Monday, May 20, 2013

Cold Brewed Coffee For Hot Summer Days

Cold brewed coffee just tastes better. There is something about hot brewed, drip coffee that destroys flavor and adds a bitterness. You may find that, like me, you can drink cold brewed coffee black, since it really doesn't need a sweetener or cream to mellow the bitterness. I make it the day before I want it. If you drink it in the morning, you can set it up the night before.

While it's a lovely, easy way to make iced coffee, you can, of course, heat it when you want to drink it as well. I like cold-brewing coffee during the summer because making it doesn't heat the house up, and on colder days I'll use my stovetop espresso maker, which also manages to brew without the bitterness. 

ground coffee

Instructions: Simply measure 2 Tbsp or so of ground coffee in a jar, add 2 cups of tap water, cap the jar, and shake to combine. Toss it in the fridge, and several hours later you will have a nice, dark, non-bitter coffee. 
 
cold brewed coffee

When I'm ready to drink it, I pour the whole contents of the jar into my French press, and press the grounds down. Then, it's ready to drink cold or warm. If you don't have a French press, you could pour it through a coffee filter instead.

french press cold brewed coffee

As a couple of readers have commented, you can definitely make this directly in your French press rather than the jar. Just add grounds & water to the press and give a good stir to combine, refrigerate that, and then press it in the morning.


cold brewed coffee
  
One thing I like about this method, besides the improved flavor, is that it will remain a simple and effective way of making coffee even if we lose power. It's low-tech, and doesn't heat the house on hot summer days.

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