DIY :: Cool Off With Cold Brew Coffee

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As mentioned in a previous post, I love coffee. With the weather heating up, however, the idea of a hot cup of coffee becomes less and less appealing. I recently discovered Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, and while it’s absolutely awesome, paying $2.49 plus tax for a cup of coffee is not something I want to do on a regular basis.

I decided to start investigating methods to make iced coffee at home. When you brew regular strength coffee and add ice, the overall strength of the drink is diluted when the ice melts. And I’m convinced the flavor is not the same when you take a hot cup of coffee and add ice to it. (Although as a former Starbucks barista, I can tell you the coffee for the iced drinks is brewed double strength in the morning and put in a refrigerator to cool.)

I found many hits in a google search on “cold brew coffee,” and two were from my favorite food bloggers, so I decided there must be something to it. I tried my first batch about a week ago and I’m hooked! It’s so easy to make and should save you money.

As an added benefit, cold brew coffee is much less acidic than brewing coffee the traditional way, so for those with acid sensitivities, it’s more pleasant to drink.

All you need is coffee, a container, water, and time! It’s so simple and cheap compared to the prices at coffee shops.

All you need is a bag of coffee and a mason jar.
All you need is a bag of coffee and a mason jar.

Measure one cup of coffee grounds and dump it into a 32 oz. mason jar.

Fill the jar with water, leaving about an inch of room at the top.

Put the lid on the jar, and agitate it slightly so all of the grounds are wet.

Ready to sit on the counter all day!
Ready to sit on the counter all day!

That’s it.

Leave the coffee on your counter for 12-15 hours, keeping in mind that the longer you let the coffee brew the stronger your concentrate will be.

After 12-15 hours, line a strainer with a coffee filter and pour. This will take two filters.

Refrigerate your concentrate. I usually start the concentrate in the morning as I’m preparing breakfast, let it brew all day, and then filter it after bedtime. I then refrigerate the concentrate overnight so it’s ready to drink in the morning.

Using a couple of filters, strain your coffee.
Using a couple of filters, strain your coffee.
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Filtering the concentrate takes a little bit of time. Use a spoon to squeeze out all of the coffee from the grounds.

In the morning, use a one-to-one ratio of coffee to milk. Any milk you drink will be good in this recipe (cow’s, almond, soy, etc.). I like to add about a tbsp of chocolate syrup or caramel syrup to my drink.

One note: This makes a brew with a STRONG coffee taste, and sugar doesn’t dissolve well in cold beverages. I made some simple syrup for my cold brew coffee concentrate and it works much better.

Doesn't it look delicious!
Doesn’t it look delicious!

Happy sipping!

Do you have an easy recipe for iced coffee or another summertime beverage to share? Please comment below! 

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