Cold-Brew Coffee: Diy With A T-Shirt

Cold brew coffee is a great option for coffee lovers who want to enjoy a refreshing cup of coffee without the bitterness that comes with traditional iced coffee. It is easy to make at home and only requires two ingredients: coffee and water. The process is simple: coarsely grind your coffee beans, combine them with water in a jar or container, steep for 12-24 hours, strain the coffee, and serve over ice or dilute with milk or water. You can also adjust the concentration to suit your taste. Making cold brew coffee at home is a great way to save money and time, and it allows you to customize your drink to your preferences. So, get your coffee beans and water ready, and enjoy a delicious cup of cold brew coffee!

Choosing the right coffee beans

The type of coffee beans you choose for your cold brew will have a significant impact on the final flavour of your drink. Here are some factors to consider when selecting your coffee beans:

Grind Size

The coarseness of your coffee grind is crucial to achieving the desired flavour profile. For cold brew coffee, a coarser grind is generally recommended. This is because the extended brewing time of cold brew (12-24 hours) means that a finer grind can result in over-extraction, leading to a bitter-tasting coffee. A coarser grind, on the other hand, allows for a slower and more gradual extraction of flavours, resulting in a smoother, sweeter, and fuller-bodied brew. Therefore, when shopping for pre-ground coffee, look for brands that specify a coarser grind, or grind your own beans at home to achieve a consistency similar to breadcrumbs.

Roast Level

The roast level of the coffee beans plays a significant role in determining the taste of your cold brew. Darker roasts tend to have a bolder and more intense flavour, while lighter roasts are milder and possess higher acidity. For cold brew coffee, it is generally recommended to opt for medium or dark roast beans, as they yield a richer and smoother taste.

Origin of Coffee Beans

The origin of the coffee beans also influences the flavour of your cold brew. Coffee beans from different regions exhibit unique characteristics. South American beans, for instance, are known for their chocolatey and nutty notes, whereas African beans tend to have a fruity and floralsection flavour profile. You can experiment with different origins or opt for a blend of beans to create a well-balanced cold brew.

Processing Method

The processing method employed for the coffee beans also impacts their flavour. For cold brew coffee, it is advisable to choose beans that have been processed using the natural or honey method. These methods involve drying the coffee cherry with intact pulp, resulting in a sweeter and more complex flavour that complements the cold brew process.

Popular Coffee Bean Options for Cold Brew

• Colombian Supremo beans: These medium to dark roasted beans offer a full-bodied flavour with notes of chocolate and caramel. They are affordable and easily accessible, making them an excellent choice for those new to cold brew coffee.
• Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans: As the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia produces some of the finest beans in the world. Yirgacheffe beans are known for their fruity and floral flavours, making them ideal for cold brew. They are typically medium-roasted, resulting in a smooth and well-balanced cup of coffee.
• Brazilian Cerrado beans: Brazil is the largest producer of coffee beans globally, and their Cerrado variety is excellent for cold brew. These dark-roasted beans have a bold and rich flavour with hints of chocolate and nuts, and their low acidity makes them suitable for those who prefer a smoother cold brew.

Grinding the beans

Grinding your coffee beans is the first step in making cold brew coffee. The type of grind you use will determine how easy it is to strain your coffee and the overall taste of your cold brew.

For cold brew coffee, you'll want to grind your beans to a medium-coarse consistency. This is a slightly rougher grind than you would use for drip coffee. If your grounds are too fine, they will be harder to strain out of the coffee and may make your strained coffee gritty and muddy.

You can grind your beans at home if you have a coffee grinder, or you can ask for your beans to be ground in-store when you buy them. If you're grinding your beans at home, you'll want to use the coarsest setting on your grinder. If you're using a spice grinder, pulse in short 1-second bursts until you get the right consistency.

The amount of ground coffee you'll need will depend on how much cold brew you want to make. A good basic ratio is to use 1 ounce (by weight) of coarsely ground coffee per 1 cup of water. This will give you a strong cold brew concentrate, which you can dilute with an equal amount of water, or with milk, to taste.

If you don't have a scale, you can use approximate measurements. For every 1 cup of water, you'll need 1/4 cup of whole coffee beans, which will yield roughly 1/2 cup of ground coffee. If you're making a larger batch, a 2-quart jar will need 5 ounces of coffee (about 1 1/4 cups of whole beans yielding about 2 1/2 cups of ground coffee) and 5 cups of water.

Once you've ground your beans, combine them with water in a jar or other container, and you're ready to move on to the next step of making cold brew coffee!

Combining with water

The coffee beans should be ground to a medium-coarse consistency. Pre-ground coffee beans are not recommended, as the grind is too fine and will result in over-extraction, making the coffee bitter. If you don't have a coffee grinder, you can grind your beans at the store or buy freshly ground beans from a local coffee shop.

To combine the coffee and water, place the ground coffee beans in a large container such as a Mason jar or French press. Pour the water over the beans and stir gently to ensure that all the grounds are thoroughly saturated. Cover the container with a lid or plate to protect it from dust and bugs.

Let the coffee steep at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. The longer it steeps, the stronger the coffee will be. It's important to note that steeping for too long can start to extract some of the bitter flavors that cold brewing aims to avoid, so it's best not to exceed 24 hours.

During the steeping process, the coffee slowly infuses into the water, creating a strong, concentrated brew. After steeping, the coffee will need to be strained to remove the grounds. This can be done using a fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, paper coffee filters, or a combination of these methods.

Straining the coffee

Firstly, gather your equipment. You will need a fine-mesh sieve or strainer and a filtering agent. The filtering agent can be cheesecloth, a thin paper coffee filter, a vintage handkerchief, a flour sack towel, a nut milk bag, or a coffee filter.

Next, prepare your filtering agent. If using cheesecloth, thin paper coffee filters, a vintage handkerchief, or a similar cloth, place it over the sieve or strainer. Ensure that the cloth is large enough to cover the sieve and is draped across it neatly. If using a coffee filter, simply place it inside the sieve. For a nut milk bag, you can place it directly over a pitcher or liquid measuring cup.

Now, it's time to strain the coffee. Place the prepared sieve or strainer over a pitcher or liquid measuring cup. Slowly pour the coffee mixture through the filter and into the pitcher or cup. This step may take a few minutes, especially if using a thin paper coffee filter. Be patient, and allow the coffee to slowly drip through the filter.

Once the coffee has finished dripping, you may need to strain it a second time to ensure all the grounds are removed. This is especially important if you used a French press or similar method to brew your coffee, as these methods can produce more sediment. For the second straining, simply repeat the process with a new filter.

Finally, store your strained coffee. Pour the strained coffee into a clean jar or bottle and store it in the refrigerator. Your cold brew coffee concentrate will stay fresh for about a week, although some sources say it is best consumed within the first few days. When you are ready to serve, dilute the concentrate with an equal amount of water, milk, or milk alternative. Add ice, and your smooth, delicious cold brew coffee is ready to enjoy!

Serving the cold brew

Now that you've made your cold brew coffee, it's time to serve it! Here are some tips and tricks to get the perfect cup:

Diluting the Coffee

Cold brew coffee is usually made as a concentrate, so you'll need to dilute it before serving. You can dilute it with an equal amount of water, or adjust it to your taste preferences. If you like your coffee with milk, you can also dilute it with your choice of milk or creamer.

Serving Options

You can serve your cold brew coffee in a variety of ways. The most popular way is to pour it over ice, especially during hot summer days. If you prefer your coffee hot, you can warm up your cold brew in the microwave or on the stove. Just be sure to dilute it before warming it up.

Customisation

One of the great things about making your own cold brew coffee is that you can customise it to your taste. If you like your coffee stronger, you can steep it for a longer period of time, up to 24 hours. You can also adjust the ratio of coffee to water when making the concentrate. The standard ratio is 1:4, but you can make it stronger or weaker to suit your taste.

Storage

Your cold brew coffee concentrate will stay fresh in the fridge for about a week. It's best to consume it within the first week, as the flavour starts to deteriorate after that.

Other Serving Ideas

Besides the traditional way of serving cold brew coffee, you can also get creative and try some unique serving ideas. Here are a few suggestions:

• Coffee soda: Dilute the cold brew with seltzer water and add a bit of simple syrup to taste.
• Affogato: Serve a small amount of cold brew over vanilla ice cream and let it melt for a minute to create a delicious coffee dessert.
• Coffee ice cubes: Freeze some cold brew coffee in ice cube trays to use in your drinks. This way, you won't dilute your coffee with regular ice cubes.
• Milk and sugar: If you like your coffee sweet, you can add milk and sugar to your cold brew to taste.

Now that you know all about serving cold brew coffee, it's time to enjoy your delicious creation!

Frequently asked questions