Coffee has taken many forms in my house. It’s actually one part of the kitchen tasks (joys?) that I’m not in charge of. For decades now, my husband Eric has been in charge of our daily coffee and I wouldn’t change that for anything. This daily task has turned into a bit of a hobby and enjoyable ritual for him – trying different brewing methods over the years and experimenting with different kinds of coffee beans and grinders. I happily reap the benefits of this ritual.
Some of the many methods of brewing he has tried have included a standard Cuisinart drip coffee pot, a very short stint with the Keurig machine and pods, a simple to use Nespresso machine, a fun Blue Bottle-style pour over contraption, a French press, a very fancy Italian cappuccino machine, an upgraded version of said very fancy Italian cappuccino machine and most recently a cold brew method that began with a large mason jar then slightly upgraded to a Toddy Cold Brew system.
Any way you brew it, these have all been favorites at some time or another (minus the Keurig which I don’t believe we ever enjoyed much). Aside from pulling an espresso shot from Eric’s beloved machine, one of our favorite ways for a while has been the Cold Brew method. It’s easy to do, convenient to make ahead and store for a few days in the refrigerator, and best of all – makes great iced coffee for anyone in the family so nobody has the need for a Starbucks run.
One of the benefits of the Cold Brew method, other than it being super simple and convenient, is that the cold water brewing method is a process that yields less acidic coffee. Less acid makes it smoother tasting, thus needing less cream and sugar to tame the acidity. This results is a coffee that both Eric and I feel is more gentle on our stomachs – a nice bonus.
One last thing about coffee – the bean matters! We have been having fresh beans delivered to our home for over 10 years, and before that we bought it locally and feel that this adds to the flavor and satisfaction of our coffee. It’s a bit of a luxury but one we both enjoy and is definitely more cost effective than a daily Starbucks or Peets. Blue Bottle Coffee beans have been our favorite for quite a long time and we get a delivery every two weeks- 17ft Ceiling is a delicious caramel, nutty blend that we love. Another coffee that we get delivered on a regular basis is from a company called Purity- we enjoy their decaf Calm. It was recommended to Eric by an integrative medicine doctor a few years ago and is perfect for those of us that are more sensitive to caffeine – it quickly became one of our go-tos. There was a time that we drank just decaf but currently we enjoy mixing the decaf whole beans with our Blue Bottle beans to make our own half caff blend. It’s a Shoup Household favorite!
Cheers,
Christina
Cold Brew Coffee
A simple and convenient way to have delicious coffee anytime. The coffee concentrate can be diluted to your preference or added directly to a chocolate protein smoothie to make a delicious mocha smoothie.
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup medium grind coffee beans
- 3 cups cold water
Instructions
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In a mason jar, add coffee grounds to the bottom. Pour enough water over the grounds just enough to saturate them. Swirl around or use a long spoon to agitate the coffee grounds for a minute or two. Pour the rest of the water over the top, cover, and let sit overnight, or about 12 hrs.
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Using a cheesecloth or nut milk bag, strain the steeped coffee into a clean bowl. Repeat if necessary, though we find one round of straining using a nut milk bag is sufficient for us. Keep in a covered jar in the refrigerator.
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When ready to use, dilute with a bit of water or even up to a 1:1 ratio of coffee concentrate to water, as desired.
Love this! I am placing an order today to try for both Calm and 17ft Ceiling. Thank you for the recommendation!! 🙂