Making Coffee at Home – Perfect Iced Coffee

Making Coffee at Home – Perfect Iced Coffee

Did I tell you that my kid sister is staying with us again? More on that some other time (lets just say that she brings a new “smell” to this home of 4 males).  One thing she knows well is good coffee.  I introduced her to the cold brew method of making coffee and so every morning the past few weeks, and probably for the rest of the fall, we have iced coffee available to us.  I thought that now would be a great time to repost part of this from a couple years ago, and also add a new recipe that you may enjoy as well.  Oh, and look to the very end for a FANTASTIC way to enjoy this delicious coffee inspired by arguably the best coffee shop in Bellevue, Cafe Cesura.

Iced Coffee – The Original Post

I love iced coffee. Period.  I have for quite some time and although I don’t mind a mug full of good-quality hot coffee at a restaurant or in my home, iced coffee is where it’s at for me.

There is much debate, internationally, on new and better coffee brewing methods. The Japanese have their versions that look more like a chemistry experiment than brewing technique (although quite delicious). There are pour overs, old-world french presses, and of course espresso.

As a kid, I have two distinct coffee memories. First, I remember coffee and donuts at St. Patrick’s Catholic church with the big commercial grade percolator where you could make a ton of coffee all at once, none of it tasting good. Of course, how could coffee taste good coming out of those #10 cans?  My second coffee memory is of my folks and coffee from a stove top percolator that would burp and blurp on our little stove in that little home in North Spokane. My dad made lots of that coffee, and when he finally got a Mr. Coffee for the home, this stove top percolator was relegated to the camping box.

Ah coffee…

The first recipe is pretty straightforward and hails as a Vietnamese “cold brew” method. This method is very simple but takes 8-24 hours before it is ready.It has been written that coffee made with the cold brew method is less harsh on the bean and is 60% less acidic (scientifically proven by these fine folks at Anchorhead Coffee), and should therefore draw out more of the subtle flavors of the beans origin.  I happily agree.  This is my favorite method, and I like having a whole jar of it, in my fridge, where it will keep for at least two weeks. I like a couple of chock-full-of-ice glasses of coffee each day, sometimes with creamer and sometimes without.

Oh, and if you have a little left over that won’t quite fit in your bottle or jar? Add it to your ice cube tray and make coffee ice cubes. Use those, and say good bye to watered down coffee!

Iced Coffee

6 ounces of your favorite coffee (ground)
4 quarts cold water

In a large container, mix ground coffee with water. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature eight hours or overnight.

Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth and set over a pitcher or other container. Pour coffee/water mixture through the strainer, allowing all liquid to run through. Discard grounds.

Pour Iced Coffee over ice cubes (or coffee cubes), add syrups or cream, and enjoy.

Iced Coffee Concentrate

12 ounces of your favorite coffee, ground for French Press (coarse)
2 quarts cold water

Fill up your vessel with 2 quart of cold water. Add your favorite, coarsely ground coffee. I am partial to Caffe Lusso, either their Harrar or their Columbia for iced coffee.  Let soak for 18 hours. Strain through fine cheesecloth and store in a big jar or if you want to be cool like me, an old whiskey bottle.

To use concentrate, the ratio is about 1:2 or to taste. That is 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water or milk. If you want a real treat, take one part concentrate, one part milk, and add 1 part maple syrup! It is awesome!

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4 thoughts on “Making Coffee at Home – Perfect Iced Coffee”

    • Beautiful pictures of a beitfauul wedding. Can’t say which is our favorite for they are all so spectacular. Can only wish you as many happy years together as your Grandfather and I have had.

    • My dear Gabriel,Thank you very much for the wonderful words you were wrntiig in your blog about everybody in the documentaire. Also the picture was nice and fortunately taken from the backside of my head!!!!! I will tell Jytte about the words you were wrntiig about her. I spoke with her on the phone yeasterday and she was expecting a call from me. She hates to be in the picture and to hear her own voice but came as a gesture for the lovely persons who made the film. They were really fantastic during the interviews. I honestly hope not to meet you as a patient in the hospital. I am there every Tuesdaymorning is my volunteer-morning and not all the week otherwise I need a lawyer. (haha) It is really funny that we were living in the same apartmentbuilding.( 1977-1981) You on the 4th and I on the 1st floor. I remember you as a naughty but funny boy. Your Austrian nanny was continue complaining about the mess in your room and that you had to stay in your untidy room to learn to keep it proper because she wouldn’t dare to clean it. I hope you have changed a little bit.(haha) I like to read your blogs and don’t understand how you can find the time and the subjects . Bravo!Anyway last night our AEK made a happy evening for us . I didn’t watch and when my husband came home I understood which team won the game. He is Panathinaikos ! Dimitri’s team is Olympiakos and my daughter-in-law like Kostas a Panathinaikos fan! For the Dutch competition I am a fan of Feyenoord and they were this week-end very bad playing and lost the game with 10-0 from PSV. Never mind! Gabriel have a nice day!Maaike

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