Want to know how to make a great cold brew coffee? These tips will put you on the right track!
Summer is here and it is extremely hot. When the weather gets like this, a cup of hot coffee in the afternoon is the furthest thing from my mind.
I would much rather kick back with a glass of ice cold cold brew coffee. But what makes a great cold brew coffee?
Does it matter about the water, about the grinds, about the type of coffee that you use? My answer to all of these questions is YES!
Today I am going to break down the basics of a great cold brew coffee and share my simple and easy recipe for making a large batch and a small batch to keep in your fridge.
What Type of Coffee is Best for Cold Brew?
If you want to make a great batch of cold brew coffee, the best place to start is the type of coffee that you use. Yes, you can use supermarket coffee -- but I promise if you do, you will not like the outcome of your cold brew coffee.
The best type of coffee to use is a light or medium roast coffee that has been freshly roasted.
We have several each month to choose from in your Blue Coffee Box Subscription. Depending on the type of fresh roasted coffee -- whether it is Ethiopian, Peruvian, etc will determine the final outcome and flavour of your cold brew batch.
What Equipment Do I Need for Making Cold Brew at Home?
There is not a lot of equipment you need to make a great batch of cold brew coffee at home.
In my house, I use a burr coffee grinder to grind the freshly roasted coffee beans, a cheesecloth for the coffee grounds, and a one gallon jar. That's it!
Making cold brew is simple and easy -- and doesn't require hardly any equipment whatsoever.
Does the Grind of the Coffee Matter When Making Cold Brew Coffee?
Yes. The grind of the coffee that you use for cold brew does matter and makes a difference in the flavour and taste of your cold brew concentrate.
For making cold brew at home, you will want to use 3 ounces coarsely-ground coffee (that's about 3/4 cup whole coffee beans turned into 1 1/2 cups coarsely-ground coffee).
Fine grind and medium grind are for other types of brews. For more info about the types of grinds to use for what brewing method, be sure and check out this post.
Best and Easiest Recipe for Making Cold Brew
Okay -- so now that you know what to use, let me share with you my simple and easy recipe for making the best cold brew coffee you will ever taste.
I love the simplicity of making my own cold brew and I love the fact that I can have it every single day without stepping foot out of my house.
We are going to make our cold brew coffee in a regular 1-quart wide-mouth mason jar.
Take a large piece of cheesecloth and place your grounds in the cheesecloth. You are going to use 3 ounces coarsely-ground coffee (that's about 3/4 cup whole coffee beans turned into 1 1/2 cups coarsely-ground coffee.
Tie up with some kitchen string and place in the bottom of your mason jar. Add 3 cups of water to the coffee grounds. Place the lid on and let it steep.
You are going to leave the cold brew on the counter for about 24 hours to steep.
Once it gets done steeping, use a mesh strainer to strain the mixture just in case any grounds escaped. You'll have about 2 1/2 cups of cold brew concentrate, which is enough for 5 cups of cold brew.
Now, you have made enough to have a cup of cold brew every day this week!
To serve, fill a glass with ice and fill it halfway with water. Then fill the rest of the glass with cold brew concentrate, and stir to combine. Cold brew concentrate will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, although I find that it has the best flavour within the first week.
Best Ratio When Making Cold Brew
Per 1 cup of water, you'll need 1 ounce (by weight) coarsely ground coffee. That's about 1/4 cup whole coffee beans, which yields roughly 1/2 cup ground coffee. If you're accustomed to the metric system, 1 ounce is equal to 28 grams.
You're going to end up with a little less concentrate than the amount of water you used since some of it will be absorbed by the coffee grounds.
However, you're going to dilute it with an equal amount of water, so you will be doubling your final yield. Makes sense? Good!
Try Making a Batch Today!
If you are in the mood for a new way to drink your coffee, try making a batch of cold brew to help you beat the heat.
Be sure to subscribe to Blue Coffee Box where you get to try amazing new speciality coffees every single month.
