Quick Steps for Homemade Iced Coffee
Grabbing a Refreshing Cold Brew, No Sweat
Let's kick off with the easiest way to brew a delicious cold brew coffee, sans any fancy equipment. All you need is a piece of time and a big ol' pitcher. No kidding! If you fancy using a French press, go right ahead.
Gather your ingredients:
- For the Brew:
- 1 3/4 cups coarsely ground coffee (around 4 1/2 ounces)
- 3 1/2 cups cold H2O
- For Serving:
- Milk, half-and-half, or water
- Simple Syrup - don't forget to whip this up before brewing (see above)
- Ice cubes
Listen up, because we're about to walk you through the process:
For the Brew:
- Plonk the coffee grounds into a 2-quart pitcher, then add the water. Give it a good stir to mix everything up. Wrap the pitcher with plastic wrap and let the concoction steep for a minimum of 12 hours. You can let it steep for up to a day if you fancy a strong brew.
- Grab a fine-mesh strainer and a standard coffee filter to line it with. Sit the strainer over a medium bowl and, working in batches, pour the coffee mixture into it. Don't force the liquid through – it'll pass through in a slow stream on its own. Once you've reached the solids at the bottom of the pitcher, stop pouring (no need to dump those). Chuck the grounds and strainer contents, then wipe down and dry the pitcher. Pour the strained coffee back into the pitcher, cover it, and stick it in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours or up to 5 days.
Serving Time
- For each cup of iced coffee, combine equal parts of the chilled concentrate with milk, half-and-half, or water. Sweeten it up with some simple syrup if you like, then add ice.
Now, brewing your way to a fantastic cold brew has never been easier, my friend! Enjoy your homemade, smooth, and concentrated iced coffee fix. And don't forget, you can always add a touch of booze to really get the party started!
Yield: 2 cups of coffee concentrateDifficulty: Piece of cakeTotal: 10 mins, plus 14 hours steeping and chilling timeActive: 10 mins
Insights:
- Cold brew coffee can be brewed using a French press or a large pitcher with time and coarsely ground coffee.
- Steeping the coffee in cold or room temperature water for at least 12 hours, but up to 48 hours, will result in a stronger cold brew.
- The cold brew coffee concentrate can be diluted with milk, half-and-half, water, or even booze before being served over ice.
- To recreate a delightful cold brew coffee without any complexity using a French press or a large pitcher, follow the given instructions.
- For the best results, let the cold brew steep in a 2-quart pitcher for at least 12 hours but up to 48 hours for a stronger brew.
- You can customize your cold brew by adding milk, half-and-half, water, or even a touch of booze to your taste, ensuring a fantastic and refreshing coffee experience.
