Costa Rican Cold Brew – How to Brew the Perfect Batch at Home
We get asked all the time by customers if they can buy our cold brew by the gallon. It’s that good!! The answer is always “maybe someday”. In the meantime….YOU CAN MAKE IT AT HOME!! All you need is some coffee, water and patience to wait for it to steep.
Exit 11’s Cold Brew is made with Costa Rican Coffee Beans which have an exceptional flavor profile. This makes them ideal for this chilled brewing method.
Why use Exit 11’s Costa Rican Coffee Beans?
Costa Rican beans have floral, citrus, apricot & peach notes that make it a beautiful flavor profile for cold brew. We medium roast the beans in our Roasting facility in Washington, MO. Iced down, this cold brew process makes the perfect batch to keep in the fridge within easy reach.
Ingredients:
Hot, filtered water
Equipment:
1 gallon jar or pitcher
Fine mesh strainer, sock or coffee filter – we suggest a “coffee sock” which can be washed and reused. Click here for an example: CoffeSock Filter
Whisk
Measuring Cup
Time and patience
Instructions:
Select Your Beans: This is easy. If you want to make Exit 11 Cold Brew then choose our Costa Rican Coffee Beans for your cold brew.
Grind the beans: If you have a grinder at home, choose “coarse grind” to ensure a smoother extraction process. Don’t have a grinder? We will pre-grind before we ship it to you OR you can have one of the baristas at the drive-thru grind it for you – but be sure to tell them it’s for Cold Brew.
Measure the Coffee: Since you are making a gallon of cold brew, you will use 200 grams (approx. 7 oz) of coarsely ground coffee to 1 gallon of HOT water.
Add the Sock or Strainer: Place the sock over the jar or gallon pitcher. You will be putting a lid on, so it needs to wrap over the top of the jar or lip of pitcher.
Add the coffee: Fill the sock with the measured coffee grinds.
Add the water: Fill the pitcher or jar full of filtered HOT water. I like to use the sprayer from the faucet because it activates the grinds and makes them foamy.
Image from https://coffeesock.com/coldbrew/diy-coldbrew-filters
Note: Using Hot water causes what is called a “hot bloom” and brings out more of the acidity of the coffee – and a lot of those come through in the first 40 seconds of brewing – so we like to give it a head start.
Mix it up: Use a whisk to activate the brewing process and mix the water with the beans. It will still look chunky; you are just wanting to make sure all the grinds are spread out rather than chunked together.
Steep Time: Cover the jar or pitcher and let it steep at room temperature for 18 to 24 hours. The extended steeping time allows the flavors to fully develop, resulting in a smoother tasting cold brew.
Strain the Coffee: After the steeping process, lift the bag above the water and squeeze out any excess water from the sock. You want to get every single drop.
Image from https://coffeesock.com/coldbrew/diy-coldbrew-filters
Clean up: Then, dump the grinds or use for compost. Clean out your sock and hang it up to dry for the next use. (you can also use disposable)
Serve and Enjoy: Once strained, your cold brew is ready to be enjoyed. Serve it over ice OR if you really want to be like Exit 11, make your own coffee cubes (see below).
Want to make Exit 11’s Bourbon Vanilla Cold Brew? Just add a spoonful of our very own house made Scottie's Bourbon Vanilla syrup and half-n-half for that extra creamy cold brew.
Experiment with Flavors: Feel free to experiment with flavor variations by adding vanilla extract, cinnamon, or even a splash of flavored syrup. Exit 11's Costa Rican Coffee Beans provide a versatile canvas for creating your personalized cold brew experience.
But what about the coffee cubes? We prefer our cold brew to last a while without getting watered down from the ice, which is why we make our cold brew cubes! It’s simple, just grab an ice mold and pour your cold brew into the mold and stick it in the freezer. Once they’re solid, throw them in your cold coffee drinks and enjoy them all day long!
Making cold brew with Exit 11’s Costa Rican Coffee Beans is a simple and rewarding process. By harnessing the unique flavors of these high-quality beans, you can elevate your cold brew game and treat yourself to a refreshing coffee experience like no other.
Cheers to the perfect cup of cold brew!