The Tranquil Vintessa

For years I made iced coffee the old-fashioned way by pouring traditionally brewed coffee over ice. The problem was that it always tasted watered down because the ice melted too quickly. And honestly, going to a café every morning just for coffee isn’t really my vibe. I prefer a slow morning, not rushing out the door and standing in line with commuters.

So I did a little research to see if I could make it at home. That’s when I discovered cold brew concentrate. It’s an incredibly simple way to make cold brew at home and requires very little effort. The only thing you need is time.

What You’ll Need

• 2 cup medium-ground coffee
• 4 cups cold filtered water

Tools

• Measuring cup
• Cheesecloth (I use this)
• 2 large bowls with lids (like these)
• Wooden spoon

Instructions

Combine the coffee grounds and water in a large bowl. Give everything a good stir to make sure the grounds are evenly distributed. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 6 to 12 hours. Overnight works best.

The next morning, grab your second bowl and remove the coffee mixture from the fridge. Place the cheesecloth over the empty bowl and slowly pour the coffee mixture through it. Once strained, gently squeeze the cheesecloth to remove any remaining coffee. Discard the used grounds.

Pour the cold brew concentrate into a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator. That’s it. The hardest part is waiting.

How I Make My Iced Coffee

Fill a glass halfway with ice. Pour in enough cold brew concentrate to cover about half of the ice. Add your favorite syrup, then fill the rest of the glass with creamer. Give it a good stir and enjoy.

Simple, inexpensive, and much better than watered-down iced coffee.