Making Cold Brew Coffee
The secret to a clean cup lies in the ratio and the coarseness of the grind. Using a slow extraction avoids the bitterness that heat often draws out of the grounds.
Grind consistency is your biggest variable.
Use a burr grinder to get a texture like coarse sea salt. If the grounds are too fine, the coffee will be muddy and difficult to filter.
- Large glass jar or pitcher
- Fine-mesh sieve
- Cheesecloth or paper coffee filter
- Long-handled spoon
What goes in.
- 1 cupwhole coffee beans, fresh roast
- 4 cupsfiltered cold water
Don't stir too much
Once you combine the water and grounds, give them one gentle stir to ensure everything is wet, then leave it undisturbed. Moving it around pulls out unwanted tannins.
The method.
Grind the beans
Pulse your beans until they look like coarse salt. Do not go finer than this.
Combine
Place the grounds in your jar and pour the cold water over them. Stir just once to saturate the grounds completely.
Steep
Cover the jar and leave it on your counter or in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. The longer it sits, the deeper the flavor.
Strain
Place a sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter over a clean container. Pour the coffee through slowly. Do not press on the grounds, as this releases silt.
Dilute and serve
The resulting liquid is a concentrate. Mix it with equal parts water or milk before drinking.
Other turns to take.
Spiced Cold Brew
Add a stick of cinnamon or a few whole cardamom pods to the jar during the steeping process.
Vanilla Infusion
Add a split vanilla bean to the grounds before pouring in the water.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Use filtered water; chlorine or minerals in tap water will show up clearly in the final taste.
Store the concentrate in a sealed glass bottle in the fridge for up to a week.
If the coffee tastes too weak, extend the steep time by 2 hours rather than adding more grounds.
The ones that keep coming up.
Does it have to be refrigerated while steeping?
Countertop steeping happens faster and yields a slightly more rounded profile, while refrigeration is more forgiving if you plan to leave it for longer than 18 hours.
Can I use pre-ground coffee?
Only if it is labeled 'extra coarse' for French press. Standard drip-machine grind will make the coffee impossible to filter and leave a bitter sediment.