There's nothing quite like a smooth and refreshing cup of cold brew coffee, especially during those hot summer days. The cold brewing process slowly extracts the rich flavors of coffee without the acidity, resulting in a delicious and well-rounded beverage. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the steps of making the perfect cold brew coffee using Wrangler Coffee Company's Icelandic Cold Brew. Get ready to savor the bold and balanced flavors in every sip. Let's get started.
1. Choose Your Fresh Coffee Beans: The foundation of any great cold brew (or really just any brew) is high-quality coffee beans. For this reason, we recommend making cold brew with our Icelandic Cold Brew which boasts a smooth chocolate, toffee, and light floral flavor profile. Alternatively, we offer a variety of other carefully sourced and expertly roasted beans that could be used it's place depending on your flavor preferences.
2. Grind the Beans to a Coarse Consistency: To ensure an optimal flavor extraction, grind your coffee beans to a coarse consistency. This helps prevent over-extraction, resulting in a smoother and much less bitter brew. Use a burr grinder or your preferred grinding method to achieve the desired coarseness. For more information on how the grind can impact the taste of your coffee checkout our other post What Makes Your Coffee Strong or Weak.
3. Measure the Coffee-to-Water Ratio: For a standard cold brew recipe, use a ratio of 1 part coarsely ground coffee to 4 parts water. Adjust the ratio according to your taste preferences and the strength of the beans. If needed, start with a small batch to familiarize yourself with the process and to fine tune as needed without much waste.
4. Combine the Coffee and Water: In a large container or jar, add the measured coffee grounds and pour in the filtered water. Stir gently to ensure all the coffee grounds are evenly saturated. For best results, use filtered water to avoid any impurities that might affect the taste.
5. Steep the Coffee Overnight: Cover the container or jar with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Allow the coffee to steep for a minimum of 12 hours, or overnight for a stronger flavor. The extended steeping time extracts the full-bodied flavors from the coarsely ground coffee beans, resulting in a smooth and flavorful cold brew.
6. Strain and Serve: Once the steeping time is complete, strain the cold brew using a fine-mesh sieve or a cheesecloth-lined sieve. Discard the coffee grounds, and you'll be left with a smooth concentrate. Dilute the concentrate with water or your preferred choice of milk, and serve it over ice. You can also experiment with adding sweeteners or flavorings to suit your taste as needed.
With some Wrangler Coffee Company and a simple brewing method, you can enjoy the perfect cup of cold brew coffee. The smooth and balanced flavors of our coffee will elevate your cold brew experience to new heights. Remember, patience is key whether you're working horses or brewing cold brew — let the coffee beans work their magic during the long steeping process. So, grab your favorite WCC beans, follow the steps above, and prepare to savor the refreshing delight of a perfectly crafted cold brew coffee that'll give you the caffeine boost to cool off and carry on.