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There’s nothing more refreshing than a cup of cold brew coffee on a hot summer day. If you’re new to the concept, you may be assuming that it’s the same as regular iced coffee, but it’s not. Making cold brew takes longer and is far more complex than throwing some ice cubes in a cup of joe.
Although cold brew coffee has been around for a long time, it only became mainstream once today’s largest coffee chains started serving it on their menus. They even started adding in different flavours like vanilla and toasted coconut, too. You could head to your favourite coffee shop for this refreshing beverage, or you could make it yourself at home.
If you’re interested in making your own cold brew at home, there are a few things to note about the difference between cold brew and iced coffee before getting started.
The latter is much simpler — throw some ice cubes in your beverage to make it cold. Cold brew, on the other hand, is a 24-hour process and needs a different extraction method. You’ll need cold filtered water and coarsely ground coffee to make a proper cold brew, plus a much longer steep time. You’ll also be adding an additional half cup of cold water once it’s ready to serve.
Although the process may seem much more involved, it doesn’t need to be too complicated. And trust us, the time spent making this refreshing drink will definitely be worth it.
Because cold brew must be steeped over a 24-hour period, it’s more convenient to make the beverage in big batches. This way, you’ll have a ton available to you right away, which is perfect for entertaining last-minute guests as well getting your fix when you need it. Cold brew can be stored up to two weeks in the fridge.
Now that you know the basics, we can lay out the steps necessary to make that perfect batch.
Step #1: Pick the right coffee grind
The correct grind texture is crucial for getting cold coffee right. You’ll require a coarse grind that’s similar to raw sugar. The coarser the better, since it will keep the mixture from getting bitter overnight. If you’ll be grinding your own coffee beans, put your grinder on a coarse setting and grind in batches beforehand.
Step #2: Get the right ratio of coffee to water
The coffee to water ratio is a matter of personal preference. A good place to start however is three-quarters of a cup of beans to four cups of water. Use this ratio first, and then adjust accordingly depending on your taste. The good thing about cold brew is that it’s a lot smoother and more mellow than regular iced coffee, so if you mess up on your ratios and end up with more coffee beans than you’d like, don’t worry. The taste will eventually even out during the overnight steeping process.
Step #3: Soaking the beans
Place your coarsely ground beans in a large container. A lid is not necessary. The container should be large enough to hold all the beans, plus your water; make sure it’s not so heavy that you can’t pick it up to strain. Afterwards, cover your lid with a cheesecloth using a tight elastic band to keep the cloth in place.
Place your mixture in the fridge and let it steep for about 18-24 hours. The longer you let it steep, the better it is for flavour extraction.
Step #4: Strain the mixture slowly
After the steeping process, remove the cheesecloth from your container and use it to line a fine sieve. Place your sieve over a large bowl, and slowly pour the coffee mixture through the cloth-lined mesh. Resist the urge to pour too quickly, waiting a few minutes for the liquid to fully separate from the grinds and drip down. During this time, you may wonder why you can’t just strain the mixture using a regular coffee filter. Although you could, it actually slows down the entire process and we also know paper tends to tear creating a big mess.
Try to avoid interfering with the straining process by pressing on the liquid through the cheesecloth. Doing this will extract all the bitter flavours and you’ll end up with a watered down taste.
Once all the coffee has been filtered out, discard the cheesecloth and all the grinds, and transfer your beverage into a clean jar for storage.
Step #5: Serve it up and enjoy
Your fresh new batch will keep well in the fridge covered for up to two weeks. When you’re ready to serve, just fill up your cup with some ice cubes and add half a cup of cold water. Stir it up and then add milk or cream to your liking. Cold brew is also delicious served black, too!
To learn more about how you can make Italian espresso and cappuccino yourself, call Faema at 877-323-6226 or contact us here.
