Cold Brew Coffee

Why do I say it is inexpensive? Well, at its simplest, you can create your own cold brew coffee using just a few items from your kitchen and some freshly ground dark roast coffee.

No electricity is required, just patience. It takes a good 12 hours to brew in cold water.

And, the result is an extract, or syrup, that can be kept refrigerated and used as desired for about two weeks.

Cold brewing is a method of extracting the coffee flavor from coffee grounds without the traditional method of hot water. This coffee making method takes longer than the more traditional route, but it produces a smooth rich concentrate that can be used in making a delicious cup of hot coffee or a great tasting iced coffee.

Cold brewed coffee also tends to be less acidic, up to 67% less than coffee brewed in a traditional auto drip coffee maker, and some describe it as a more richer tasting coffee than the quick, hot water brewing methods.

Curious? You can give it a try yourself with just a few simple kitchen items. I haven't tried this at home yet, so I can't say from experience if this method of creating cold brewed coffee will taste the same as if made with equipment designed for that purpose. All that said, here are the instructions:

You'll need:

1. 1/2 pound medium ground coffee - darker roasts work best Note: Consider the Costa Rica Espresso Roast from Cafe' Britte, seen at left.

2. 5 cups cold water

• Pour coffee into a deep bowl or pot
• Add water, stir to mix and cover
• Allow to steep between 8 and 12 hours
• Pour mixture through a fine-meshed sieve, cheese cloth or coffee filter.
• Repeat filtering process twice if necessary.

Makes 3 cups coffee concentrate.

You can use the concentrate to make hot or iced coffee.

It is suggested that you use 1/4 cup of the coffee concentrate for a 12-16 oz. glass of iced coffee. Add 3/4 to 1 cup of milk to taste.

I would experiment with the ratio of coffee to hot or cold water, as I have read reviews stating that the coffee was either too strong or too weak for the taster.

It's a very subjective process and depends on your personal preferences for strength of coffee. But, two things are consistent with cold brewed coffee - less acidity and slightly less caffeine.

So if you are searching for a coffee product that will be easier on your digestive system, cold brew coffee might just be the solution.

I would advocate purchasing a product created for the purpose of brewing a cold coffee concentrate, if you are really into this experience. There are some that are quite budget friendly and so would not require a huge investment of funds.

Here are several manufacturers that produce a cold brew coffee system. See which one might be the best choice for you!

Note: The AeroPress listed below is actually a method inbetween cold brewing and conventionally brewed coffee. I included this product because it is budget friendly and is another option to consider.