Cold Brew Coffee

So it has been getting warm around here and I have been spending a small fortune on iced coffee.  I like the caffeine and since it is hot, why not get it cool and refreshing.  To save a little money I wanted to try something a little different.  It is called cold brew coffee.  Basically you brew the coffee for 12 hours at room temperature.  It creates a concentrate of coffee that lacks the bitterness associated with hot brewed coffee.  Further since it is concentrated you can add as little or as much as you like to make the perfect strength coffee.  Add some of the concentrate to hot water and you will have the perfect hot coffee.  But, if you add the cold concentrate to ice you have the perfect iced coffee.

I like mine with a little cream and sugar.  However, brewing the coffee this way makes it so that you do not need anything in it.  It is just amazing!

Cold Brewed Coffee

• 1 cup coffee
• 4 cups water

In a large container add the coffee and the water.  Mix thoroughly and then let sit covered for 12-14 hours.

Strain the coffee using a coffee filter.  I strained mine twice as there was still a little residue after the first filtering. I used a strainer lined with a coffee filter to strain the coffee, but you should use whatever you have available.

To make hot coffee mix equal parts hot water and coffee concentrate.  If you like stronger or weaker coffee adjust accordingly.  Similarly, for cold coffee mix the concentrate with cold water and ice.  I like mine really strong so I add the concentrate to ice and then mix in just a tad bit of cream and a little sugar.

They sell expensive cold brew systems to make coffee this way, but as you can see all you need is two containers and a strainer.  No need for expensive and large equipment that will take up space in your kitchen.

This is some of the best coffee I have ever tasted.  I used regular store bought coffee.  Nothing special.  By doing this you can make the cheap stuff taste like the expensive stuff.