*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shopko. The opinions and text are all mine.
DIY Cold Brew Coffee
Are you a cold brew coffee fan but don’t like paying coffee shop prices? Do you love coffee but wish it were less acidic and easier on your tummy? Do you love iced toddy lattes with dreamy creamy toppings but don’t like the added processed sugar?
I don’t know about you but I can say yes to all of those questions. I also found a great solution for ALL of them with the help of the Primula 51 Ounce Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker from Shopko, and an amazing whipped cream recipe to top your cold brew!
I’ve dabbled in making my own cold brew for a few years now, and but never found a process that was streamlined and easy enough to keep doing it on the regular.
Cold Brew Coffee French Press System
My old way of doing it was with a french press but honestly, it was messy and I had to put too much thought into the measurements and the ratio of coffee to water for it to become an easy habit.
If you want to know how to make it in the french press, you simply stir 1/4 cup of coarse coffee grounds into 1 cup of cold water. Let sit out on the counter overnight. The next morning, add another cup of cold water. Then press the grounds and pour over ice. This makes 2 cups of coffee.
Cold Brew Coffee – Jar System
You could make this in a glass jar instead of a French press, but instead of pressing, strain through a coffee filter twice. Again, it is messy and a slow straining process–not my favorite–but if you are desperate for cold brew coffee and have a glass jar and coffee filters on hand, you can use this method.
Place 1/4 cup of coffee grounds in a jar with 1 cup of cold water. Let sit in the refrigerator on the counter overnight. The next morning, add another cup of cold water. Then strain the grounds and pour over ice. This makes 2 cups of coffee.
Primula Cold Brew Coffee Maker
What is my favorite way to make cold brew coffee? With the Primula Cold Brew Coffee Maker from Shopko. It takes all guesswork out of making cold brew coffee and streamlines the process, making it as simple as possible.
I am now so into making my own cold brew coffee drinks that I am making it on the regular and even created Maven board where I gathered all the handy items to use for all things cold brew.
These items can all be purchased online at Shopko by clicking through on each given link, so make sure you check out the board below to see my chosen favs.
Shopko Friends and Family Event
Also, right now is a great time to shop my Shopko board or any links on this post, as Shopko is having a Friends and Family Event May 20 – midnight May 23! On top of their amazing savings, I have a coupon code for you –> FNF261 <– for an extra 20% off and free shipping on orders over $99.
{Offer excludes: health & beauty items, food & beverage items, pet supplies, household supplies (like paper, chemicals), baby supplies (like diapers and formula), gift cards, alcohol, Weber grills, and Nike.}
The Primula pitcher itself is made of glass, which I love, and has a no-slide rubber bottom. You can conveniently store your extra cold brew in the container right in the refrigerator because it comes with a lid.
It can hold 50 ounces which is a big deal for me because cold brew can last for 2 weeks in the refrigerator, so making it in bulk is a great way to easily enjoy cold brew coffee.
The filter is what got me to fall hard. It is so easy to simply fill with coarse ground coffee and fits nice and snug into the pitcher.
When brewing is done, it slips right out and is very easy to empty, thanks to the removable bottom!
With the french press method, I always had to reach my hand up to knock the grains lose into the trash. I hated that! It was messy and not the best way to start my day!
Cold Brew Coffee – The Primula Pitcher Cold Brew Method
Here is the Primula Cold Brew method:
You fill the mesh strainer with coarse ground coffee and place it in the pitcher. Take a couple of cups of cold water and slowly pour it over the grounds, getting them wet. Then slowly fill the rest of the pitcher up with water all the way to the top, then stir the grounds. Easy!
Add the lid and place the pitcher in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours, stirring grains one time while brewing.
This is such a simple process and I appreciate that there is no measuring!
See how the filter simply lifts right out?
On to my favorite part, the removable end piece….the grains come out with no effort or mess.
After removing the grinds, replace the lid and smile at the fact that you have 51 ounces of delicious cold brew coffee.
{milk bottle with lid from Shopko}
The cold brew process makes the coffee less acidic, which makes it much more gentle on the stomach and goes down smoooooth. There is no bitterness, which means you can get away with less sweetener.
You can add milk to make a toddy latte, or cut it with water over ice. If you are in the mood for hot coffee, you can also heat it up after diluting to your preference and have a low acid, smooth hot coffee.
Tips for Making Cold Brew Coffee
Tips for making cold brew coffee:
- Soak/steep anywhere from 16 hours to 24 hours. Standard time is 24 hours, but I often do less.
- Use freshly ground coarse ground coffee. If the grind is too fine you will end up with over-extracted coffee that tastes bitter.
- The starting water temperature really does not matter. Hot water kick starts your brew, but I have never done this. Room temperature water is what serious cold-brewers use, but cold water is just fine.
- Before diluting the coffee concentrate with water, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If diluted, only 2-3 days.
- You can let steep on the counter at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Either is fine.
- Always dilute your cold brew concentrate before drinking, either with water or milk of choice. This makes it nice and smooth, cuts the caffeine, and allows you to make it as strong or weak as you desire. If you cut it with milk, you are creating an Iced Toddy Latte! Yum!
- Leftover grounds can be recycled into the garden or plants.
- Freeze your cold brew in cubes trays, and use a blend with your choice of milk to make a frappe! The Oster Pro 1200 Blender from Shopko is one I have used before and works well!
Salted Caramel Whipped Topping for Your Cold Brew
Now for the best part. Salted Caramel Whipped Topping — a healthier version sweetened with caramel-ly date paste, a pinch of pink sea salt, and a bit of vanilla. It is so yummy and it melts into your delicious cold brew!
Date Paste
Have you tried date paste?
It is unbelievable how sweet it tastes. It has a caramel-like flavor and is a great thing to have on hand to sweeten all the things!
I love using it in place of brown sugar on my oatmeal, blended into smoothies as a natural raw sweetener, or even smeared on toast with a sprinkle of cinnamon is delish and tastes like a cinnamon roll!
It is easy to prepare and keeps well in the refrigerator, and I’ve read that it can keep for up to 3 months! You will not use all of the date paste in this recipe, so enjoy having the leftovers in your refrigerator.
Whipped Cream + Date Paste = Love
For the Healthy Salted Caramel Whip, you simply fold some date paste into the whipped cream.
You may want to use a fine mesh strainer for your date paste before adding it to the whipped cream. If you want your cream nice and smooth, this will be the way to go.
You can see little bits of dates in the whipped cream in the images above. I made the recipe a second time and strained the little bits out.
If you like a nice smooth whipped cream, take the time to strain it. It just takes a minute, simply use the back of a spoon to push the date pate through a fine mesh strainer.
I call this whipped cream healthy because it is made with organic whipping cream, and uses pink Himalayan salt which contains several minerals, and does not use any processed sugar or artificially flavored syrups like most coffee treat drinks do!
Dates provide health benefits too. They contain soluble fiber and minerals like selenium, magnesium, manganese, and copper. Dates do not spike glucose levels like processed sugars would contain vitamin C an vitamin E, and also are a good source of iron.
My favorite types of treats are the ones that have nutrients in them too! This whipped cream takes just minutes to make using a KitchenAid mixer, or even a simple whisk!
Healthy Salted Caramel Whipped Cream Recipe
Date paste is the secret to making healthy, caramel-ly DELICIOUS whipped cream topping. Pink Himalayan salt and organic whipping cream are 2 more ingredients that up the health benefits. Perfect for topping your cold brew coffee!
- 1 cup organic whipping cream -- can be heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lb medjool dates
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup reserved soaking water
- 1/4-1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt -- to your individual taste
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MAKE SURE you take the pits out of the dates and remove the tough part at the top of the date if it has one. Put pitted dates into a bowl and cover them with water. Soak for at least 10 minutes.
Drain the dates keeping 1/2 cup of the soaking liquid.
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Add soaked dates into a food processor. Add 1/2 cup reserved soaking liquid.
Process until it creates a smooth paste (5-7 minutes, until super creamy) adding more water if necessary. Scrape the sides of the bowl at least once during processing.
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This is an important step if you want your Whipped Cream smooth. Push the date paste through a fine mesh strainer using the back of a spoon. Scrape the paste from the underside of the strainer into a bowl.
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Keep the cream cold until ready to whip. Add organic whipping cream to a bowl and 1 tsp of vanilla. Whip until soft peaks to firm peaks form. Do not overwhip, or it will become grainy!
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Fold 1/2 - 1 cup date paste (to your desired sweetness) and 1/4-1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt into whipped cream. Start with the smaller amounts, and add more to your individual taste. The goal is a nice balance of salty sweet.
You want it sweet enough to sweeten up your cold brew as it is stirred in, and salty enough to give than nice salted caramel taste.
If you use this whipped cream for anything other than topping your cold brew, then use the smaller amount of salt.
When stirred into cold brew coffee, you may need the larger amount of salt to get a nice Salted Caramel taste. The cream should taste a little too salty when eaten plain, to be the perfect saltiness when diluted/stirred into your cold brew coffee.
Keep the whipped cream cold in the refrigerator until ready to use.
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This Healthy Salted Caramel Whipped Topping can be used on top of hot coffee, too, or to top any number of homemade treats!
~If you use this whipped cream for anything other than topping your cold brew, then use the smaller amount of salt.
~When stirred into cold brew coffee, you may need the larger amount of salt to get a nice Salted Caramel taste. The cream should taste a little too salty when eaten plain, to be the perfect saltiness when diluted/stirred into your cold brew coffee.
~Keep the whipped cream cold in the refrigerator until ready to use.
~You do not need to strain the entire recipe of date paste...only that which is going to be folded into your whipped cream. The leftovers to be used in other ways do not need to be strained.
~Use the leftover date paste as a healthy raw sweetener. It can be stored in the refrigerator and used when needed. I love to top my morning oatmeal with it in place of brown sugar, spread on a tortilla and top with sliced bananas then roll up, or even on top of ice cream!
~Store leftover date paste and salted caramel whipped topping in jars in the refrigerator. The date paste can be stored for months!
Serving Your Cold Brew Coffee
I serve this drink in an old-fashioned tumbler from Shopko or if I take it to-go, I use my beloved Bubba double wall insulated tumbler, also from Shopko. It keeps it nice and cold!
Make sure to serve it with a straw, so you or your lucky guests can slowly stir the Salted Caramel Whipped Cream into your cold brew. It is like art in motion, watching the two mix and do a fancy, dreamy dance!
Enjoy!
What about YOU?
Do you love cold brew coffee? Do you like the idea of making it yourself at home?
Do you love Shopko? If so, remember to check out my Maven board for my favorite cold brew coffee items gathered for you!
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