want the plunger on the coffee.
Leave it to infuse for 12 hours or so. Try not to leave it much longer because it can ruin the flavor profile of your coffee.
4. Straining, Serving, and Storing Your Coffee
Your training method depends on what you brewed your coffee in. It’s pretty easy with a French press: put the lid on and press down the plunger. Go slowly so you don’t force any coffee over the mesh. When you’re done, pour the coffee into cups or a serving jug.
Using a mason jar, you’d want to set a fine sieve over a jug. Put your cheesecloth in the sieve and slowly pour the coffee through. You’ll be left with much wetter coffee grounds this way, but don’t try to press the excess water out into the sieve.
You could also use a drip coffee maker filter. However, that’ll take a very long time, but it’ll get the job done.
Finally, you can serve the coffee in glasses with ice. Dilute it with milk or iced water, or just drink it how it is! Any remaining cold brew can be stored in a sealed bottle for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Is Cold Brew Coffee Better than Regular Coffee?
If you enjoy iced coffee, is there any benefit to making a cold brew at home rather than brewing normal coffee and letting it go cold?
The simple answer is yes. The longer brewing time is necessary because you’re using cold water, but it has a noticeable impact on flavor. Cold brew coffee is less acidic because cold water isn’t as effective at pulling out acids from the beans as hot water.
As such, its taste is mellower and slightly sweeter. This can theoretically make it healthier, too, because you don’t need to rely on sugar and creamer as much to mask the acidic or bitter taste.
But it also means making cold brew at home is more forgiving on the beans. You can get away with using cheaper coffee and have it taste much nicer than if you brewed it with hot water. Of course, nice beans will always taste better, but knowing is useful.
What kind of coffee should I use for cold brew?
When making cold brew coffee, you’ll want to use coffee beans that are freshly roasted and coarsely ground. The type of coffee beans you use is a matter of personal preference, but it’s important to note that different coffee beans will produce different flavors and strengths of coffee.
Generally, medium-to-dark roast coffee beans tend to work well for cold brew because they have a fuller flavor profile that can stand up to the longer steeping process. However, some prefer lighter roast beans for a milder and fruitier taste.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to experiment and find the coffee beans you enjoy the most. Just make sure to choose high-quality beans, grind them coarsely, and use a ratio of approximately 1:4 coffee to water for the best results.
Can I use hot water to make cold-brew coffee?
No, you should not use hot water to make cold-brew coffee. The key to making cold brew coffee is to use cold or room temperature water and to steep the coffee grounds over an extended period, typically 12 to 24 hours. Using hot water will cause the coffee to extract too quickly, resulting in a bitter and over-extracted flavor.
The slow and gentle extraction process of cold brew allows the coffee to develop a smooth and naturally sweet flavor profile without the harsh acidity and bitterness of hot-brewed coffee. So, it’s important to use cold water to make cold brew coffee.
What is the ideal ratio of coffee to water for cold brew?
The ideal ratio of coffee to water for cold brew is approximately 1:4, which means one-part coffee to four parts water by weight. This ratio gives you a rich, smooth, well-balanced coffee concentrate.
To make cold-brew coffee using this ratio:
- Combine one cup of coarsely ground coffee beans with four cups of cold water in a container.
- Stir the mixture to ensure all the coffee grounds are saturated with water, then cover and let it steep in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours.
- After steeping, strain the mixture to remove the coffee grounds and store the coffee concentrate in the refrigerator.
Remember that the ideal coffee-to-water ratio can vary depending on personal preference and the type of coffee beans you’re using. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with different ratios to find the perfect balance for your taste.
How do I store leftover cold brew coffee?
To store leftover cold brew coffee, transfer it to a clean glass container with a tight-fitting lid and keep it in the refrigerator for up to one week. Cold brew coffee concentrate can be stored in the fridge in its concentrated form and then diluted with water or milk when ready to enjoy it.
If you have leftover cold brew coffee, you don’t plan to use it within a week. You can freeze it in ice cube trays and use the frozen cubes to make iced coffee or other cold beverages later.
It’s important to note that the flavor of cold brew coffee can change over time, so it’s best to consume it within a few days of brewing for optimal taste. If you notice any off flavors or signs of spoilage, such as a sour or moldy smell, it’s best to discard the leftover coffee.
Can I add milk or cream to my cold-brew coffee?
Yes, you can add milk or cream to your cold-brew coffee. Many people enjoy cold brew coffee with a splash of milk or cream, which can help balance the coffee’s natural sweetness and add a creamy texture.
When adding milk or cream to your cold brew coffee, it’s best to use a lighter variety, such as whole milk or half-and-half, to avoid overwhelming the subtle flavor profile of the coffee.
You can also add other flavorings, such as vanilla extract or cinnamon, to enhance the taste of your cold-brew coffee.
It’s important to note that adding milk or cream will dilute the strength of your cold brew coffee, so you may need to adjust the amount of coffee concentrate you use or the steeping time to achieve the desired strength.
Final Thoughts on Cold Brew Coffee
You should now know how to make cold-brew coffee at home. As you can see, it’s not difficult – if anything, it’s easier than brewing hot coffee!
Play around with your steeping time and quantities of water and coffee to find the perfect cold brew for your tastes. And the best part is that you can make it in bulk, so you don’t even need to think about caffeinating yourself in the morning!
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