How I’m Cold Brewing Coffee

As long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed writing code but in the last few years I have really started to enjoying creating physical things on my own as well. My foray into making beverages started with beer and it’s ingredients.  While the first attempt didn’t go so well I was able to learn from it and make something I enjoyed. Then came making yogurt. Not exactly a drink but a good component in making them. The next jump was into Kombucha which has turned out to be way easier than I could have imagined (so easy I didn’t write a thing about it!). So let’s talk cold brew coffee.

While pulling the hops out of a collaborative brew with my awesome teammates Andrew made a comment about starting to make cold brew coffee. Andrew’s process included an french press which is something I don’t have. However, his description rattled in my brain for a few days before it took root and I decided to give it a go for myself.

I searched the internet for some information on how to make cold brew coffee with few to no special appliances. As expected the Internet delivered a ton of information much of it being the same steps rattled over and over with a smattering of contradictory data.

One thing everyone seemed to agree on is that you need to have beans that you enjoy. If you don’t like the coffee the beans make then try another origin and/or roaster. Armed with a pint mason jar, a plastic lid, plastic spoon, good medium roasted coffee beans, good dark roasted coffee beans, a grinder, funnel and a filter I went to work.

What You Need

Obviously there are many different ways to make cold brew coffee. The following are what I use to make what I consider pretty tasty stuff. To replicate the process I use you will need the following items:

• 2 pint mason jars such as these. (You can probably find them cheaper in stores.)
• 1 plastic mason jar lid
• 1 non metal spoon
• Medium Roasted Decaf Coffee Beans
• Good Dark Roasted Coffee Beans
• Coffee grinder
• 1 #4 Coffee Filter (can be found pretty much anywhere)
• 1 Funnel that will fit a #4 coffee filter. I use this.

Step 1

Ground 2/3rd cups of beans. You can do a 1/6th cup medium decaf and 1/6th cup dark or do full 2/3rds of one and blend to taste later. For me the combination of the two provides a rich and smooth taste I really enjoy.

I’ve read people noting fine grind to slightly corse. Since I am using one of the cheaper blade grounders I aim for around the same grind I’d use for a Moka Pot. For me the combination of the two provides a rich and smooth taste I really enjoy.

Step 2

Dump those grinds into a pint mason jar!

Step 3

Pour in 3 cups of filtered water and stir with a plastic (or non-metal) spoon.

Step 4

Put the lid on the jar, place it in a location with little or no sunlight and walk away.

Step 5

Show back up about 10-12 hours later. Take another pint mason jar and place the funnel with filter inside of it on top of the new mason jar. Open the original jar and slowly pour the contents through the funnel and filter. Don’t let it overflow!

Step 6

Place the lid on the new mason jar filled with filtered cold brewed coffee and place it on the fridge.

Step 7

Enjoy carefully! This is a concentrate (though not as concentrated as some recipes) so you’ll need to find your own level of flavor with water/milk dilution (or drink a smaller amount).

So..

I’ve been thinking about what I could do next with the process. I could keg and put push it with nitro (like dry stouts) or find out what kind of flavor additives work well with the flavors in cold brew.

As I noted, this is not the only way to make cold brew but I really enjoy the result. If you have any ideas to make it even better let me know!