Things I’ve learned using this very nice maker:
Making a new batch:
You really don’t want finely ground coffee grounds. I made that mistake the first time, just using what I had for hot coffee. I highly recommend measuring out your grounds to the recommended amount and use a measuring cup each time to add them. Eyeballing 5/6th full is proving very inconsistent 🤣.
I have used room temp water and I’ve used cold water straight from the fridge because of laziness, I don’t notice a difference. I am really only drinking coffee out of necessity though, not to enjoy the taste so there might be others with a more sophisticated palate that feel differently.
I use 4+ cups of water and and use a large measuring cup to pour it In. I go over the max line slightly after getting all of the water in and settled (basically as high as I can fill it to still be able to shut the lid without overflowing) and I pour about a cup in, stir with handle of tiny spoon, mash down with spoon part of the spoon (is there a name for that?), pour in another cup and repeat. It can take a couple of minutes to do as the water settles and you push the grounds back in. I go above the max line because even after doing all of this, there were batches that the water was below the max line because things have settled. I need as much coffee as I can get so this is works well. When I do this, I get 4 cups of cold brew, which is three days worth for me.
I have let it brew for 12 hours, 18 hours, and 22 hours and like 22 the best. So when I’ve had my second (of 3) day’s cold brew I make a new batch to have ready for day 3 just to be safe. You never know when the kids or your anxiety will keep you up all night and you’ll need a little extra.
One thing that will help to have: a tiny metal spoon. I use it to stir (with the handle) and then mash down the grounds after the water has been poured in. I have tried a plastic chop stick and it didn’t work well, I have also tried a butter knife and that was terrible. The tiny spoon works great!.
Pouring for consumption:
I use a reusable coffee filter to strain the brew out of this container because no matter how big your grounds are, there is a gunk that forms at the bottom that I don’t want to drink. So after it’s done brewing, I pour the entire container into a large measuring cup (the same one I use for the water) THROUGH the strainer, then pour 1 1/4 ish cups into three mason jars. Seal them up and put them in the fridge. You can adjust your portions however you’d like, I just found that 1 cup of cold brew wasn’t quiet enough.
Mason jars are your best friend. You can pour your desired amount of cold brew per day directly in to them and refrigerate until you’re ready to drink. Add your water (I didn’t realize you had to do this before making my first batch, but I’ve learned I don’t like the 1:1 ratio as much, so I use 1 1/4 cup cold brew pre-measured in the jar and add 1/2 cup of water) directly into the mason jar and add milk/creamer (you don’t NEEED anything, I like 3 tbsp of creamer though because I don’t love coffee and I also don’t do milk/sugar, it’s not enough sugar for me 🤣), add an ice cube or two, and drink with a reusable straw from the mason jar.. The plastic tumblers are also a good option but I don’t like refrigerating them as much because the seal isn’t completely tight. I also prefer drinking out of glass. Now you could pour directly from the cold brew maker, but I want to filter mine and I can’t make a new batch if I’m storing the cold brew in there… so the timing didn’t work out the first couple of batches doing that.
The only downside, I do wish it wasn’t glass. The amount of moving this thing that is required while making a new batch always makes me nervous. Especially when I have to sit it on the sink to pour out the grounds (although I am going to look for other uses of the grounds in my yard or something). It does have a rubber bottom grip that is removable but I’m clumsy and am just one bad night’s of sleep from knocking it over and it breaking. But it is very nice it is glass and dishwasher safe and very easy to clean by hand in a pinch. Overall I would highly recommend.
This is a great cold brew maker. I do wish I had gotten a larger size one because it takes a lot of grounds and I only get 3 days worth of coffee. I think a larger size would only use marginally more grounds and would get 4-5 days worth but I can’t confirm.
Happy brewing!
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