Cold brew for you

Are you missing your coffee shop meetings with friends, colleagues or just grabbing your laptop for a change of scenery? Many of us are finding the coffee house trip is less frequent and more often, we are doing coffee at home. If you’re getting bored with your coffee pot, here’s a little secret, you can make delicious coffee at home and it’s actually healthier for you! 

What’s your specialty?

Is your current specialty brewing a pot and sipping it all day? Spicing up your current coffee is simple. Try this test- Drink your coffee black. If you can’t tolerate your brew without added milks, creamers, syrups and all the extras, you may want to try some of these tips for a healthier, tastier cup of joe. Quality ingredients and practices will make your coffee much more enjoyable.

• Purchase organic coffees and fair trade coffees. These coffees are rich in antioxidants and signify clean and ethical growing practices for the best tasting coffee beans. 
• Look for a roasting date on the bag. For the freshest coffee, purchase whole bean coffee within 14 days of the roasting date and grind at home. 
• For flavored coffee beans, purchase naturally flavored coffee or try adding your flavor at home. Artificial flavors can mask low-grade coffee beans that are past their prime and the artificial flavor is often mixed with chemicals to attach the flavor to the beans.
• Use filtered water to brew your coffee for the cleanest taste free from chemicals.

Iced coffee or cold brew?

Ever wonder the difference between iced coffee and cold brew? Making iced coffee or cold brew at home is super simple and can be done in a large batch and kept in the fridge for up to a week.

Simply put, iced coffee is coffee that is brewed hot then cooled, stored in the fridge, and served over ice. Cold brew offers a smoother, less bitter alternative to traditional iced coffee. Cold brew is made by steeping your coffee grounds in cold water for 12-18 hours, then filtering the coffee leaving a deliciously smooth, and caffeinated, drink you’ll be craving every afternoon. Cold brew tends to yield a stronger coffee that is perfect for iced coffee drinkers who worry of diluting that perfect coffee flavor with melting ice.

Did you know you can drink your cold brew hot? Yes! There is a growing trend to take this deliciously smooth coffee and warm it up replacing your drip coffee. You may want to dilute it with just a bit of water or milk, unless you’re a fan of a stronger eye opening cup first thing in the morning. 

Making cold brew at home

• Start with a large jar
• Pour in ½ cup of your favorite coffee grounds (coarsely ground, if possible)
• Fill the jar with filtered water
• Stir
• Cover and let steep in the refrigerator for 12-18 hours
• Take out your jar and stir
• Strain your coffee using a metal strainer and a coffee filter to catch any small grounds
• Store in the refrigerator for up to a week
  

Tip: Cold brew can be prepared in a french press coffee pot. While letting your coffee steep, only push down your plunger 1/3 of the way from the top.

Favorite coffee recipes

Try adding 1/4 teaspoon of any of the following spices per cup of coffee, hot or cold. You can add these spices directly to the grounds before you brew a single serve coffee or sprinkle the spice on top of the freshly brewed coffee. Great spices to have on hand are vanilla, almond, or peppermint extract, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, ginger, lavender, star anise, cloves, or whole cinnamon stick. Use any combination of these spices to create coffee shop favorites without the added sugars, syrups, and artificial ingredients. 

Pumpkin spice– A little jar of goodness in your spice cupboard is full of fall flavor! Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice on top of a hot coffee for a delicious smelling and tasting cup. Pairs well with almond milk. 

Lavender and vanilla– add ¼ teaspoon of each spice to your cup. Pairs well with coconut milk. 

Peppermint Mocha– Add 1 teaspoon of ground cocoa nibs for every 2 tablespoons of ground coffee before you brew. To your cup add 1⁄4 teaspoon each peppermint and vanilla extract. This also works for your iced coffee! Pairs well with hemp or oat milk.

For subtle flavor in your iced coffee or cold brew, turn the flavor combinations above into coffee ice cubes. Flavored cubes are a great way to get an undiluted iced coffee experience. 

Experimenting with different coffees, flavors, add-ins, and temperatures are sure to make your coffee a sought after one. Create your own coffee experience at home and invite a friend or neighbor for a coffee date!