Have you ever made cold brew coffee? This is sometimes called “cold brew coffee concentrate”as it is a much more powerful version.
INot meant to be served over ice, so when the ice melts into your coffee, it will dilute to the point of being like hot brew.e.
Cold brew coffee is perfect for the warmer months as you can make a large batch and store it in the fridge to have it ready anytime you need it in the afternoon.
Cold brew coffee is not as acidic as making hot brew and poured over ice, and it also tastes a hundred times better. I find that cold brew coffee often tastes more chocolatey than hot brew.
How to make cold brew coffee – Equipment
You can make cold brew coffee in Toddy Cold Brew System or KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker (these are two of my favorites).
The Toddy coffee system usually around $38 and I love that the filters are reusable, the whole system is easy to clean, and the coffee concentrate tank has a spout (which makes it easy to pour).
The top of the walker is on the larger side, though, and can be a bit tricky to store when not in use.
The Kitchen Aid Cold Brew Coffee Maker usually around $100 and a similar system for starters. I love that the container sits nicely on the fridge shelf and it has a spout for pouring concentrated coffee. Dear!
You can also make cold brew coffee in French publications or a construction jar.
This method is similar to the walking method, but you will need to stretch the background out of focus through a fine mesh filter or loose cloth to prevent the grounds from seeping into your coffee. It’s a bit more involved, BUT if you already own a French press or large mason jar, it might be worth it for you.
Cold brew coffee recipe – The ratio of ground coffee to water
- 16 ounces* coarsely ground coffee. This is very important! Ask your barista to grind raw coffee for you — don’t use a grinder at home as it won’t grind the coffee evenly.
- 9 cups water (cold or room temperature)
* Most of our favorite beans come in only 12-ounce bags, such as the one we’re using today. If you buy a 12-ounce bag of coffee, make sure and use only 6 3/4 cups of water instead of 9 cups.
Can I make cold coffee with regular ground coffee?
Yes, you can technically. Your cold brew will taste better (and be of a higher quality) if you use coarsely ground coffee, plus the coffee will be more susceptible to spoilage.
Smaller abrasive particles can also clog some filters. However, if you already have some regular ground coffee, you can use it with good results.
You can add different flavors to your cold brew by adding ingredients to your coffee grounds before cold brewing. Some ideas include: toasted coconut, spices, citrus zest, dried fruit (like banana or mango), and empty vanilla bean pods (used).
How to make cold coffee in a child
If you’ve never used a Toddy before, rinse your filter out a bit. Place your filter on the bottom of your Toddy and plug in the plug from the bottom of the Toddy (not the inside).
You will need to unplug it when your Toddy is full of coffee. Next, pour your raw soil into Toddy.
Add your water slowly. I usually add two cups at a time and then pause for a minute. Make sure all of your substrates are wet and don’t have any dry soil on top.
The next step is very easy. Just cover it with cling film or foil and leave at room temperature. The actual time you need to sit can vary — I’ve heard some coffee shops allow them to sit for 10 hours and some up to 24 hours.
We allowed our batch to sit for 15 hours, and the results were great.
When you get back to your lot, hold your Toddy over your glass jar and pull the plug. Place Toddy on your glass container and let it drain. It will take 10-30 minutes.
If it looks like it’s having a hard time draining, you may need to take a spoon and stir the pulp around the filter area.
And you’re done! You now have a full batch of cold brew concentrate. Treat this concentrate like espresso — you can drink it, but take it slow, or you’ll feel jittery.
To make iced coffee, simply pour 1 part cold concentrate to 1 part filtered water and add ice. Leave some space for cream or milk if you like.
Looking for more coffee recipes?
Have you tried any other infusions with your cold brew? I love experimenting with our Toddy at home and I love new ideas, so let me know what you try. so so. Sarah
How to make cold brew coffee
step-by-step instructions for making cold brew concentrate
-
16
ounce
coarse ground coffee -
9
glass
country
cold or room temperature
-
If you’ve never used a Toddy before, rinse your filter out a bit. Place your filter on the bottom of your Toddy and plug in the plug from the bottom of the Toddy (not the inside). You will need to unplug it when your Toddy is full of coffee.
-
Next, pour your raw soil into Toddy.
-
Add your water slowly. I usually add two cups at a time and then pause for a minute. Make sure all of your substrates are wet and don’t have any dry soil on top.
-
Cover with cling film or foil and leave at room temperature. The actual time you need for it to sit can vary—at least 10 hours is good.
-
When you get back to your lot, keep your Toddy on your glass jar and pull the plug! Place Toddy on your glass container and let it drain. It will take 10 to 30 minutes.
If it looks like it’s having a hard time draining, you may need to take a spoon and stir the pulp around the filter area.
Credit // Author: Sarah Rhodes. Photography: Emma Chapman and Sarah Rhodes.
