A Cuppa Cold Brew

It is still stupid hot. The day starts out warm, then comes to a boil and peaks with alarming thunderstorms in the evening. It is miserable and makes a person (me) dream of autumn breezes.

While we cannot control the weather, a nice cup of cold brew coffee can bring a little bit of relief, especially if you need a coffee pick-me-up but cannot bear the thought of a hot drink.

Cold brew is not to be confused with iced coffee. Iced coffee is usually just hot-brewed coffee served over ice. Cold brew, on the other hand, is processed with cold water, with no heat ever touching the coffee grounds.

Cold brew is a slower process, with the coffee grounds steeping in cold water for 12-24 hours. This process provides a smooth, low-acid cup of coffee concentrate that is much less bitter than hot drip coffee.

We started making cold brew at home a couple of years ago. The first system we bought from Bed, Bath & Beyond. It is an Asobu system that comes with a detachable stainless steel carafe that can travel and keep your cold brew cold for up to 6 hours.

I bought it for my husband’s birthday, thinking he could take it to work with him. It was such a hit with the whole coffee-loving family, that it has never made it out of the house.

It is extremely easy to use. You attach the plastic filter system to the top of the carafe. You then place the coffee grounds into the metal coffee filter. Slowly pour 4 cups of cold, filtered water on top of the grounds.

The water will slowly move through the grounds and into the top of the system. Allow the coffee to steep for 12-24 hours. This system sits on your countertop to steep, as it is a taller contraption. Leave it in a place where it will not be bumped or disturbed. When you are ready to enjoy your coffee, you simply push the black button to push up the metal ball bearing to allow the coffee to flow into the carafe. Twist off the top filter system and screw the metal lid onto the carafe for storage.

While this system works well, I decided to try another one I had found on Amazon. This one is by Bean Envy. It uses a longer cylinder filter that sits inside a glass carafe.

The method is much the same as the first system. Place cold, filtered water in the carafe, and place the desired amount of ground coffee into the filter. Allow the carafe to sit in the fridge for 12-24 hours, then remove the filter and exchange the lid for the pouring lid.

Both carafes can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, though we rarely have it last more than a week.

Cold brew can be enjoyed by itself, or add milk, flavor syrups and sweeteners as you wish. We love to add Torani coffee syrups, which you can find at World Market and some grocery stores.

But you can also make your own coffee creamers at home. This combines your cream and fun flavors, without all of the chemicals that come in many store-bought brands.

It takes as little as 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to make a delicious, creamy, custom coffee flavoring. I chose to make a dark chocolate raspberry creamer.

The flavor combinations are really almost limitless. You can add any extract that suits your fancy. For other flavor options, go to www.thesupermomlife.com.

There are many different systems and contraptions on the market to set you on the path to caffeinated bliss. Find something that suits your needs and fits in your fridge and you are on your way to a cool treat for hot days.