Perfect Cold Brewed Iced Coffee

Have you seen that list going around with all the problems only coffee addicts could understand? Well, I understand all of them.

I am a coffee nerd. I enjoy using an electric food scale, coffee grinder, and timer just to make a single cup of pour over coffee (the ritual of it is half the experience!), and regularly ogle all of the beautiful French press pots you can buy online.

And now, with the warm weather approaching (finally!), I am ready for iced coffee. All the time. But, I am not down with watery, weak iced coffee made by just pouring hot brewed coffee over ice, or shelling out $2-4 at my nearest Dunkin/Starbucks/etc everyday.


Fortunately, there is a really simple solution - cold brewed iced coffee. On top of being super easy, cold brewing your coffee gives you the best tasting cup of iced coffee you've ever had. Since it's not brewed with heat, it isn't acidic like hot coffee is, and I like to add a bit of cocoa powder to mine for just a hint of mocha taste. Rich, smooth, and perfect over ice - a coffee addicts nirvana.

1 cup of medium ground coffee + 4 cups of water + 12 hours brew time = perfect iced coffee. 

Really! It's that simple!

COLD BREWED ICED COFFEE
1 cup of medium ground coffee
4 cups of filtered water

1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional)

Place water and coffee (and cocoa powder, if using) in a quart sized mason jar (or large bowl), gently stir to make sure there are no clumps, cover and set out at room temperature for 12-24 hours. Once the coffee is done brewing, you can strain through a colander lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Alternatively, you can brew in a French press with the plunger all the way up during brewing, or use a coffee sock (my preferred method - and more about that later!). Your coffee can be diluted up to 1:1 with water, if desired. Serve over ice with milk and sugar, if desired. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.