What Even Is Cold Brew?

Cold brew is an up-and-coming trend in the coffee world that has taken North America by storm, and Australia is no different story. Cold brew is, in itself, quite a simple process, but it creates a smooth and easy going flavor and texture that makes people want to run back for more. In that process, all you do is put some coffee grounds in COLD water, thus the "cold" in cold brew, leave it for anywhere between 18-24 hours, and strain out the coffee grounds. I know, it's so simple, right? It's the little things in life that make it so good, and simple processes are sometimes the best. The components that you need for making cold brew at home is 1) Coarse ground coffee grinds, so it looks like Kosher sea salt, 2) a coffee filter, if you want more oil in your coffee, go with a metal filter, and if you like your coffee less oily, a paper filter works beautifully, 3) a jar with a lid, and 4) some cold water! Who knew that making deliciously smooth coffee at home was so easy? Coffee culture is all about experimenting, so give it a go, change the coffee beans, switch the filters, find a way that YOU love making cold brew, and have fun in the process! For those of you that would like something to start off with, a recipe is below! Happy experimenting.

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1. Grind the coffee beans into a coarse grind. Grind the coffee beans in a coffee grinder until they are coarsely ground. Depending on the capacity of the coffee grinder, you may need to grind the coffee in batches. The goal is a coarse grind about the size of demerara or raw sugar.
2. Combine the ground coffee and water in the jar. Pour the ground coffee in to a 3-quart jar or pitcher. Add the water.
3. Stir to incorporate. Gently stir the coffee with the water until well-blended. The coffee will float to the top as it sits, but don’t stress about that — just make sure all of the coffee gets wet.
4. Steep the coffee overnight in the fridge. Cover and refrigerate the cold brew for at least 18 hours or up to 24 hours.
5. Strain the coffee concentrate. Line a small fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth (also known as a muslin) and set it over a large measuring cup. Slowly pour the coffee concentrate through the strainer. Depending on the size of your strainer, you may need to strain the coffee in batches. Fight the temptation to squeeze or press the coffee grounds in the cheesecloth.
6. Transfer to the cold brew to a clean jar for longer-term storage. Once strained, transfer the coffee to a clean, airtight jar for long-term storage. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.