We all crave a good glass of chilled coffee during those hot summer days. Many of us feel too overwhelmed by the heat to even do anything, let alone make iced coffee. Thankfully, there is a method of brewing coffee grounds that results in the best iced coffee you’ll ever have.
What Is Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew coffee is coffee that has been brewed in a cold environment over a prolonged period of time. What makes the process so unique is that the flavors are leached out of the beans, producing a lower acidity profile.
How To Make Cold Brew
Making cold brew coffee is no journey up the mountain, but rather a patience game. At home, simply grind your coffee beans down into a coarse consistency, or buy already ground up coffee. Mix the coffee grounds with water and let it soak overnight.
During the soaking time, the water will slowly leach out the coffee from the grounds, creating a strong, cold brew.
Strain out the grounds after seeping, and enjoy a chilled cup of cold brew coffee.
Why Should I Cold Brew My Coffee?
- The slow brewing time allows for the infusion of the coffee flavor. The longer it brews, the more you will be able to taste the depth of the coffee beans.
- Cold brews also soak out the compounds responsible for bitter and sour flavors in coffee.
- Cold brews turn out to be smooth and near sweet, already perfect for a black cup of iced coffee, frappuccinos, and regular iced coffee.
How To Adjust The Strength of Cold Brew
One of the fantastic things about cold brew is that you can make it stronger or weaker, depending on your preference. For a standard concentrated brew, mix one cup of grounds with four cups of water and leave it in the fridge. This ratio will be perfect for mixing with milk or pouring straight over ice. If this ratio is too strong, however, you can reduce the coffee grounds or increase the amount of water.
Tips For Better Cold Brew
- Use coffee grounds that are coarse, as sandy-like coffee grounds may result in over-infusion, making a muddy consistency in your coffee.
- Use filtered water, as every cup of coffee, will be affected by the water’s cleanliness.
- Steep for at least 12 hours, but do not steep for much longer. This will give the coffee enough time to completely infuse with the water, but also prevent over steeping.
