It’s summer, the time of year when we as a collective body of caffeine addicts all switch from hot cups to the refreshing crispness of coffee on ice. But it’s so dang expensive (due to the fact that it actually takes more coffee, labor, and time to make it, but whatever).
It’s time for that cuppa joe, but holy fried eggs on the sidewalk, it’s too hot for hot coffee! You could get into your car and head to the nearest Starbucks, but the thought of those leather seats searing the backs of your legs is even less appetizing than sidewalk eggs. So why leave the comfort of your home? Make your own iced caffeinated beverage in your kitchen! It’s very easy to do, and can save you time and money too. Read on: we’ll show you a few ways to do this!
How to Make a Cold Brew French Press
(Makes 1 drink)
What You Need
1/3 cup whole coffee beans
1 1/2 cups cold water, preferably filtered
Ice, to taste
Milk, to taste
Sweeteners such as flavored syrups, caramel, or melted chocolate, optional
Equipment
Coffee grinder
French press
Instructions
Grind the coffee beans: Grind 1/3 cup of coffee beans until they are coarse enough to be filtered by the French press, yet fine enough to infuse well. On my burr grinder, I grind right in between middle and fine.
Combine the ground coffee and water in the French press: Pour the ground coffee into the French press and top with 1 1/2 cups of water.
Stir to incorporate: Gently stir the coffee with the water until well blended.
Put on French press lid: Make sure the plunger is in the up position.
Place the French press in the refrigerator and steep overnight: Leave the plunger in the up position so the grounds infuse the water overnight.
Plunge to separate the coffee from the grounds: The next morning, plunge the French press to separate the coffee from the grounds.
Make your iced coffee: Fill a glass with ice cubes and fill partway with milk. Fill the rest of the glass with iced coffee. Stir to combine and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Large Batch Iced Coffee: If you have a larger French press, you can make a larger batch of iced coffee using the same ratio of ground coffee to water. Plunge and transfer any unused coffee to a new container. Iced coffee can be kept refrigerated for about a week.
Iced Coffee Variations: If you have a sweet tooth like me, you may want to stir in a spoonful of cajeta caramel or chocolate fudge. Sea salt or cinnamon also make a nice touch.
Tips
If you prefer sugar with your iced coffee, mix it in while the coffee is hot, as it will blend better; or try mixing the sugar with the milk before mixing it with the coffee.
Take any left over or unused coffee and fill into an ice cube tray, that way your next cup won’t be diluted.
Warnings
Do not put a hot coffee pot directly into the refrigerator, the glass may crack, spilling coffee inside your refrigerator. This is called thermal shock, though you may use different words to describe it.
Cheers!
