Cold Brew Coffee easy and cheap
Cold brewing at home is easy
You don't need a fancy coffee shop or a barista to enjoy cold-brewed coffee anytime you want. You really don't even need any special equipment. Just a container to hold the grounds and water, a bottle to hold your coffee concentrate, a way to strain, and some time.
A perfect cup of coffee - every time!
I love coffee. Hot coffee, iced coffee, coffee-flavored anything. I love them all!
Imagine my dismay a couple of years ago when I figured out that my constant stomach-aches were caused by the acid in coffee. I sniffed yearningly every time I passed a coffee shop. I stuck my nose in my family's morning cups and breathed deeply. For months and months it was as close as I could get to the real thing.
Then, tired of doing without, I started investigating low-acid coffee. I found a couple of brands, but the reviews on flavor were mixed. Then I saw a mention about "Cold-Brewed Coffee!"
Everyone's heard of Sun Tea - but I had no idea you could brew coffee, without electricity and without hot water! It takes longer, but the coffee concentrate you wind up with is perfect!
Perfect for a hot cup in the morning, a delicious iced coffee on a hot summer day, ready when you need it for flavoring, baking, even cocktails!
And the best part of all? Low acid, no pain. Lower caffeine, no jitters - even if I indulge all day!
Ridiculously easy! It does take time, so plan ahead - if you want Cold-brewed coffee tomorrow morning, start today! The brewer just takes a few moments to set up: insert the plug in the bottom of the tank, put in the filter, measure in the coffee, measure and add water. That's all there is to it!
I suppose you don't even need an official "Cold Brewer System" - you could certainly just measure grounds into any container and add water, straining the coffee concentrate after the brewing time is over.
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb. of your favorite ground coffee
- 6 cups tap water
Instructions
- With the Filtron brewer: be sure stopper is firmly seated and place the damp filter in the brewer, according to directions. Add coffee. Place the water compartment on top and add water. Wait 24 hours. Remove stopper and drain concentrate into carafe. Replace stopper. Add 3 more cups of water to the water compartment. Wait 24 hours. Remove stopper and drain concentrate into carafe. (Use the same coffee grounds twice to get the most from your cold brewer!)
- Use 2 oz. of coffee concentrate for each 8 oz. cup of coffee. Pour concentrate in cup, add hot water. Sweeten and lighten to taste. Enjoy!
- For Iced Coffee, pour 2 oz. coffee concentrate over full glass of ice. Add water, sweetener and creamer to taste. Enjoy!
Making Cold-Brewed Coffee
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Cold-brewed coffee makes life easier!
We love the flavor of coffee and we've discovered that having the coffee concentrate on hand has made it easy to enjoy our favorite flavor whenever we like. We can have iced coffee whenever we like - no planning required! The concentrate keeps well in the refrigerator for six weeks - although we always seem to use it up in about two weeks.
We also use the concentrate in baking - some of the best chocolate cake recipes use coffee flavoring!
And cocktail hour is a joy. We developed our very own Mocha Martini recipe - not too sweet, not too bitter - absolutely perfect!
Mocha Martini
It took months, experimentation and diligent attention to frequent tasting to get this recipe exactly right. It's not too sweet, not too bitter, just right!
Ingredients
- 1 part Creme de Cacao or favorite chocolate liqueur
- 2 parts Vodka (can use Vanilla Vodka if preferred)
- 3 parts Coffee
Instructions
- In a mixing glass half-filled with ice, add all ingredients. Shake vigorously. Pour into cocktail glass quickly - there will be a foam top for a short time. Enjoy.
- Repeat.
Cold Brewing Coffee Machines
We chose the Filtron coffee brewer and are very happy with it.
© 2011 Hope
