I can’t help it, I’m a coffee snob. I know what I like and that’s all there is to it, I get cross when the barista make the milk too hot and burns the coffee,giving that bitter after taste and a burn’t tongue. Weak lattes that are all milk and no flavour are a waste of space, so I was eager to see what all the fuss about when I found out about cold brew. Cold water? Surely that won’t work ? Well I am happy to report that not only does it work very well but it tastes pretty good too. On top of that its really easy to do. Its like having the strength of a cafetiere coffee with the smoothness of a filter coffee with the simplicity of instant.
I use coffee beans and grind them to get fresh coffee grinds, but you can use a packet of pre ground coffee,look for one that is for use in a cafetiere. So you will need,coffee water and a container,ideally glass with a lid.If using beans put them in a grinder and grind to a medium setting.The ground coffee will look like this.Pour the grounds into the container you are using to steep the grounds overnight.Pour cold bottled water onto the coffee grounds, apparently tests were done and the best results were got with Tesco bottled water.Ideally you need 1 part coffee to 4 parts water, so you may have to experiment with what works for you. After you have added the water give it a good stir. It doesn’t matter about the volume of coffee you make,as long as the ratio of coffee to water is maintained. so if you want to start small with a jam jar that’s fine, I make enough for the whole week.The coffee will rise to the top, don’t worry about that, close the lid and give a shake or a stir every once in awhile over the next few hours.Leave to brew overnight on the side in your kitchen.The following day you will need a jug/bowl to decant your coffee into, this can be the same one you intend to keep your coffee in so it should have a lid . you will also need coffee filter papers and something to put the filter paper in, you may have one that’s just for coffee ( like the top of a filter coffee maker) but I dont so I use a conical shaped sieve.Put the filter into the sieve and put them both on top of the jug.Give the contents of the coffee and water jar one last stir and begin to pour it onto the filter paper,stop to allow it to drip through into the jug. repeat this until the coffee grounds are in the filter paperThe grounds will stick to the paper and you can then throw them away or use it in the garden.You have now made a coffee concentrate which will keep in the fridge for about a week. you can use it hot or cold.For hot coffee I pre heat the mug,by pouring the hot water from the kettle and pouring it away again,then pour about a third of a cup of coffee concentrate into it and top it up with water that has just gone off the boil. For iced coffee, pour concentrate into the glass add ice and top up with cold water (ideally the same bottled water you used previously)
