Cold Brew Coffee... So Hot Right Now

Fans of iced coffee rejoice! There’s another way to enhance your coffee game, and it’s far cooler than merely adding ice.

Cold brew coffee has been gaining popularity, but not many people understand why it's popular or how to make it (Trust us, it’s easy!).

Benefits of Cold Brew Coffee

Choose Your Own Dilution

Unlike traditional iced coffee, cold brew coffee is cooled right away and doesn’t require added ice or water. However, if the coffee is too strong, feel free to add some ice! It’s better to start off strong. After all, friends don’t let friends drink watery coffee.

Acidity Issues Be Gone!

Heartburn is no joke. The National Heartburn Alliance reports that 54 million Americans regularly suffer from heartburn. A staggering 75% of those individuals pinpoint coffee as one of the triggers.

Intense heat alters the chemical profile of coffee, leading to increased acidity. Brewing coffee at a colder temperature significantly reduces its acidity.

Sweet Without Sweetener

Another disadvantage of traditional coffee brewing is that the heat often results in a more bitter taste due to higher acid levels. The reduced acid level in cold brew coffee yields a sweeter-tasting beverage.

If you typically add some form of sweetener to your coffee, try cold brew without adding anything first. You might be surprised by the difference!

Caffeine Stays About the Same

This aspect is slightly complex. Caffeine dissolves quicker in hot water than in cold. However, because a higher coffee-to-water ratio is used in most cold brew coffee recipes, and the steep time is longer, the caffeine content is approximately the same.

If you’re seeking less caffeine, adjust your coffee-to-water ratio to match that of hot brewing.

Make Next Week’s Coffee, Today

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t drink regular coffee a week later. Proper storage of cold brew coffee allows this delicious beverage to last up to not just one, but TWO weeks! Simply store it in a container with a lid and pour as needed.
 

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

Now that you know about the benefits of cold brew, let’s make some coffee!

Below are two simple, effective cold brew coffee recipes. Both methods brew enough coffee for multiple cups, so you can save some to dilute later.

Making Cold Brew Coffee with a French Press

The first method involves a French press.

Step 1: Grind ¾ cup of coffee beans into coarse grounds.

Step 2: Add the grounds and 4 cups of cold, filtered water to the French press.

Step 3: Stir to combine the grounds and water.

Step 4: Cover the French press with a lid. Do not press down on the plunger.
Note: Alternatively, you can use plastic wrap to cover the French press.

Step 5: Allow the coffee to brew for 12-24 hours at room temperature.

Step 6: Once brewed, slowly press down on the plunger to separate the coffee from the grounds.

Step 7: When you’re ready to drink, pour the coffee into a glass or Mason jar. Add ice, coffee ice cubes, milk, or other ingredients to suit your preferences.

Step 8: The most important step… ENJOY!

Making Cold Brew Coffee with Mason Jars or Growlers

The second cold brew method involves using two growlers (or Mason jars, quart size or larger), a funnel, and a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. For this demonstration, we used a nut milk bag.

Step 1: Grind 1 ½ cups of coffee beans into coarse grounds.

Step 2: Add the grounds and 8 cups of cold, filtered water to one growler, using the funnel.

Step 3: Cover the growler and shake to mix the grounds and water.

Step 4: Allow the coffee to brew for 12-24 hours at room temperature.

Step 5: Once brewed, place the nut milk bag in the funnel and position the funnel over the second growler.

Step 6: Pour the brewed coffee through the funnel, allowing the nut milk bag to catch the grounds.

Step 7: When you’re ready to drink, pour the filtered coffee into a glass or Mason jar. Add ice, coffee ice cubes, milk, or other ingredients to suit your preferences.

Step 8: The most important step… ENJOY!

While there are other methods to make cold brew coffee, the two described above are the simplest for home brewing.

Remember, the shelf life of cold brew coffee is about two weeks, so no matter which method you choose, you can take comfort in knowing that leftovers are just as good as the first cup.

Cold Brew Coffee Resources:

• food52.com
• toddycafe.com
• kickinghorsecoffee.com
• thekitchn.com