If you drink as much coffee as we do, perhaps the strength of Cold Brew coffee is more up your alley.

But, maybe you don’t own the “proper tools” necessary to make it? Nonsense. If you have a French Press, you can make Cold Brew anytime!

What is Cold Brew?

Just in case you don’t know, “Cold Brew” refers to the process rather than a different type of coffee.

Coffee that has been cold brewed steeps for several hours (sometimes days!), and is never exposed to heat. This exposure to cold is the major difference- it’s where all the flavor comes from. Cold water pulls out the flavor from the coffee beans much slower than hot water; the result is a sweeter flavor that is less acidic than hot coffee. Cold Brew coffee is usually served over ice or chilled, but it is not iced coffee; iced coffee is usually just hot coffee poured over ice.

Many coffee drinkers prefer Cold Brew in the summer as it is more refreshing and drinkable in the heat. We love Cold Brew all year round because it has a higher caffeine content than hot coffee 😉

How To Make Your Own

Now that you’re ready to make Cold Brew in your French Press, here’s what you’ll need:

• Your favorite coffee beans
• Coffee Grinder
• Filtered Water (preferably)
• French Press
• Large spoon

The process for making Cold Brew in a French Press is quite similar to making hot coffee. You’re just waiting a really…really long time for it (takes around 12 hours to brew).

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Measure out coffee with a 7:1 ratio to water (seven parts cold or room temperature water for every one part coffee). Note: it would be helpful to know the exact size of your French Press.
2. Grind. Note: a coarse grind is recommended, but a finer grind will produce a stronger Cold Brew. If you need help figuring out which grind to go with, check out this guide: Everything You Need to Know About Coffee Grinds.
3. Add coffee to bottom of French Press and then pour water over it.
4. Gently stir to combine coffee and water- make sure it is completely combined; every ground should be covered with water.
5. Play the waiting game for ~12 hours…
6. Slowly press the plunger down on the French Press (the slower the plunge, the cleaner the coffee); try to make plunge last at least 30 seconds.
7. Serve over ice and enjoy the delicious!

Some things to consider:

Here are some other useful tips when it comes to making homemade Cold Brew.

• Let coffee steep longer for stronger Cold Brew (our favorite kind).
• If you find the final result too strong, try altering the ratio slightly each time you make it to find what’s right for you.
• If you brew at room temperature, Cold Brew will brew faster; however, for best tasting results, let it brew in the refrigerator.
• If you find that you’re left with more grounds than you care for, try using a filter when pouring to catch any loose grounds.
• Great with cream for those who like a sweeter taste to their coffee.

There You Have it!

As if you needed another reason to love your French Press. Bet you didn’t realize just how versatile this ingenious contraption is when you bought it. Bonus! To make the experience even more special, we recommend using Custom Glass Art and Drinkware from JFR Glass. Share with us your favorite mugs and cups @atlascoffeeclub!

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