09.04.09

happy hour: coffee concentrate

Sometimes, especially after a week like this one, a good cup of coffee sounds like the best medicine. I’m a sucker for iced coffee, so when I tried the iced coffee at Blue Bottle in San Francisco I almost died and went to heaven. That stuff is a magical potion of goodness… so much so that I found myself finding a way to get to the cafe multiple times a day. When I got home and started going through Blue Bottle withdrawal, my friend clued me into the home kit you can buy on their site. Genius! I worked my way through that bag and have been whipping up about a batch a week ever since. It’s super simple and will give you a most delicious morning (or afternoon) treat.

Simply coarsely grind coffee beans, put them in a big jar of water and let it sit on the counter overnight. When you wake up, strain the coffee by pouring it through cheese cloth or through a french press (awesome idea found here), which I had to do this in a few batches. Now you’ve got delicious coffee concentrate!

To make iced coffee, simply place a few ice cubes in a glass, pour the concentrate about 2/3 full, add another 1/3 of milk (or to your taste) and a little simple syrup and you’ll be in coffee heaven. Now, if you want to get crazy, add some chicory to the coffee grinds like Blue Bottle does, or I’ve also tried cinnamon sticks and cardamom (which is what inspired this little disaster).

coffee concentrate
from blue bottle in san francisco
this recipe can be easily halved

1 lb coffee, coarsely ground
2.5 quarts (10 cups) water
1.5 oz chicory, cardamom or a few cinnamon sticks optional

1
Just prior to making the concentrate, grind coffee at a very coarse grind.
2
Add coffee and spices if using to a large glass jar or stockpot, then carefully pour water over top. Stir. Let steep 8-12 hours covered at room temperature.
3
Strain through cheesecloth, fine mesh sieve or through french press in batches. Straining is much easier if you carefully break the crust of the coffee grounds with a spoon before pouring.

makes 4-5 cups

filed under happy hour |

7 Comments so far

  1. The Leftoverist September 5th, 2009 11:32 am

    I am one of those annoying people that has an espresso machine (that’s how I make my iced coffee), but I might try this anyway. More communal!

  2. thebrunettebaker September 5th, 2009 7:09 pm

    I’m sorry, but your first pic does not look very appetizing. Looks like a ring of orange greasy stuff. Have you looked in to making Thai Iced Tea? Sounds right up your alley even though it’s tea not coffee.

  3. Kelly September 6th, 2009 9:17 am

    brunette baker:
    in reality natural half and half does that. you win some you lose some.

    i have tried thai iced tea and coffee. both are delicious.

  4. Amanda Nicole September 6th, 2009 11:30 am

    Oh, thank you for this! I am an iced coffee fiend, except that it gets a bit pricey a few times a week. I’m definitely going to try this out :)

  5. KD September 8th, 2009 11:19 pm

    I love Blue Bottle. They really are the best. They’re at almost every farmer’s market out here and I love getting their chicory iced coffee. I think that cold pressing coffee makes it less acidic too - see you’re drinking a health drink! And, I think the first picture is cute ;).

  6. Celia September 9th, 2009 7:33 pm

    As a San Franciscan, I have to say the Thai Iced Coffee from Gorilla Coffee in Brooklyn is my absolute favorite, so maybe we should trade lives!

  7. huebscher September 11th, 2009 2:47 pm

    I’m kind of hooked on this stuff, but it’s just so pricey at whole foods (aka “whole paycheck”): http://www.nobrew.com/

    mayhaps I’ll attempt making it myself now!

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