Cold brewed coffee

Cold brewed coffee is lower in acid and caffeine than hot-brewed coffee. It is a smooth, naturally sweet drink that you can have any time of day. There isn’t the bitterness of hot-brewed coffee. You’ll make a concentrate that you can dilute 1 to 3 with hot water for a hot drink. Or mix it one to one with hot cream for a hot coffee drink.

Making the cold brewed concentrate is simple and takes just a few minutes. No special equipment is required.

Put 1 1/2 cups of your favorite coffee coarsely ground (regular grind) into a quart jar. Add water to fill, leaving about a half inch space at the top of the jar. Stir to completely saturate the grounds. Don’t cover the jar yet, as the contents will expand. Wait 5 minutes and stir again. Then cover and let it sit at room temperature for at least 9 hours. Twelve hours is best, and it can be left at room temperature up to 24 hours. More than that and a sourness can develop. After steeping at room temperature, stir the contents of the jar again and pour it through a fine-mesh strainer. The concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator and is good for up to 2 weeks.