We all know that cold brew coffee is the best way to enjoy a caffeine boost. And, if you’re like me, then you also love making your own cold brew at home! Cold brew coffee is super easy to make, all you need are some ground beans and water. But can regular old coffee grounds work just as well? Read on for the answer!
Can You Use Regular Coffee Grounds for Cold Brew Coffee?
In short, yes, you can use whatever coffee grounds you prefer to make cold brew coffee. While you can make cold brew using whatever grounds you want, the results in strength and flavor may vary.
Some people say that the best grounds for cold brew are medium-dark roast and coarse ground. Because the darker the roast, the stronger the coffee. Lightly roasted coffee grounds can often be rather weak when cold brewed. This can often be remedied by letting the grounds brew for much longer periods of time, but ultimately the quality of your coffee would be better when brewed using a darker roast.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew coffee is a delicious way to get your caffeine fix. It’s easy to make and doesn’t have the bitterness of regular brewed coffee.
In this section of the article, we will cover how to make cold brew coffee with regular coffee grounds.
Coffee and water ratio
The typical ratio of coffee to water when making cold brew is one cup of water for every half cup of coffee grounds. To make a large mason jar of cold brew, you’ll need roughly one and a half cups of coffee grounds and three cups of water.
Steep the coffee grounds in cold water for anywhere from 12 – 24 hours.
It is said that Starbucks steeps theirs for about 20 hours. The longer the coffee steeps, the stronger the flavor will be, so be careful about letting them brew for too long. If you like your coffee on the weaker side, letting the grounds steep overnight should be enough.
Steeping the coffee through a coffee filter
The best way to strain your coffee once it is done steeping is through a coffee filter. This is the easiest way because it was made for filtering coffee. Place the filter in a sieve of your choice and pour the brew into the filter. Make sure you are holding it over a container that will catch the coffee.
Let the coffee filter through into the container of your choice and once it is done, you can dispose of the filter and grounds. Keep the cold brew refrigerated for longer shelf life.
How to Get Coarse Ground Coffee?
For those of you without your own coffee grinder at home, there is another way to acquire the course ground bean of choice for your cold brew coffee pleasures.
The first thing you want to do is pick out the bean you want. Many grocery stores have coffee sections with a variety of whole coffee beans. Choose your bean based on flavor notes, roast, and region. For instance, if you want a sweeter, delicate premium coffee, you should opt for Arabica beans.
However, if you prefer something strong with a hefty flavor profile, Robusta coffee beans would be your best choice. It is all about knowing what you want in your coffee.
Once you have chosen and purchased your bean, you can take it to a local coffee shop and ask a barista to grind the beans for you. Some of them may charge for the service but it is worth it to get the perfect grounds for your cold brew coffee.
Different Types of Coffee Beans for Cold Brew Coffee
Coffee beans come in a variety of different flavors, strengths, and origins.
There are four “primary” types of coffee beans to look for and each one is different. It is important to know what is unique about each so that you can make the best choice for yourself.
Arabica
- Most common in North America
- Sweet, light, and delicate
- Brazil is the biggest exporter of Arabica beans
- Best consumed black and hot for the strongest flavor
Robusta
- Most popular in Europe and Africa
- Strong, harsh, dense
- High caffeine levels
- Said to have a flavor profile of rum and chocolate
Liberica
- Rare
- Fruity, floral, woody flavor profile
- The Philippines were the first to harvest this type
Excelsa
- Rare
- Grown in Southeast Asia
- Considered a medium coffee
- Notes of fruit and flowers
Conclusion
Choosing a coffee bean is all about you and your pleasure. If you are new to the world of coffee beans, then it is best to experiment to find the right coffee for you. When choosing, you want to figure out what flavor notes you like best, how dark or light you like your coffee, how strong you prefer it, etc. Taste a range of flavors and strengths until you find that perfect blend that makes you happy. Once you find the perfect bean, you can use it to make cold brew, hot brew, iced, etc.