How to Make Cold Brew Coffee in a Jar

We recently shared a post detailing the quickest and easiest way to make cold brew coffee using a French press. After which, it came to mind that there’s actually an even quicker and easier way of making your own cold brew at home.

One that doesn’t call for any specialist equipment whatsoever – perfect if you don’t have a French press lying about the place.

Once again, we cannot recommend strongly enough experimenting with your own cold brew coffee recipes. It really does open the door to an entirely new world of coffee-based enjoyment, which is nothing like the conventional hot-brewed stuff.

And when you see just how easy it is to make your own, you’ll probably wonder why you haven’t been doing just that all along!

The Cold Brew Jar Method

As before, the basic fundamentals of this particular method are more or less the same. You’ll be looking at exactly the same basic coffee to water ratio, using the following as a good starting point:

• 110g (i.e. 3.88oz) whole coffee beans
• 900 milliliters (i.e. 31.68 fl oz) of water

In terms of the method, you’re again looking at a fairly similar process to that of the French press method. Only in this instance, you’ll by substituting the French press for any appropriate sealable container and a strainer.

A piece of muslin/cheesecloth works best, but you’ll also get away with just about any other strainer you have lying around.

Here’s how to make café-quality cold brew at home using nothing more than a standard jar:

1. Use a coffee grinder to process your beans down to the right coarseness. Aim for a grinding level slightly coarser than sand, similar to that you would use in a French press.
2. Add the coffee grounds to the jar and pour in the water, gradually filling until it almost reaches the top.
3. Place the lid securely on the container and give it all a good shake, which will ensure the grounds are as evenly distributed as possible.
4. Put the jar in the fridge (or leave in a suitably cool and dry location) overnight, or for at least 12 hours to enable the facilitate the extraction process.
5. Strain the mixture into your chosen receptacle, which can then be placed back in the fridge or enjoyed right away.

One thing to remember when making cold brew coffee is the resulting brew will be a highly concentrated (and therefore cost-effective) product. Pour a small quantity over ice for a decadently strong pick-me-up, or dilute with milk and anything else you fancy for a long drink.

What’s great about cold brew coffee is how a freshly brewed batch can be stored in the fridge for a good week or so, without losing quality.  It’s also fantastic when incorporated into a wide variety of recipes, which would normally call for a measure or two of standard coffee.

To order the freshest specialty coffee for cold brewing, visit Hayman’s online store. We bring you the best coffee beans in the world, including famous coffee legends like Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, best Kona coffee Hawaii, and Panama Geisha coffee beans (aka Gesha coffee) - click here to order today, we offer free worldwide shipping!