Cold brew is pretty much backwards coffee.
Instead of using boiling water to get that immediate flavour from coffee grounds, cold brew involves steeping the grounds in cold water for a looooong time to get a smoother blend of highly-concentrated coffee to make special drinks - or simply drink as it is.
The fact it can take from 24 to 48 hours to get the right flavour might seem discouraging at first - what, so every time I want cold brew I have to wait a whole day to have it? But the beauty of cold brew is that you can make a good amount of it to save in the fridge for later, since it won’t lose taste as fast as hot coffee. That way, you can always make some in advance and never run out!
The Basic Cold Brew
Get some coffee beans - as fresh as you can get them - and grind them.
Pour 1/2 cup of medium roast coffee beans to 1 1/2 cups of filtered water in a large jar and stir.
Cover and let it rest for 24 hours at room temperature.
See you tomorrow…
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… Hey, you’re back! Nice to see you!
Then, you can do one of two things:
- If the cold brew is already to your liking by now, go to the next step. If not, then…
- Store it in the refrigerator for another 24-48 hours if you want an even stronger flavour. And then jump to the next step.
Finally, when the brew is done brewing, you can use cheesecloth or a paper filter to separate the grounds from the concentrated mix - just like you would for normal coffee.
Once that’s over, it’s ready to drink or to make recipes with. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Enjoy!
TIP: there are cold brew makers you can purchase online to make the process a little bit easier. Check this one out!
Recipe #1: Classic Ice Coffee
The easiest of them all and a great one if you’re dying to try your cold brew after so much waiting. Just three ingredients and three steps:
- In a tall glass filled with ice, mix your cold brewed coffee and water in equal parts
- Add milk if you want.
- Drink away!
Recipe #2: Cold Brew Latte
This is great to start the morning with something strong, but sweet! To start, in a blender, pour:
- 1 cup of cold brew
- 1/2 cup of sugar (or to taste)
- 5 tea spoons of cocoa powder
And blend for a good 30 seconds. Then add 6 cups of milk and blend some more.
Bring the blended mixture into a glass already with ice. For the final touch, top it with whipped cream and some cocoa powder. Done!
Recipe #3: Cold Brew Mocha
And finally, for the most delicious recipe of the bunch, the perfect cold brew mocha! For this one:
- Mix 3/4 of a cup of cold brew with 1 teaspoon of dark chocolate
- Make sure it’s well stirred
- Pour on a pretty cup with ice and top with almond milk.
Enjoy your mocha!
Recipe #4: Old Fashioned
This cold brew recipe makes for a classy and refreshing drink with lots of energy.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of orange syrup and 4 dashes of bitters in a glass;
- Add ¾ cup of cold brew and stir well;
- Garnish with orange peels and maraschino cherry;
- Add an ice cube and a lashing of bourbon whiskey if you want an extra kick on the drink.
Enjoy your kick of energy!
Recipe #5: Salted Chocolate Ice Coffee
It looks like a typical cold brew latte, if a little bit fancier, but there are some interesting nuances to this one, including an unusual ingredient: salt.
- In a blender, combine ½ cup of milk, 1 cup of cold brew coffee, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 8 drops of vanilla stevia, 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder and ½ tablespoon of salt.
- Blend well until everything is well mixed.
- Pour the drink on a tall glass filled with ice.
- Sip away!
Did you enjoy these delicious cold brew recipes? Trying cold brew for the first time? Be sure to share your experience with us and add tips to anyone who wants to try!
Keep on reading:
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