Beginner Friendly Guide to Making Cold Brew Coffee
The majority of us have converted to cold brew coffee during the past several years.
It has somehow taken over cafés and coffee shops by storm, replacing iced shots of espresso for many of us, but it has also proved itself to have almost limitless culinary applications.
What I’m trying to communicate is that cold brew is delicious and highly adaptable.
The summer months are my favorite time of year to have a couple of large mason jars filled with coffee brewing in my fridge so I can pour myself a glass of cold brew and fill it up with water and ice as I go, or if I’m going on a walk, I can do the same thing in a thermal bottle. As a result, when I have to travel for business, I bring just the concentrate and dilute it with water when I want to drink it (since it’s in concentrate form, cold brew doesn’t take up much room in a suitcase as long as there is access to water wherever you’re going).
Okay, so far, it sounds fantastic, but it doesn’t seem very versatile, and what was I talking about when I was talking about the culinary world?
Have you ever heard of the Scandinavian drink of choice, the coffee and tonic? How about a straightforward espresso martini? Vietnamese coffee that’s too cold? Coffee popsicles, perhaps? Is it possible to make a cold brew coffee cake? Do you want cold brew caramel sauce?
You have it right now!
Because cold brew is such a simple-to-make treat that can be used in a variety of ways, I’m not only going to teach you how to create the greatest cold brew, but I’m also going to tell you some of my favorite ways to utilize it. Does it sound good?
Then let us get down to business with the fundamentals.
Making the Perfect Cold Brew Coffee (Step 1)
I’ll go into a few other alternatives for cold brew equipment later, but for a basic working setup, all you need is a big mason jar, a fine-mesh sieve, and either some muslin and an elastic band that fits the mouth of the jar or a simple paper coffee filter.
In addition, you’ll need coffee beans, a grinder, and either a measuring cup you’re familiar with or a pair of digital scales.
The Water and the Coffee, to Name a Few
In order to fill a 1-quart mason jar, you will need around 3oz of coffee. When the coffee is coarsely ground, it equals 1.5 cups of coffee. The ratio is simple in this case: you need twice as much water as you need coffee. Consequently, if your coarse-ground coffee yields 1.5 cups, you will need 3 cups of water.
Because this is a straightforward ratio, you should be able to figure out how much coffee you need for any vessel with a little trial and error.
In a large jar, combine the coffee and water and shake well. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes after removing the mixture from the fridge.
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3. The recommended steeping period for cold brew is 10 to 24 hours.
Making your cold brew combination in the evening and drinking it the following morning works good in my experience. With such a lengthy gradient, accurate timings aren’t necessary.
You have a high concentration if you stay up for more than 12 hours. It becomes considerably stronger throughout the next 24 hours, after which it may turn dirty and harsh.
To put things in perspective, Starbucks’ cold brew takes 20 hours to brew.
And I’m pretty sure I left mine for at least 25 hours before realizing I needed to strain it!
4. Brewing Strains
Place a fine mesh sieve over a pitcher or jug when you’re ready to filter your coffee concentrate. Then, either put muslin over the mesh or lay a coffee filter on top of it.
Pour the cold brew mixture over the strainer you’ve just made with care. Allow time for the liquid to trickle into the jug or pitcher, as well as allow the sieve to set for a bit after the wet grounds are in it so that the remainder of the liquid may pass through.
That’s all there is to it, cold brew!
5. Keeping the Cold Brew Cool
You may store your cold brew in the fridge in a pitcher with a cover, or in anything else that can be sealed.
I just clean out my mason jars and replace them with strained cold brew concentrate.
Your cold brew will stay in the fridge for up to two weeks, but the first seven days are the finest. Mine seldom lasts more than two weeks, but happily, making more is always simple!
6. Putting the Cold Brew on the Table
Because cold brew is a concentration, it is much more potent than coffee. It reminds me of a cold espresso.
While it may be taken straight over ice (as I prefer to do) and the ice melts slowly, most people combine it with equal parts of water.
Fill a glass halfway with water, then top it with cold brew. That’s a regular glass of cold brew for you.
Of course, there are a plethora of other ways to enjoy a cold brew.
Let’s take a look at a couple more, beginning with coffee beverages.
There are cold brew alternatives for everyone, whether you want sweet and milky coffee drinks or strong, nearly savory brews.
Cold Brew Coffee Cocktails
All of them are variants on the same topic.
The core concept is simple: instead of using water to dilute your cold brew, you may use whatever milk you like.
If you like, you may use almond, soy, or even coconut milk.
Simple syrups, whether homemade or store-bought, are a terrific compliment.
Drinks made with black coffee
Of course, a pure black cold brew over ice is delicious, but even coffee purists love to spice things up now and again.
If you like the taste and kick of black coffee but don’t want it overpowered, there are still lots of ways to change it up depending on the weather, occasion, or mood.
Mint is an unexpected pleasant addition to black cold coffee on a hot day. Just be careful not to overdo it, since it will become medicinal. Before you add your cold brew and water, muddle a few of leaves with ice.
Try rosewater simple syrup or even just a couple of drops of rosewater for something more exotic (and some may say romantic).
Don’t be scared to try new things, and please let me know if you come up with anything unique and fantastic!
Ice cubes made with cold brew
Isn’t it a pain when the ice in your perfectly balanced cold brew melts and all you have left is murky water?
That’s when ice cubes made from cold brew come in handy. Simply freeze a part of your cold brew in an ice cube tray, then utilize the coffee ice cubes as you would regular ice.
But keep in mind that you’ll be adding coffee to your drink! You’ll be bouncing off the walls if you drink too much liquid cold brew.
Cold Brew Drinks with a Sweet and Milky Flavour
What can you do with cold brew, milk, and a few additives except take on the latte?
Here are some of my personal favorites…
1. Vietnamese Coffee Made Simple
Vietnamese iced coffee is traditionally made using a strong hot filter coffee that is brewed directly over ice. The condensed milk is then added.
However, you can simply replicate the taste with cold brew. Simply combine half a tin of condensed milk with cold brew concentrate and serve over ice. Allow some space in case you wish to add more water since both of these components have a strong taste! However, when you mix, the ice should melt a bit, extending your drink.
Vietnamese coffee is notoriously bitter and powerful. The condensed milk softens the bitterness of the coffee, resulting in a drink that tastes nearly chocolatey or custardy.
2. Extravaganza of Cookies and Coffee
One of the benefits of cold brew is that it’s robust enough to stand up to a variety of powerful tastes and textures since it’s concentrated.
This drink is almost like a milkshake, and it’s completely customizable with your favorite tastes, but the coffee shines through.
Over ice, combine cold brew and heavy cream, then sprinkle with chocolate and caramel sauce. Then, on top of it, crumble your favorite cookie. Then top with whipped cream and additional cookies.
But where does the word ‘personalizable’ come into play?
If you like a subtle mint flavor, use peppermint syrup. Shave dark chocolate over your drink if you enjoy a real old-fashioned choc chip biscuit.
The options are limitless. This is a fantastic drink for making adults feel like kids once again!
If you’re not cautious, you may have hyperactive shouting and running about as a result of the caffeine AND sugar. Don’t consume too many at once!
3. Frappe de chocolat et de pâté
This one makes use of the coffee ice cubes I mentioned before.
Simply combine cold brew ice cubes, milk of your choice, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and, if desired, a little honey in a blender.
You may top it with whipped cream if you like, but it’s really rather nutritious without it, despite the fact that it tastes luxurious!
You may play about with this one as well. Try a different nut butter or perhaps a different syrup taste.
Based on black coffee
Many coffee drinkers aren’t fond of sweet, milky beverages. I’m one of them, in fact.
As a treat, I like a dessert-like coffee, but it’s not my cup of tea on a daily basis.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of cold brew-based beverages that are extremely coffee-flavored and don’t call for cream.
1. Cold Brew Lemonade
This may seem a bit strange, but a fizzy lemonade blended with cold brew over ice is delicious.
It’s a light take on iced coffee that’s ideal for a summer day in the garden!
In fact, cold brew with soda is a popular combination right now – experiment with different sodas to determine what works best for you and your taste buds!
2. Tonic made with cold brew
Though it sounds similar to cold brew and soda, this concoction originated in Sweden and has since spread over the globe. It’s not at all sweet, despite the fact that it’s incredibly refreshing and a touch effervescent.
Over ice, blend cold brew and high-quality tonic water. Add a lemon slice to the mix. Take pleasure in how classy it makes you feel!
3. Cocktails with cold brew.
Coffee has a strong taste, so it can stand up to the booze’s similarly powerful flavors. A cold brew base pairs well with smoky Scotch or sweet bourbon, as well as herbal vermouth or toasty deep mescal.
What goes better with coffee than cream, assuming you prefer your beverages sweet?
Here are a few drink ideas, but don’t be afraid to experiment with your own combinations or add a cold brew touch to a classic.
4. Martini made with cold brew
The cold brew martini is a cold brew variation of the original espresso martini, and it couldn’t be simpler to make. In fact, it’s more practical than the espresso version since the coffee doesn’t have to be brewed on the moment or chilled rapidly.
In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz cold brew, 2 oz vodka, a little simple syrup, and 1 oz coffee liqueur. Shake well, pour into a martini glass, and serve. Add a few espresso beans on top to make it extra sophisticated.
5.Joe Jenever,
You’ll adore this if you like the cold brew and tonic trend. The cold brew is kept to a minimum to avoid overpowering the gin and prosecco, which make up the majority of the cocktail.
3 oz. gin, 1.5 oz. cold brew, and ice in a shaker 3 ounces prosecco and 12 teaspoon brown sugar Pour into a cold martini glass after stirring.
6. Sour Cold Brew
Make a whiskey sour if you want something a little more conventional. Try rum if you want your coffee’s brown sugar tastes to stand out.
With rum, a darker roast is better, whereas whiskey goes well with a medium roast.
Combine 20 oz cold brew, 2 oz brown liquor of choice, 12 oz brown sugar simple syrup, and the juice of half a lemon over ice to make the cocktail. Shake well and pour over ice with a lemon twist.
7. Cocktails with Amari
Amari is an herbal liqueur that is made in Italy. Campari, Amaro, and Aperol are just a few examples.
If you like coffee’s bitter undertones, a smoky whiskey, cold brew, and Amari drink is for you.
I like 1-ounce mescal and 1 oz amaro to 2 oz cold brew, but this is a cocktail that can be customized to taste. It’s all about using the right liquor to bring out the bitter and smokey flavors in your cold brew.
A Few Last Thoughts
These are a few of my favorite cold brew applications, but I’m sure you’ve had your own. Or you’ll come upon some on your cold brew adventure!
Personally, I want to learn more about how to use cold brew in the kitchen.
I’ve heard it’s amazing in a caramel sauce and makes great popsicles!
As always, I’m curious to learn more. So, if you come across a terrific recipe, let me know and I’ll test it out and add it to the list.
