My kids got me a cold brew coffee maker for Christmas. Basically a 2 quart mason jar with a mesh filter in the middle. I ground some beans and brewed my first batch and it was delicious. However, I only had flavored beans at the time and while it was tasty, I wasn’t going to chug half of a gallon of flavored coffee in one sitting. How long can we keep cold brew in the fridge and still have it retain its peak “freshness” ?
No instructions??
Assuming you’re brewing 1:5 grounds-to-water and 12-24hr brew time, immersion cold brew brews a concentrate. To serve, you’re supposed to dilute 2-to-4 parts water to one part brew. For example, my brewer holds 10oz coarse-ground coffee and 50oz cold water. Let it sit overnight and then filter out the grounds. To serve, pour 1/4 - 1/3 cup concentrate into a mug, and then fill the rest with boiled water from a kettle (for hot coffee), or just cold milk or water & ice for an iced coffee.
Cold brew keeps in the fridge for at least a week. I had one batch of decaf that was in there for nearly a month, but I was starting to be concerned near the end. One week, easily, though. That’s my usual MO. I brew something like 50 oz at a time and it sits in the fridge for - well, let’s say 5 or maybe 6 days. But I used to brew larger batches and I’d regularly go 10 days with the brew in the fridge, no concern.
Once brewed, in a sealed container it (mostly) stops oxidizing and the flavor doesn’t change. And pure brewed coffee doesn’t have many sugars to feed mould.
TL;DR: in a sealed container in the fridge, at least a week is fine.
I just reread the instructions. Two cups of grounds for two quarts of water. When it’s done it says to pour and enjoy. No mention of diluting it but you’re right that it’s a bit strong at this point. But smooooth! ☕️🧊
How long do you steep?
The ratio is right: 1:4, or 1:5. In either case, if you’re steeping over 12 hours, it’s definitely concentrated, much more like espresso than coffee.
I mean, Hoffman’s spider-sense will probably tingle when I say this, but… you’re essentially making cold-brew espresso. When you “make a cup of coffee” from it, you’re basically making an Americano. Lots of people make cold milk drinks with cold brew, and it’s just like they’d do at a coffee shop: a shot or two of espresso (the concentrate) plus twice or three times as much milk - hot or cold.
Instructions were pretty vague. In fact, I’ve been drinking it straight (on ice) … full strength. Apparently it is supposed to be a concentrate? 🫠
Yeah. I mean, I don’t know the exact product and process you’re using, but most cold brew systems produce a concentrate. Odds are, you’re drinking cold espresso.
Sure did taste good, though. 😅