Summer months can be a real struggle if you are a true-blue hot coffee drinker. The solution? Switch to cold brew coffee so you can still enjoy your daily coffee fix. If you intend to prepare it in batches or planning to share it with friends, here are some ideas that you may find useful. Read on for some helpful information on cold brew and how to bottle them.
How to bottle cold brew coffee?
Here are some ideas on how to bottle cold brew coffee:
1. By storing it in plastic bottles.
Plastic bottles are cheaper compared to glass bottles and they do not easily break. However, they are made of certain chemicals that may increase the possibility of leaching or extraction of certain nutrients. Plastic can also affect the taste of cold brew because of the acetaldehyde lining and since they are more CO2-permeable compared to glass bottles, it could impact the freshness of cold brew.
2. By storing it in glass bottles.
Unlike plastic bottles, glass bottles are breakable and more expensive. However, they are more ideal to use for bottling cold brew coffee since they are free from chemicals like phthalate, polycarbonate and bisphenol A or BPA that could lead to leaching. These bottles also do not affect the taste of cold brew and are healthier to use when keeping cold brew in the fridge.
Glass bottles keep cold brew fresh longer compared to plastic bottles and keep a crisper cold brew taste. There are various types that you can use to store cold brew concentrate and this includes small mason jars with lids. Glass bottles with lids that can be sealed shut are also ideal. Bottles with cheesecloth over their mouth are also great to use since cheesecloth also acts as a strainer. Secure the cheesecloth with a rubber hand so it won’t come off.
How to make cold brew coffee?
Here are the materials that you need:
- Pitcher or jar with a lid
- A strainer or sieve
- Dark or medium roast coffee beans
- Water
- Bowl or jug
- Coffee grinder
Here is the process on how to make cold brew coffee:
1. First, grind the coffee beans according to the cold brew ratio.
You need to grind the coffee beans to a coarse grind and based on the intended cold brew ratio.
2. Next, add the grounds.
Place the coffee grounds inside a large pitcher or jug and pour cold or room temperature water. Stir the mixture well for a minute or two and until the grounds are blended thoroughly. This allows the beans to soak up the water or what others refer to as blooming the coffee.
3. Allow the mixture to steep.
Let the mixture steep for around 12 to 24 hours but this will depend on how strong you want the coffee to be. The longer you steep, the stronger the coffee will be. Make sure not to steep too long to avoid the growth of molds.
4. Filter the cold brew mixture.
Place a strainer or sieve lined with cheesecloth over a large bowl or another jug. Then, filter the cold brew mixture to remove any small granules.
5. Finally, store the cold brew concentrate in the fridge.
Cold-brew can go bad so be sure to store it in the fridge. It can last from seven to 14 days inside the fridge and should not stay for more than a week if you plan to add ingredients to the batch.
Cold-brew concentrate can be used to make iced or hot coffee, cold brew soda, cold brew mocktails and cold brew cocktails.
How Long Does Cold Brew Last?
As mentioned, cold brew concentrate can last for more or less two weeks. After preparing the cold brew, strain the undiluted solution with a filter and secure in a jar with a resealable cap. Store the base brew in the fridge for a maximum of two weeks but if you dilute it with milk, creamer, water or flavoring, the shelf life will decrease to at least 75%. If so, it is ideal that you bottle the cold brew in individual servings.
Manufactured cold brew may last for up to 180 days since they are well-sealed for optimum freshness. Other manufacturers may also add preservatives to bottled cold brew to make it last longer.
Conclusion
Cold brew coffee is a refreshing take to your usual cup of joe during scorching hot weather. You could drink it conveniently while you’re on the go or traveling. Cold brew coffee is commonly bottled using plastic or glass bottles. However, the latter is the more preferred way to bottle cold brew since they do not affect the taste of the brew and healthier to use since they do not contain chemicals like BPA.
Image: istockphoto.com / Rawpixel