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“Police work wouldn’t be possible without coffee,” Wallander said.
“No work would be possible without coffee.”
They pondered the importance of coffee in silence.
-Henning Mankell, One Step Behind
For many people (ok, ok, including me), coffee is a favorite morning drink. For me, it has never been about the caffeine, as I like decaf just as much … I just enjoy the aroma and taste of coffee.
I don’t drink it every morning, but when I do, I typically drink it straight out of my favorite French press and blended with some butter, coconut oil, and vanilla, or with a splash of peppermint coffee creamer. Other days, I blend this same concoction into a tea of some kind or just enjoy some plain herbal tea.
(Really, there are endless ways to drink coffee … just please, don’t drink the kind that comes in the coffee pods!)
Cold Press Coffee, My Summertime Treat
Iced coffee is everywhere in the summertime, and usually contains more milk and sugar than coffee. While yummy (to some) this type of iced coffee does nothing good for us and can awaken more cravings for sugar by flooding our dopamine receptors.
(Still need convincing? Check out the sugar stats in popular coffee shop options here.)
I’ve found a good alternative in cold brew coffee, which isn’t just hot coffee poured over ice. If you enjoy a quality brew, cold brew coffee stays good to the last drop as it won’t get diluted as the ice melts, and it has none of the downsides of the coffee shop concoctions.
Best of all, it isn’t complicated at all to make at home and saves a ton of money over a grande frappe addiction.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew coffee, as the name suggests, actually brews the coffee cold, resulting in a less bitter and more aromatic cold coffee. The result is a naturally slightly sweeter, full bodied coffee that isn’t watered down by ice.
Some people (like my dad) are coffee purists and would never even consider drinking it cold, but if you aren’t part of that group, give cold brew a try!
To make cold brew coffee, you’ll need:
- a pitcher or bowl
- a fine mesh strainer
- a coffee filter that fits the strainer
- your favorite coffee, ground coarsely
That’s it! The only catch to this super simple recipe is needing to plan ahead, as this method takes about 12 hours to brew. The advantage is, with a little advanced planning, you can brew coffee in your sleep! (Yay for multi-tasking!)
Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups high quality coffee coarsely ground
- 4 cups filtered water
Instructions
- Place the coffee grounds and water in a bowl or pitcher and stir to combine.
- Cover and put the mixture in the refrigerator.
- Leave for at least 12 hours or as much as 24.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter. This process will be slow.
Notes
Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!
I love adding cardamon and anise star ground up to my cold brew! I bet the chili flavoring is nice too, I’ll have to try it.
I used 4 cups of water but only got about 2.5 cups of concentrate out. Is that just the way it goes? Coffee grinds absorb water?
Love this! Just made it and it worked great! I am wondering though, what is the two tablespoons of concentrate’s equivalent to espresso shots. I would love to try making frappuccinos and such with it. Thanks!
Help Please,
I’ve made this coffee three times now and I do believe its milder and less bitter. However, it does not seem very concentrate to me, hence wasteful. I still need to use half a coffee mug of the cold brew to give me the flavor I like.
Am I doing something wrong? I use 2 cups organic decaf coffee to 4 cups water. I’ve let it sit in fridge, outside in sun and over 24 hours with the same results.
Thank you
Thank you for this post! I was all set to “correct” you when you said to hot brew the coffee then add ice…..I have recently found a wonderful, organic coffee shop just around the corner from where I work. They get organic beans, and roast them themselves. The teas and juices are also all organic, as is there whole line of foods, some are even made with aquaponics from the store behind them! They told me that you should NEVER make an iced coffee or cold coffee drink with hot brewed coffee, but rather, like you say here, use a cold brew.
I also would like to eventually get one of their cold brew containers, an hourglass shaped glass carafe that you put a filter in.
I have been a fan of ice coffee in the summer but struggled with it being too diluted by the ice. So for a while I froze leftover coffee … then that got to be too much so I gave up on this.
This summer my sister introduced me to this cold brew method, she has a system that was made specifically for this… the best part is the low acid, nice clear coffee taste which is far superior to even my french press I think. It is nice to know that I don’t need to purchase and store the ‘special’ cold brew coffee equipment to make this on my own. Thank you Katie
What coffee do you recommend?
This is the one I buy: https://wellnessmama.com/go/coffee/
-Get a toddy
-Use coarsely ground Ruta Maya dark roast coffee beans (they are shade-grown in Mexico and organic)
-insert plug and filter into bottom of toddy
-fill toddy with 1 cup of water, add 6oz of grounds, add 3 more cups of water, now use the back of a spoon to get all the ground wet
-wait 5-10 minutes
-add 6oz more of grounds, then 3 more cups of water… repeat damping process with spoon
-let sit for 12 to 24 hours
-ENJOY THE PERFECTED COFFEE YOUVE JUST MADE
You are welcome for my secret!
I have fixed coffee this way for years, but with a longer soak time. I fill a gallon glass jar with about 12ounces ground coffee, fill with water. Put lid on, let sit on counter for three days, then strain out grounds. Keep extract refrigerated or freeze in ice cube trays. To use, put two tablespoons ( or to taste) of extract in cup, add boiling water. Tastes great, gets an appliance off the counter!
Hi Katie,
I love coffee! I’ve been meaning to try cold brew for some time now because everyone keeps raving about how delicious it is. Do you have a particular kind of coffee that you swear by?
I cold brew my coffee in the French Press and store in a mason jar. When ready to use I add my concentrate to hot water. I also use the concentrate/water consistency and whip my butter, coconut oil or heavy cream in the French Press.
What a fun idea! I also love Mark’s suggestion of adding the concentrate to warm water and the fact that it’s a low acid option. I’ll definitely try this!