Cold Brew Coffee

[Fred588]

About two weeks ago I had a chance to try a bottled cold brew coffee. It was very good, although I prefer my iced coffee black. But it was also rather expensive to purchase and while I could afford it if I wanted it, I'd rather make it myself.

There appear to be a variety of "machines" out there for making cold brew, as well as coffee products touted as being specially designed for making cold brew. As I have time on my hands anyway, however, I decided to experiment a little. I put about four cups of cold water in a large measuring cup and added two heaping soup-spoons of coffee intended for use in a coffee machine. Actually it was Folger's Classic Roast. I stirred the mixture so the grounds no longer floated and put it in the refrigerator for about 5 or 6 hours. I then put a regular coffee filter in my coffee maker and poured in the cold mix. This worked very well to remove all the grounds.

After re-chilling the coffee so the point it began developing a skim of ice at the surface I did a taste test. I found it too strong and a bit too bitter. From that point I did several experiments until I developed a procedure that seems to work; quite well in fat. I put about six ounces of the coffee into a 12 ounce glass. I then added a couple of small squirts of Stevia, just enough to balance out the bitterness. I then filled the glass the rest of the way with water. Actually I used homemade carbonated water because I like the bubbles. I rathe like the result.

I am curious what others think of cold brewed ice coffee, and would particularly like to hear from anyone else who has tried making it from scratch without using fancy machines or specially designed coffee beans.

[Nessie]

I do drink it mostly hot, but your recipe sounds entirely easy to do and like it'd probably be pretty tasty.

Cold coffee can be delicious. I like the bottles of chilled coffee mocha from places like Starbucks but it's ridiculously pricey. Ditto, getting those coffee-vanilla-smoothie drinks from the coffee shop.

Since I just plain can't be spending $5 for a coffee mocha every time I want one (and if I had my way I'd be sipping them all day):

I fill the cup halfway with hot brewed coffee, add 2 teaspoons of baking cocoa, throw in four little packets of artificial sweetener (but sugar works too, and brown sugar works, and you can change the amount to your personal taste), fill the other half with milk, and microwave. You could add a touch of vanilla extract for a nice subtle addition.

I find it very comparable to a coffee shop mocha and it probably would work quite well chilled, too.

Nestle's Nesquik works too, but plain baking cocoa is only one ingredient and fewer calories.

Nessie

[Fred588]

The flavor profiles for hot and cold coffee seem to be very different. I will frequently brew a 12 ounce pot of coffee, then drink some of it as hot coffee and some of it as iced coffee. But because the flavor profile seems to be affected by the temperature I take hot coffee with quite a bit of half and half but iced coffee black. When I just chill the regular hot coffee and do not add any sugar or sweetener but I do add some, as I described, to the cold brew.

[Mynock]

You need fresh, coarsely ground coffee for cold brew. The bitterness you got was probably caused by using pre-ground. A cheap blade grinder will set you back about $15.00. I use the same ratio of coffee to water as I do for making regular coffee.

Water quality can also affect taste, if you're not doing so try using bottled water, as a plus it comes out of your fridge the perfect temp.

Add your coffee and water to a mason jar, shake for about 1 minute, then put in the fridge for 24 hours. Shake occasionally (like whenever you go in there for something else). Filter and enjoy. I like mine black but you can add cream/sugar/flavor to taste.

Oh, and all credit for this idea goes to these guys. Shameless plug, their coffee is awesome.
https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/n ... rew-recipe

[Fred588]

I am actually having very good results with pre-ground and a total soak time of on 4 or 5 hours. This afternoon's glass was one of the best ice coffees I've had in a long time - black with just a couple of drops of stevia.

You need fresh, coarsely ground coffee for cold brew. The bitterness you got was probably caused by using pre-ground. A cheap blade grinder will set you back about $15.00. I use the same ratio of coffee to water as I do for making regular coffee.

Water quality can also affect taste, if you're not doing so try using bottled water, as a plus it comes out of your fridge the perfect temp.

Add your coffee and water to a mason jar, shake for about 1 minute, then put in the fridge for 24 hours. Shake occasionally (like whenever you go in there for something else). Filter and enjoy. I like mine black but you can add cream/sugar/flavor to taste.

Oh, and all credit for this idea goes to these guys. Shameless plug, their coffee is awesome.
https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/blogs/n ... rew-recipe

[bumberjack]

Does a Keurig count as a fancy machine?

To make a simple iced coffee with that, all you probably need is a plastic cup full of ice and your coffee of choice. Have the machine set to brew a six- or eight-ounce cup, and let it drip into the cup full of ice. Sweeten to taste.