Cold brew coffee is very easy to make at home, and you can achieve results that rival those of many coffee shops.
Cold brew involves cold extraction, a brewing process that seals in flavor by not adding heat, which would normally release it. It's a time-consuming process, but most coffee lovers find it worth the effort.
However, because it takes a long time, you have to make sure that when you do it, you do it right.
The cold brewing technique reduces the coffee's acidity, which in turn enhances its natural sweetness and complex flavor notes. The secret? It's a combination of the right way to prepare it and these six tips we'll give you.
What is cold brew coffee?
Instead of brewing coffee with hot water, to make cold brew coffee, mix the coffee and cold water. Then, let the mixture sit at room temperature or in your refrigerator. After brewing, you're left with a concentrated coffee that you can use to make the best iced coffee at home.
- Use good coffee beans.
You can make cold brew coffee at home with any roasted coffee you like. However, if you're new to choosing your coffee, you should choose carefully. Different roasts have different caffeine levels.
If you're not sure where to start, you can buy them directly from your favorite local coffee shop. Ask them what roast they use, and you can replicate it at home.
- Grind the beans well.
Don't use commercially available pre-ground coffee. You need coarsely ground coffee for cold brewing; these grounds are the right size for optimal extraction without bitterness. It should have the texture of coarse sugar.
- Try using filtered water.
Water quality makes a surprising difference in things like soup, coffee, and baked goods. You can buy bottled water if that's easier for you, or simply invest in an inexpensive filter carafe so you can make cold brew coffee regularly without buying anything other than coffee beans.
- Soak it overnight.
Cold brewing extracts all the coffee's floral, mellow sweetness and none of its bitterness. This also takes time. If you rush the process, you'll end up with a weak or astringent coffee instead of a perfect cold brew.
Depending on the method and coffee maker you're using, it will take between 4 and 24 hours to complete the brewing process.
The difference between cold brewing and regular brewing is that cold brewing uses time instead of high temperatures to quickly brew, resulting in a more balanced, less acidic beverage.
The good news is that you can make a big batch throughout the week so you don't have to do it every day.
- Keep it well stored.
Coffee has a small amount of oil that easily attracts aromas (as do milk and cheese), so since this brew takes longer than regular brewing, you should make sure it's covered in the refrigerator to protect all the flavors.
- Dilute.
Cold brew coffee is intentionally made with more ground coffee in the water to achieve the best possible flavors with the extraction and allow for dilution with water and ice. For cold brew, a one-to-one ratio is the perfect cup for most drinkers.
Serve your coffee over ice. It's delicious black or with a little milk or cream. You can even add a little simple syrup to sweeten the cup.
You can store the cold infusion, refrigerated, for up to two weeks.
Bonus tip: Freeze some coffee in ice cube trays. The frozen coffee cubes will chill your drink without diluting it.
Cold brewing is really simple if you have the patience to endure the time it takes to do it. We know it's hard to wait that long; we also love coffee too much to be that patient. But if you can do it, it will be worth it.