Watch: How to make cold brew coffee at home

Photograph by dubh/Flickr

Cold brew coffee (not to be confused with cold coffee) has been trending all this year. What is the appeal of a cold, dark, milk-less coffee? “The nuances of the flavours really shine through in cold brew coffee,” says Tapaswini Purnesh, a fifth generation coffee planter at Classic Synergy Coffee, a 150-year-old single origin coffee plantation in Chikmagalur and Sakleshpur. There is no acidity or bitterness in this coffee, adds Purnesh. “It is so flavourful that it’s almost like drinking a dark beer.”

Here’s a video for your Cold Brew Coffee DIY project

All you need to make cold brew coffee at home is coarsely ground coffee powder, water and some patience. Cold brew coffee is nothing but coffee steeped in cold water and strained after 24 hours. The containers that you use for storing the brew need to be big enough, and a large mason jar should serve the purpose. Cover the jar with a cheese cloth and store in a cold place. After a day, add some more water to the strained coffee concentrate, a few cubes of ice and sugar and your dark, cold brew is ready to be served. You could add some milk and even turn it into a latte.

You can also make cold brew coffee using a French Press (see video below). There are several ways to make your own pot cold iced coffee, but some steps ensure that you get a rich and velvety mouthfeel. Ensure that the coffee powder that you use for brewing is not ground too as the finer grind will lend a bitter aftertaste. The ratio of water added to the coffee grounds also changes depending on the equipment that you use. While it is normally 1:4 (one part coffee and four parts water) and if you’re using a French Press, the ratio of coffee to water changes to 1:8.