One thing I definitely missed through pregnancy? Cold Brew.

I could only ever find caffeinated brew! Even the concentrates at the store, with their myriad of flavors, never came in decaf.  Sure I could do a decaf americano, but the taste isn’t the same. I missed the smooth, full bodied flavor of cold brew and also found that my stomach tolerated the coffee better than a typical espresso.

And now, 6 months postpartum, caffeine is still not my best friend! Blasphemous though it may sound, sometimes caffeine makes exhaustion and anxiety worse– two things I, like so many other parents, am working through.

But I will not be without my coffee! So decaf cold brew at home to rescue.

Cold brew is incredibly simple to make and it’s just what it sounds like, brewing coffee with cold water.

Now there are “cold brew systems” out there, but I most often use supplies commonly found in my kitchen: mason jar & cheesecloth being the most important. It’s less expensive and I surely don’t need another appliance.

However, I did recently stumble upon these REUSABLE cold brew filter bags. It’s like a giant tea bag, you fill with grounds and steep in your glass jar. It makes the straining process so much simpler. Filter bags can be used for lots of things, like homemade nut milks, straining yogurt, etc, but  I’d highly recommend keeping one as a dedicated coffee bag. That way you can just rinse and dry between brews.  

Ingredients & Supplies

• 6oz coffee (decaf or regular, you choose), ground very coarse.
• 7 ½ cups cool water, divided
• ½ gallon widemouth glass mason jar with metal ring lid.
• Cheesecloth & rubberband or reusable filter bags
• Large pitcher

 

Instructions

• In a ½ gallon jar, add half of the coarsely ground coffee. If using the reusable filter bag, add half of the grounds to bag and place bag in jar.  Slowly pour 2 cups water directly over the grounds and stir to combine.
• Allow to brew for 5 minutes.
• Add remaining coffee grounds and pour water over top, evenly saturating the grounds.
• Cover mouth of  jar with cheesecloth and secure with rubberband. If using the reusable filter bag, secure drawstrings of bag.
• Allow to brew in fridge for 12-24 hours.
• To strain the grounds, secure the metal ring (without the center piece) over the cheesecloth. Invert the glass jar and strain into a large pitcher. You may need to place the jar at a slight angle, so it will strain.
• Or simply remove filter bag (see this does make it simpler…)
• Keep in fridge for up to two weeks!

Note: you have just made a concentrate! To make a single cup of delicious cold brew, I prefer 1:1 ratio, cold brew to cold water with plenty of ice.

Don’t let those coffee grounds go to waste; you can feed your garden! Tomatoes and blueberries love coffee grounds. Sprinkle some around the base of the plant, water and then enjoy the the literal fruits of your labor.