How to Make Cold Brew (Not Iced) Coffee at Home: A Healthy, Aromatic Brew Recipe

Is there anything as comforting as an iced coffee on a sweltering summer day? Or any day, if you enjoy your coffee chilled. Cold brew coffee isn't coffee brewed in hot water and iced or chilled afterwards, cold brew is stepped in cold or room temperature water for 12 to 16 hours. The result a superior confection that's more aromatic and sweet with more nuanced flavors than coffee brewed with heat. The best part, it's beyond easy to create your own flavor rich cold brew coffee at home. You can even make a large batch you can sip from throughout the week.

Why It's Better: Brewing your coffee (or tea) via heat releases acidic and bitter tanin constituents and can destroy a percentage of the delicate, aromatic essential oils that form the bean's distinctive flavor. When you cold brew you bypass the release of bitter compounds while preserving delicate notes, resulting in a sweet, mellow, smooth brew with layered flavor. A good cold brew is akin to an artisan craft beer or mixologist's cocktail.

Fun Fact: Cold brew coffee is known at Kyoto Coffee in Japan and has been popular there since the 1600s. In Japan the coffee is made with striking glass drippers, but it's easy to make cold brew at home with a simple mason jar.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee:

1) Combine one part grounds to three parts water in a jar.
2) Shake or stir thoroughly to combine the water and the grounds, then refrigerate. You can store your coffee on the counter but it's hot as hell in Florida and I prefer mine ice-cold from the fridge.
3) Agitate your brew by shaking it a couple of times within the 12-16 hour brew time. (It'll still turn out fine if you forget, though. This makes the coffee more even and concentrated.)
4) The next day filter the grounds from the coffee two to three times. You can use coffee filters over a fine mesh strainer, run it through a french press a couple of times or a combination theroff. I've read that some professionals start with a nylon strainer then switch to a paper one to remove all trace of grounds.

The resulting concentrate will last around a week in your fridge in a well-sealed jar. The delicious brew is strong, you may want to dilute to your taste. I've heard of people who like their coffee warm re-heating the mix, too! Starting your day with your coffee pre-made and ready to mix to your tastes takes another hassle away from your morning routine. It only takes a little prep the afternoon before. Try cold brewing at home for a mellow, flavorful start to the day!

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