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Cold Brew Coffee

A coffee-fiend neighbor of mine lectured me one day on the benefits of a cold-brew coffee system. It makes the best coffee available, he claimed, and if I really wanted a great cup of coffee... All I could do was nod because I didn't know what a cold-brew system was.

Never one to be outdone in the world of coffee, I set out to find out for myself. Toddy is the coffee maker I was told to look for, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I swear to you I saw it in a floor display one day at Borders of all places, but when I went back a couple of weeks later, there wasn't a Toddy in sight. I finally found the system at Amazon for $32.49 plus shipping, and it arrived just last week. Here is what the parts look like.

The idea is that instead of brewing coffee grounds in hot water, you steep them in cold water, extracting the flavor into a coffee concentrate that you then mix dilute and heat. Supposedly the resulting coffee has 67% less acid than conventionally brewed coffee.

You start with a pound of coarse-ground premium coffee beans (Arabica, preferred). You pour half a pound of the stuff in the big white jug that has been fit with a plug and a filter. Then you pour in a few cups of water, and then more coffee and then more water until you have the entire pound of grounds and a total of nine cups of cold water. You let this sit for twelve hours at least and then remove the plug at the bottom of the jug, draining the concentrate into the decanter.

The instructions suggest a ratio of six ounces water and two ounces concentrate for a cup of coffee, but I found this to be two weak. A ratio of four to four seemed a little strong, so I am working with five to three for now. So far I really like the stuff, but I haven't done a side-by-side taste test with the regular drip method yet. That's the next step.

The Washington Post calls this "the perfect cup of coffee." I'd say that depends on figuring out the ratio of water to concentrate, but I agree it's definitely smooth. It's also pretty good in cold milk with ice.

The system comes with an instruction book with recipes like Toddy Biscotti, Toddy Coffee Ice Cream, and Toddy Jerk Pork Tenderloin. The biscotti is definitely next on my list.

*NOTE: To answer your questions, the stuff can be heated in the microwave or in a kettle.

Comments

MmeBenaut said…
Well I'd never heard of it either. Sounds rather fascinating and I'd be interested in trying it.
9:58 AM
dive said…
Cool!
Anything that combines making way too much coffee with arcane, yet easily washable machinery is worth checking out.
Let us know the results of the taste test, Robyn. If it's a thumbs-up, the Amazonians will be getting another sale.
11:03 AM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
My kind of talk here ,Robyn. It looks simple enough, though I agree that it all comes down to the mix/ratio. How did you heat yours?

Also, did it give you less gas then the more conventional brewed coffee?
3:09 PM
Scout said…
Mme Benaut, it creates an interesting concoction. You can actually order the concentrate already made if you don't want to bother with the contraption.

Dive, I'm still not sold, but given your penchant for coffee pots, you should order one up.

Rich, I bet your pardon. A lady does not discuss gas in polite society. I will say, though, it's a smooth mix. You should give it a try. Gas indeed.
3:14 PM
savannah said…
LOL@ gas, but really, how do you heat the java? xoxo
11:38 PM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
I don't want one if it causes gas. Is this game called Coffee Chinese Whispers?
5:32 AM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
I just thought with 67%less acid the coffee may give you less side effects.

Lynn -Chinese whispers -hee hee
9:35 AM
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