In the UK we’re currently experiencing the hell that is summer (I can’t cope in temperatures above 20C, mock if you wish) so wanting to get more into cold brew.

Anyone got any recommendations on the best piece of kit to do it?

  • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    A cold brew “maker” is not a complex thing. All you need is coffee grounds sitting in cold water for a day or so. This can be accomplished in multitudinous ways.

    We have a gallon jar with a tap at the bottom and a tall 3" diameter mesh filter with a flange to sit under the lid. I had to (food-safe) solder the filter back together after a few years, but it makes a huge stack of strong brew with which we are most pleased.

    • nowwhatnapster@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yeah. Literally any glass jar will do the job. Add water. Add grounds. Shake. Refrigerate. Run it through a coffee filter or fine seive into another jar. Done.

      You do not need a single purpose contraption for this task. This feels like consumerism.

      • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        TBF, we have a dedicated setup for this because we like having cold brew available at all times. It’s worth a little investment in something permanent if it’s going to be in constant use. A metal filter does the job for 90% of the gallon jar, and we pour the bitter dregs through a paper filter at the end of the week.

  • kensand@lemmy.kensand.net
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    I’m lazy, so I literally just use a Mason jar and a steel filter. Something like this.

    It’s probably not the most efficient, but it gets me my caffeine in the morning and tastes good to me!

  • KammicRelief@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    I think cold brew makers might be a bit of a profiteering scam. (I could be wrong… I’ve never tried one.) I use a jar, or a french press, and get delicious results.

    • wildeaboutoskar@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      I know you can use glass jars but they’re something I would have to get anyway and ideally I would want something portable so I can take it to work.

      • KammicRelief@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Right on… report back if you find something good–I’d be happy to be proven wrong on this, as I’m always happy to try out new coffee gear (if it’s good). and yeah, summer is upon us 💦

  • cousteau@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Sort of an adjacent solution (as I don’t personally have any experience with cold brewing), but I’ve really enjoyed some iced brewing methods.

    This pourover iced method is my go-to. He’s using a V60 here but I would imagine the concept could be adjusted pretty easily to any other pourover method.

    If you’re into aeropress, there’s a decent cold brew method here. And tons of other suggested methods to be found online, as it tradition for aeropress!

    • binchicken@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I happen to have a V60 - I’ll try the pour over iced method tomorrow morning. Not OP, but thanks for the recommendation!

    • wildeaboutoskar@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Tempted to try the aeropress method but every time I try an aeropress ‘trick’ it ends up with coffee everywhere and mild scalding.

  • Candelestine@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    A large container capable of holding the desired quantity of liquid and grounds, a very large strainer, a very large coffee filter, and another large container to pour the cold brew into. A kitchen scale if you want to be anal about the recipe.

    Will keep for a few days in the fridge no problem. Maybe longer, I never made enough to find out.

  • greenteadrinker@midwest.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I mostly think that any large container that can hold water is a cold brew maker. I used to use one of those large pitchers from the supermarket used for serving lemonade (really any sweet drink), but really any large container you have will work that you don’t mind having coffee leech in to.

    Because all you really need is water and coffee grounds mixed together inside of something sitting anywhere for a long enough time. Nowadays I use a half gallon mason jar left sitting on my counter for 12-18 hours and then I filter

    When I go filter, I filter out the bulk of the grounds using just a strainer. Then I use 2-3 coffee filter lined strainers over whatever bowls I have and let it drain

    Or get a Toddy, they were recommended as well when I looked into cold brew

  • sqw@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    we got the oxo compact cold brew system, works well, makes cold brew which filters through a metal filter and a springloaded valve, fairly easy to clean, etc. things i dont like about it are the fragility and slipperiness of the glass carafe and the cork stopper. i stuck a rubber band around the carafe for extra grip.

    • mister_newbie@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, I’ve got one of these myself. I can second the glass carafe being flimsy… Think I might 3D print an adapter to mate to to an aeropress funnel, then I can stick that on anything.

  • dominiquec@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I just use a French press. My current ratio is 30 grams of coffee grounds to 500ml of water. Mix together, place in the fridge overnight or about 8 hours. Transfer to teapot the following morning so as not to oversteep. Still experimenting though so I’m also curious about other techniques.

    • Papergeist@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      I’ve been a chef for awhile and at this one place we were making and packaging individual servings of things. Like cookies or granola bars.

      Well we decided to start doing cold brews and one of the cooks wanted me to buy the Toddy System.

      Absolutely no way was I going to spend the money on something like that when a bucket will do the same thing.

    • Papergeist@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I’ve been a chef for awhile and at this one place we were making and packaging individual servings of things. Like cookies or granola bars.

      Well we decided to start doing cold brews and one of the cooks wanted me to buy the Toddy System.

      Absolutely no way was I going to spend the money on something like that when a bucket will do the same thing?