My newest obsession is cold brew coffee. In a word: YUM.
Perfect for summer afternoons when you need a little pick-me-up, this recipe will make you happy because it's simple, makes plenty, and tastes divine. Because it is literally brewed cold, (as opposed to brewing hot, then pouring over ice) it has a mellow flavor and a greatly reduced acidity factor.
Not many things fall into the "This Changed My Life" category for me, but this cold brew coffee would qualify - it's that good.
So, with a shout-out to my son-in-law, Nathan, who shared his technique with me, here goes:
1. Make a Concentrate.
Measure 3 parts water to 1 part coffee.
I happened to have Starbucks on hand, but any dark roast coffee will work.
I use 1 1/3 cup coffee for 4 cups of water. This tests my math skills, for which I need more coffee. See how this works?
2. Stir well, and let brew on counter overnight, or up to 12 hours.
Make sure those grounds are all mixed in! That's goodness, right there.
3. Pour your brew through cheesecloth or coffee filters to remove coffee grounds.
I use a coffee filter in a small colander over a bowl. Note: It drips through verry slowly, and it's difficult to be patient at this point.
4. Pour your strained concentrate into a pitcher or jar.
5. Dilute the concentrate with equal parts water.
I add about 4 cups of water to my 4 cups of concentrate. 4+4 adds up to 8 cups of deliciousness...plenty for several afternoons worth of enjoyment.
Feel free to adjust the ratio according to taste.
6. Serve over lots of ice, leaving plenty of room at the top for Half and Half and sugar. Or sweetened cream.
I like lots of cream and sugar. YUM.
Pioneer Woman (who makes a huge vat at a time) highly recommends sweetened condensed milk and I can only imagine how heavenly THAT must be.
PS I tried PW's recipe too, but again...my math skills. Reducing a gigantic quantity to a manageable scale was too much for me.
Enjoy!
Have you tried cold brew coffee yet? I promise you it will change your life, or at the minimum, your outlook on it. It's possibly the best thing I've accomplished this year.
