Making your own cold brew coffee at home is easy and can save you a ton of money when compared to purchasing cold brew coffee at the store. Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarsley ground coffee in room temperature water for about 12 hours or more. Cold Brewed coffee has lower acidity levels, so it is easier on your stomach than coffee brewed with hot water. The flavor is much less bitter as well, which makes for a very enjoyable and smooth cup of coffee. You know need a couple items to make cold brew coffee at home. Some folks use wrap their coffee grinds in cheesecloth and let it soak in a jar of water overnight, but the cheesecloth can get expensive to replace over time, and many people have trouble with the coffee grounds seeping through into their coffee. I prefer this method instead: |
1. First find a good but inexpensive cold brew system. There are a few different cold brew systems available on the market, but this version is my favorite because it doesn't require you to replace a filter every time, it is a great price, good quality, and the container itself can be used to store other beverages if not using it for coffee. It also works very well with pre-ground coffee if that is what you like to use or have on had, while most other systems will not work well with smaller grinds. I prefer to grind my own coffee into slightly thicker grounds using a small coffee grinder (note: this coffee grinder is also great for grinding your own spices at home). Using your favorite brand of coffee is also important (I love this one for its extra smooth flavor). Lastly you will need some room temperature water, and then you're ready to brew! 2. Once you have everything ready, it's time to make your cold brew coffee! Place the coffee grounds into the mesh strainer and fill to about 2/3 full (or about 1 parts coffee to 4 parts water). Slowly pour the water over the coffee until it is a few inches from the top of the jar, and the bottom half of the strainer is immersed in water. Leave the mixture to steep on the counter for about 12 -15 hours (you can also place in the refrigerator). I like to make mine at night so it is ready to drink the next morning when I wake up. 3. Once your coffee has steeped, gently remove the filter from the jar and discard the coffee grinds (or use them for composting). You now have your cold brew coffee, ready to enjoy! My favorite way to drink it is to mix it with a little homemade almond milk creamer and pour it over ice. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, but I doubt it will last that long! Note: You can tweak the ratio of coffee and water to find what works best for you. Enjoy! |