Making Cold Brew Coffee - So I Won't Forget How...

I recently read Cleo Coyle's latest Coffehouse Mystery:  Dead Cold Brew.

It is, as usual, excellent, and contains many interesting recipes, including the description of the Mason Jar method for making cold brew coffee.
So, of course, I had to try it!
You should definitely buy the book, or at least check it out from your library.  You will get much more information, and much clearer information, about cold brew from the book. I mainly wrote this so I can find it quickly and easily when my aging brain needs a refresher.

You will need:  Coffee, a Mason jar with a lid, a scale or other coffee measure, a grinder, a strainer, or two, and lots of patience.


First:  Choose a dark roast, for a full- flavored coffee that will work well in the cold brew process.  I really like Cafe Verona by Starbucks, but that's just because it's what I had a lot of on hand.  This batch in the photos was made with Starbucks Espresso Roast.  (Target had it on sale, so sue me!)

Dark roast, whole bean, fresh as possible.

Next:  Measure out your coffee.  Normal humans,who read directions and find the proper size jar before they start, need 50 grams of beans.  (I, who am a weirdo who only had a 2 quart jar available, I needed 100 grams.)

Weigh carefully, being sure to zero the scale with the empty bowl on top of it!

Now, of course, you must grind the beans. Use the Coarse setting, like you would for French Press method brewing of hot coffee.

Grind your beans, using the Coarse setting.

It's time to put the ground coffee into your Mason jar.  Please be less messy than I was.  I am afraid the little cup in the grinder and its odd sides caused me to spill a little.  (OK, I'm just sloppy.  Not the grinder's fault.)

Put the ground coffee into your jar.

 Once you get the coffee into the bottom of the jar, start pouring your cold water in.  If you are doing this with the normal people method, you'll need 4 cups of cold water for your one quart Mason jar.  You will need to stir the grounds and water to get the grounds wet, and to allow more water to fit in your jar.  All of it won't fit, but that's OK.
If you are like me, and have a monstrous 2 quart Mason jar, you will need 8 cups of cold water to pour in slowly, stirring once in a while.

Stir between additions of water to help get all the grounds moist, and to fit in the most water possible.

 Once you have the jar full right up to the top, seal it, give it a little shake, put a label showing the time 12 hours from now.  (Start with 12 hours, if the coffee seems too weak to you once you strain it and taste it, leave the next batch to steep 14 hours and try that.)  Now, put it in the fridge, and LEAVE IT ALONE UNTIL THE TIME ON THE LABEL.  Oh, You can give it a little shake once or twice, but other than that, WAIT UNTIL THE STEEPING TIME IS UP!

Mark your coffee with the time 12 hours after the time you put it in the fridge.

Once the coffee has steeped the full 12 hours, it's time to filter it and put it in a storage pitcher in the fridge so it will be ready when you want some mellow coffee goodness.
I started by pouring the coffee through the filter in my Primula Cold Brew pot.  I use the Primula, but I really wanted to try the 12 hour method, as the Primula takes 24 hours.

My Primula Cold Brew Pot, that I used to filter my Mason Jar method coffee the first time.

After it went through the first filter, I then put a basket type coffee filter in a small strainer on top of my storage pitcher, and ran the coffee through that to pick up any lingering sediment. 

The second filter, to remove sediment.

 Now your coffee is all done, and ready to store, or to enjoy.

Cold Brew, all strained and ready to go in the fridge.

 You will need to dilute the coffee to serve it.  It is VERY concentrated.  I like to just pour it over lots of ice, or to dilute it with some Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, or even regular milk.  It's all up to you and your taste.

Diluted with a little unsweetened vanilla almond milk, the coffee is just divine.

There.  That's how I do it.  Now, I'm going to go enjoy some of my cold brew with the dark chocolate /nut shortbread cookies I just made...