In honour of Plastic Free July, I thought I would share some of the things that I have started making at home instead of purchasing in stores. Not only do you save money by making things yourself, you can also significantly reduce your waste footprint as well! Cold brew coffee is one of those things you can easily make at home for a fraction of the price.
I tried cold brew coffee a few years ago and really enjoyed its smooth and mellow taste. By steeping coffee in cold water instead of using a heat, it decreases the acidity of coffee making it easier to drink. I see a lot of fancy contraptions to make cold brew these days but I find the most effective way is using a French Press. The French Press method is quick and convenient but a plain mason jar with coffee filters will also do just fine (just prepare to wait a lot longer for it to filter!)
Steps to Making Cold Brew
- Measure out 1 cup of coarse ground coffee and place in French Press or a large Mason Jar
- Add 4 cups of filtered water and stir until well incorporated
- Place container in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours or longer. The longer it steeps the stronger the flavour.
You can play around with the ratio but I find that a 1:4 ratio works best for my taste. It is delicious black but adding a splash of oat milk to it, such as Earth’s Own Oat Milk, adds a hint of sweetness and creaminess.
Interested in more DIYs? Check out my Kombucha recipe here
TL/dr – mix a 1:4 ratio of coarse ground coffee and filtered water, steep for at least 12 hours and enjoy your cold brew coffee for a fraction of the price!