How to Make the Perfect Cold Brew Coffee

The Step-by-Step: Prepare your work area by gathering your preferred container (ideally glass, with a lid), lining it with the mesh bag and measuring out your coffee beans for grinding. You’ll want a medium or dark roast coffee to highlight the natural smoothness and sweetness of the cold brew; how much coffee you measure out will depend on whether you’re aiming for a big batch or just a few glasses, but for this purpose, let’s use a full cup of coffee grinds. Measure out four cups of ice-cold, filtered water. Important to know: This particular ratio of coffee to water will create cold-brew concentrate, which means you’ll want to cut your concentrate with equal parts water upon pouring. This way, you not only get a better-preserved coffee, but a more versatile one (if you want to toy around with adding milk and syrups), as well as a smaller footprint in your refrigerator. So, in reality, know that you’re adding four cups of water but really getting eight cups’ worth of actual cold-brew iced coffee. Grind your coffee on the coarsest setting. This is best for the long brew time, but also practical for ensuring there aren’t fine grinds lingering in your coffee. Now, it’s time to both pour and turn the coffee grinds into what we’ll lovingly call a “dumpling.” Scoop the coffee into a paper coffee filter, and put it inside the mesh at the bottom of the container. Pour two cups of water over the dumpling, and let it soak. After about 30 seconds, tie the coffee filter together – grinds inside – with a string, before pouring the rest of the cold water on top of the dumpling. This double-layer of filters will ensure there aren’t coffee grinds in your final product. Seal the container with a lid, and let the coffee steep – think of it like tea-brewing -- at room temperature for approximately 18 to 24 hours. Be sure that the container is well-sealed and out of sunlight to prevent mold from accumulating over time. After enough time has elapsed, toss the dumpling and remove the mesh bag. Remember to wash the bag before doing this process again. Cut your concentrate with equal parts water, pour some ice and enjoy! Your concentrate should last for about two weeks when refrigerated – though, for peak freshness, you’ll want to consume it within a week. Like any coffee, its flavor profile degrades over time.