Cold brew coffee is a style of coffee that has been growing in popularity.
It’s easy to make, very versatile and allows you the great flavor and benefits of coffee without as much of the bitter, acidic flavor.
Many people who have looked into making coffee this way have found that it’s very easy to make, but may not always be as easy to filter out.
To brew this kind of coffee, all you need to do is find the perfect ratio of water to coffee grounds and allow the mixture to sit for at least 12 hours.
It can also be a good idea to grind your own beans for your cold brew for a brighter, fresher flavor!
After that, the grounds are going to have to be filtered out so that you don’t have to worry about them making their way into your cup.
Luckily, there are a few different ways that you can accomplish this.
Whether it means using cold brew-specific equipment or using other items that may be in your kitchen, there are plenty of methods for getting the used coffee grounds away from your delicious drink.
Many people find that they can easily use devices and tools they already have. It’s just a matter of getting a little creative!
Follow along with us as we give you some tips on how to filter out your cold brew coffee.
Methods For Filtering Cold Brew
Try using a French press
A French press can be a highly convenient way to make cold brew coffee.
It’s the perfect container to allow the grounds to release flavor and caffeine into the water, and is capable of holding back most of the grounds when you pour the coffee.
Essentially, you’ll just need to combine your water and grounds into the French press and allow it to sit.
Once the mixture has rested for long enough, you can use the plunger to keep the grounds down at the bottom of the container while you pour your drink.
If you know and trust your French press and trust that it won’t release any of the grounds, or if you don’t mind a small amount getting into your cup then you won’t need to worry about any further filtering.
Otherwise, you can combine the use of a French press with another filtering method in order to get the cleanest possible cup.
It’s entirely up to you, and the result you’re looking for with your cold brew recipe.
Additionally, after you make the cold brew it doesn’t have to stay cold! Essentially cold brew just means that it’s being brewed with cooler water, but you can choose to heat it up or cool it down even more after it’s had plenty of time to combine in your French press.
If you don’t already have a French press, we have a great selection worth taking a look at!
However, if you don’t have a French press or any other cold brew coffee maker, you can always look into buying one!
Purchase a specialized cold brew coffee maker
If you’re planning on making cold brew often, but don’t have an actual cold brew coffee maker then there are plenty of styles available to handle your needs.
Depending on what you’re looking for, there are options that are extremely simple that come in a variety of designs as well as others that are designed to make use of the slow drip style rather than the full immersion.
They also come in a wide variety of prices that can help you to find what you’re looking for.
Overall, having a cold brew coffee maker can provide you with a device that allows you to make cold brew coffee without having to worry as much about filtering.
For those who want to channel their inner hipster, one of the options out there has a cool mason jar design that you can use to make and store your cold brew.
If the jar isn’t your style, there are plenty of other options out there that can make the process of brewing cold brew coffee a lot simpler.
This is particularly a great option if you’ve already tried and loved cold brew coffee, because you’ll be able to move up from using kitchen tools typically designed for other things.
Many of them are made with a special containing space for your grounds to go in where they will be able to release flavors without fully mixing with the water itself.
Use cheesecloth
If you don’t have a French press or specialized cold brew coffee maker handy, then cheesecloth can work perfectly well for filtering out the cold brew.
In order to use this method, all you have to do is make sure a clean section of the cloth is secured over the top of the container you want to store the coffee in.
Make sure it isn’t too tight, as you’ll want to leave some room for the grounds to sit in without spilling.
A rubber band can work perfectly well for keeping the cloth in place while you pour.
Pour the coffee mixture slowly, allowing the cloth plenty of time to filter the grounds out of the combination.
After you have poured all of the mixture, give it a minute or two to allow all of the brew to drain from the cloth and then remove it.
This is a fantastic option for those who want something easy and aren’t looking to purchase brand new materials specifically for cold brew.
If you find that you do need to buy cheesecloth, it can be purchased pretty inexpensively and can be used for a wide variety of purposes.
Place your freshly filtered coffee into the fridge, and use the cheesecloth to throw away the grounds.
Use your drip-style coffee maker!
Another option you have is to use a tool you may already own.
If you often make drip-style coffee, then your coffee maker can be used as a method for filtering out a cold brew.
For this method, make sure the coffee pot and filter holder are cleaned and add a paper filter to the holder just as you would to make coffee normally.
Slowly pour your cold brew into the filter, allowing it to drain the filtered-out coffee into the pot
As the pot fills, you can empty it out into the container you want to keep your cold brew in.
This isn’t the classiest option, but it’s one that can work in a pinch!
Your coffee pot is already designed to make coffee while keeping the grounds filtered out, so it’s a good option for those who are trying out making cold brew for the first time.
Conclusion
Cold brew coffee doesn’t have to be difficult to make, and in many cases you can use materials and devices you already have.
A couple of the key aspects to keep in mind are that you’ll need to use more grounds than you would for drip-style coffee, and make sure you have a plan for how you’re going to filter and store the resulting cold brew.
If you have nothing else, a rubber band and some cheesecloth will work wonders to keep the grounds out of your drink.
Otherwise, there are a number of different cold brew coffee makers and tools that can help you to create the perfect cold brew system.
Once you figure out the most efficient method for you, then you’ll be able to enjoy cold brew as often as you want.