Now that the weather is warming up, I have been splurging and buying iced coffee from my local coffee shop. This last time I went, I paid attention to how they made it, and as I watched him removed a bottle of cold coffee concentrate from the refrigerator and add some milk and ice to it, I was reminded of a post I had read at Small Notebook on making iced coffee the cold brewed way. I paid almost $4.00 for my iced coffee, and walked out of there determined to figure out how to make some at home.
The Cold Brew Method
The cold brew method is so easy, and you end up with a delicious drink that is less acidic, which is much more gentle on the stomach and goes down very smooth. No bitterness, which means less sweetener is needed.
You won’t believe how easy this is to make, and it is so much cheaper that buying a cup at the coffee shop! The recipe below costs 50 cents per cup, and that is using good, organic coffee!
The cold brew method is simply soaking 1/4 cup of coffee grounds overnight in 1 cup of cold water. Let sit out 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. I add a generous splash of vanilla almond milk and some sugar or stevia to taste.
If you like more milk, add less water.
I use a french press
Tips:
~You can keep any leftovers in the refrigerator for several days.
~I have read that adding sweetened condensed milk makes for a very special, rich and creamy dessert coffee.
~Freeze any leftovers in ice cube trays to use in your next iced coffee or to throw in the blender for a blended treat.
~Pour into Popsicle molds for a frosty treat on a hot day.
~Make your own flavored simple syrups, using these recipes.
New Nostalgia – Cinnamon Maple Iced Latte
August 27, 2014 at 12:09 pm[…] have an espresso maker, don’t worry. This can easily be made with cold-brewed toddy. Cold-brewed toddy is a low-acid coffee made by simply soaking coffee grounds in water overnight, then straining. […]
Anonymous
July 9, 2013 at 9:01 pmAlso take your left over coffee, freeze it into ice cube trays. Add that to your cold coffee, no watered down coffee when the ice melts.
Anonymous
June 1, 2013 at 12:21 pmThere’s a cold brewing system called Toddy that I’ve been using for years. It has less acid and makes enough coffee concentrate for a week. I just add water and micorwave it for hot coffe. You really only need the white plastic container, the cork and filters. I use a Rubbermaid pitcher with the blue lid instead of the carafe which eventually broke. You replace the filters about every month and store them in the fridge. You can find it on Amazon or at Toddycafe.com
Lee Ann
May 5, 2014 at 4:58 pmI also have been using this system for years!
Amy Bowman
June 14, 2012 at 2:57 pm@Dave out on the counter.
@Hannah I bet the strength depends on the type of coffee one uses. You can adjust the amount to your liking!
@aunt Linda I love that idea! I do think filter brand makes a difference as I have had some super slow ones, too!
Dave
June 12, 2012 at 2:18 pmAre you letting it brew in the refrigerator or out on the counter over night?
Hannah M.
May 11, 2012 at 3:11 pmI just finished it ad it’s amazing! It’s very strong coffee but I love it!
Hannah M.
May 11, 2012 at 1:45 amI just put my coffee in my water 🙂 can’t wait to see how this turns out!
Anonymous
September 5, 2011 at 3:02 pmI don’t have a french press, nor do I have the patience to strain it through the coffee filter twice. (Maybe my filters are non-porous — It took forrrreverrrr!) I decided to put the correct measure of coffee grounds in a filter, then bunch it closed with a twist tie, and drop it in the water overnight. (It’s like a homemade teabag) In the morning, I simply toss out the packet of coffee and it’s ready to go. No filtering, and no waiting. yay! I’m really enjoying your iced coffee recipes. We have organic coffee our friends in Nicaragua grew and gave to us, so it’s a VERY inexpensive treat for me! Love, Aunt Linda
Ashley
July 20, 2011 at 5:26 pmI had never heard of the cold brew method before. I tried this and loved it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jenny
May 19, 2011 at 1:33 amI am so excited to try this! I am a slacker in the morning and never get around to making coffee before I leave the house. This I can do! Yea! Thank you!
Kate @ craftwhatever
May 17, 2011 at 6:36 pmThanks! I am a coffee-aholic! Also good to know if I am ever stuck without my drip coffee pot or electricity! Woohoo!
life on the clothesline
May 17, 2011 at 8:31 pmWe’re science geeks and happen to have a stir plate at home (doesn’t everyone?)… So, we put the water in a quart jar, add the stir bar to get it going, then add the coffee… Let it stir for 2 hours or so and then strain. Just as strong and yummy as normal cold brew but much faster!
Ashley @ Coffee and Apple Juice
May 15, 2011 at 10:51 pmmmmmm I LOVE LOVE LOVE coffee… iced and hot. I really want to get a french press.
Michelle DeRusha@Graceful
May 15, 2011 at 8:09 pmToday is definitely a hot coffee day in Nebraska…but I’ll tuck this away for when it hits 94 degrees again, because I LOVE iced coffee!
Rana
May 15, 2011 at 1:31 pmThanks for this. I have been on the look out for an ice coffee recipe this Spring. I hate the idea of spending $4.00 when I can make it myself.
Jen Brewer
May 12, 2011 at 7:53 pmI started the cold brew coffee yesterday…since Starbucks gets way too much of my $$ I was looking forward to trying out this economical idea…WOWSERS!!! I put it in the blender with ice, 2 tbl van syrup and 2 tbl vanilla Coffee mate…awesome!!!! It made two glasses…less calories and less cash than the coffee shop version. You were right about the cold brew is less bitter…I poured it through my coffee maker filter and basket to strain…easy peasy…rice and cheesey!
southerninspiration
May 12, 2011 at 3:19 amOh, I always thought that must be cold espresso or something…I sure will give this a try!! How cool!!
Suzanne
Renee
May 12, 2011 at 2:32 amCold brew sounds tasty…now if only I hadn’t donated my little used french press last month!!We make a whole pot of coffee, let it cool for an hour or two, and store in in a container in the fridge. When we want a glass, just pour over ice, add milk and sweetener. Some houses always have cereal, or crackers, but we ALWAYS have homemade iced coffee 🙂 *I do think the better the coffee, the better the homemade iced coffee. We use Equal Exchange that we purchase through our church.
Driftwood Girl
May 12, 2011 at 12:40 amI need to try this! You’re my hero 🙂