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Making Cold Brew Coffee Taste as Good as Coffee Shop’s

Making cold brew coffee at home is a breeze. We outline three components for a smooth, delectable cold brew that rivals that of your favorite café.

Have you ever had cold coffee? It’s almost as trendy as these Starbucks secret menu items and just as reviving as iced coffee. But unlike other beverages, making cold brew coffee at home is incredibly simple and produces results that are on par with those of the best coffee shops.

Or, if you’d purchase it, our Test Kitchen crew has identified the best options to get your mornings going.

What Differentiates Cold Brew?

By lowering the acidity of the coffee, the cold brewing method brings out more of its natural sweetness and rich taste characteristics. It’s possible for people who typically drink hot coffee with sugar and cream to switch to plain cold brew.

Those with sensitive stomachs or those who like a smoother drink will benefit significantly from the lowered acidity.

Why Does Cold Brew Coffee Cost More?

You’ll probably notice that a cup of cold brew costs more than a similarly sized cup of freshly made hot coffee when you visit your favorite café. Why is the price so much higher? Time and materials are two factors.

Between 12 and 48 hours are needed to steep cold brew coffee; as we all know, time is money. Additionally, cold brew requires more ground coffee than drip, French press, or pour-over coffee. You will spend more since making cold brew requires more time and beans, which raises production expenses.

What You Need to Know About Cold Brew Before You Brew

There are a few things to bear before you begin brewing so that you can make the most excellent coffee for you—a cold brew so delicious that you quit the café forever (OK, maybe you’ll still stop in for a scone).

Choose Your Roast

Any coffee roast can be used to create a cold brew at home. You should make a careful selection if you’re selecting your roasts for the first time. The amount of caffeine in various roasts varies and can also range in acidity and flavor.

Grab a bag from your preferred neighborhood coffee shop if you’re unsure where to start. Grab your preferred roast or inquire about your barista’s recommended cold brew choice.

Roughly Grind the Beans

The only tricky part of brewing cold brew coffee is using coarsely ground beans. This procedure can result in a grainy, hazy final product if a fine grind manages to get past the sieve you utilize.

Extra coarse is the grit you need—a little rougher than you’d use for a French press or percolator. Inform the barista that you’ll be brewing cold brew if you’re purchasing your beans from a coffee shop; they will know what to do. Choose the coarsest setting using the grinder at home or in the grocery shop.

Correct the Ratio

Just coffee and water are used in cold brew. Simple, yes? However, looking for a cold brew recipe, you’ll discover various ratios. We’ve seen everything from 1 part ground coffee to 4 parts water to 1 part ground coffee to 16 parts water. We recommend a ratio of roughly 1 part coffee to 8 parts water.

Test Kitchen advice: Just starting? We advise brewing a more potent beverage. It can always be diluted with milk or cold water. It’s more difficult to fix if you brew it too weak.

How to Prepare Homemade Cold Brew Coffee

Making cold brew coffee at home doesn’t require a lot of supplies. All you need is coffee and water! Although you can utilize alternative cold brew coffee makers, Our Test Kitchen steeps the cold brew in a sizable Mason jar.

Step1: add some cold water.

There is no more straightforward recipe than this: Pour six to eight cups of cold water over your coarsely ground coffee in a big Mason jar (a glass pitcher with a cover also works).

For at least 12 hours, cover the container and place it in the fridge. You can let it steep for up to 24 hours for a more potent brew.

Test Kitchen advice: Before brewing cold brew, some of our Test Kitchen specialists advise blooming your coffee. That entails soaking the grounds in a cup of hot water for ten minutes, followed by a cup of cold water to finish. Some people believe that coffee has a more complex flavor. Some people like to use only cold water in this recipe. Try both methods and choose the one that works best for you.

Step2: strain

Coffee should be filtered through a fine-mesh sieve after 12 hours (or more). Throw away the grounds. Next, perform a second strain by running the coffee through a coffee filter this time. The smoothest cup is produced by doing this, which will eliminate any small particles or grinds.

Step 3: Relish and Keep

Over ice, serve the coffee. It tastes excellent, either black or with a bit of milk or cream. Choose simple syrup instead of sugar if you prefer your coffee sweet. Much easier to mix into your coffee than a spoonful of sugar. You can also experiment with these other innovative add-ins or milk substitutes.

The cold brew can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Please keep it in a Mason jar or a large pitcher.

Make some coffee into ice cube trays and freeze them. The frozen coffee cubes will chill your beverage without being diluted.

Using a French press to make cold coffee

Cold brewing is simple with a French press because it has a built-in filter. Combine the coffee and water in the chamber, do not depress the plunger, and store the container in the refrigerator for the night.

The following day, gradually depress the plunger. Pour the beverage through a coffee filter to get rid of the little sediment.