Let’s get caffeinated, shall we?
Though we have had our fair share of April showers, this Seattle spring has also had a few notable days of sunshine and warm temperatures. Let us rejoice.
Nothing says “warm weather” like a glass of cold brew iced coffee. For a coffee fanatic like me, it just doesn’t get any better. And I’m sorry, but brewing regular coffee then throwing it over ice doesn’t make good iced coffee. If you don’t know, now you know.
If you aren’t making your own cold brew coffee concentrate yet, get on it sister. It leads to the smoothest, tastiest coffee that isn’t acidic or bitter. And it’s super easy to make. This is key for me because we all know my history with fancy coffee makers…
I’m all about mornings and coffee is an important part of my morning ritual. Every day I get up (usually at an ungodly hour), sip a mug of warm lemon water then follow it up with a cup of joe before working on my fitness. That’s how I like to roll. Since the weather is looking up, I’ve given my coffee pot a little break and have been cold brewing like it’s my job – and now you can too!
Here’s a step-by-step:
1. Cut a hole in the box Put 3.5 – 4 cups of cold water and 1 cup of ground coffee in a large container and stir until combined. Cover with a lid. Allow to sit at room temperature for about 12 hours or overnight. (Also if you caught my subtle D in a box reference just now, let’s be friends.)
I know, it looks like dirt. Just roll with it.
2. Carefully pour the mixture over a fine mesh strainer into a separate container (mason jars, for the win).
3. Dilute to your desired strength. Since I’m a caffeine freak, I like having a 1:1 ratio of water to cold brew concentrate. It’s not for the faint of heart. For normal people, a 2:1 ratio of water to cold brew concentrate works just fine. Serve over ice cubes, add a splash of milk and you’re ready to party.
- 1 Cup of Fresh Ground Coffee (coarsely ground works best)
- 3.5 - 4 Cups of cool, Filtered Water
- In a large container with a lid, combine water and coffee grinds. Stir until mixed and cover.
- Allow to sit at room temperature for ~12 hours to "brew".
- Using a fine mesh strainer (you can also add cheesecloth if you'd like) gently strain the grounds from the coffee concentrate.
- Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to one week.
A few other fun ways to use your cold brew:
-Use it as a smoothie base and blend with frozen banana, vanilla protein and almond milk. Starbucks ain’t got nothing on you.
-Make coffee cubes out of the concentrate and enjoy with your iced coffee so it doesn’t get watered down, or in a glass of almond or coconut milk. YAS.
The caffeinated possibilities are endless, my friend.
If hot coffee is more of your thing, Georgie from In It for the Long Run just posted an awesome tutorial showing how to use a French Press – check it out!
Questions:
What is your favorite warm weather beverage?
What is your favorite way to prepare coffee?
I absolutely love iced coffee and once I discovered cold brew I never looked back. Seriously the stuff is golden. So much more balanced. I’m also a sucker for an iced latte.
Right? It’s just the best!
This is my absolute favorite!! I only make cold brew (and only order cold brew when out), I refuse to drink regular iced coffee (yes I’m a snob! lol), but it’s just SO MUCH BETTER! And I totally agree, high quality beans make a huge difference!
I’m a total iced coffee snob too! Cold brew is a definite game-changer.