(Part 3) Top products from r/coldbrew

I've tried several different setups over the years, but what I've settled on might be what you're looking for. It's super quick and easy, and there's very minimal cleanup involved.

I use these cold brew filter bags and a 32 oz. mason jar. The grounds I use are Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Reserve, which are ground coarse. The grind is really important with these filter bags, because the finer the grind, the more you can put in. What I've found is that filling the bag all the way up with whatever grind setting Stone Street uses gets me the ratio I like with a mason jar. I let it sit on the counter for 20-24 hours, then when it's ready I just remove the bag, and then transfer the grounds into a 32 oz growler. I then add some more water to fill up the growler and keep it in the fridge. I like the growler because it doesn't spill as easily as a mason jar.

For me personally, this brew method tends to be a bit strong, so I'll add water to my glass when I serve it, and sometimes I'll go ahead and add water to the growler. I drink my coold brew black, and while I love the taste, sometimes it can be a bit strong for me, even with cold brew. I'm also a bit sensitive to caffeine and I don't like having too much in one sitting, so watering it down helps.

So, I love coffee. It just has always been a hassle for me. Due to my life style, recent jobs, handling my ADD poorly....I just stopped.

Between waking up at 330 for work, trying to stay up late with family, coffee was something I just put down. I would either leave the coffee grinds in the pot, not have time in the morning, not clean out my french press after cold brewing while rusing out the door. Even on my days off, the dread of cleaning something to make coffee made me dread the though.

Well, I decided a simple set up sounded nice. So, without much research I just decided to order:

A couple bags

https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Cotton-Cold-Brew-Coffee/dp/B019BFGMSS

Two 32oz Mason jars and

Two drinking lids

https://www.amazon.com/County-Line-Kitchen-Leak-Proof-Innovative/dp/B07FB4HHLW



I didn't do any research, and idk if I'm doing a great job. I have tons of questions and hope to do some research on concentrate and how much I should use. That said, it's been simple to clean within a min or less and refill. I woke up late today and had 5 min to get ready for work. I got to leave the house with coffee! For the first time in years, I got a small comfort this morning. Yay!


How's my setup? Been using 1:4 ratio for 16 hours give or take. Mostly I've just added sugar, today's was a bit stronger and I added a cup of skim milk. Amazing.

but one of the two bottles n the fridge currently is 1:2 because I had 3 opened bags of ground coffee I needed to get rid of (I used to work for a coffee company, so I currently have 8 bags if beans that are "out of date" left. My former employees still over me coffee. I hope not to use that too often. I'd like to learn to be a little frugal and perfect a good percentage to cost ratio)


I'm rambling. I'm hoping this sub has some good links or data for me to learn from. I've been so happy with my simple setup so far.

I'm way to excited. Maybe too much caffeine this morning too!

Personally I love this : Cold Brew Coffee Maker - Coffee Gator Brewing Kit with Stainless Steel Measuring Scoop and Collapsible Loading Funnel - BPA-Free Filter and Glass Carafe - Black - 47oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KZEO6HI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cY.3DbT77X7JF

Get a good burr grinder to get a nice course grind.

My favorite coffee is this: Portland Roasting Organic Dark Sumatra Whole Bean Coffee - USDA Certified - Carbon Neutral and Award Winning Roasters, 1 12oz. Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PJ8HT5W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tZ.3DbAKTD6ZR.


The only thing is with this you'll get some small fine particles that get thru the filter. I just run it thru my hot coffee maker with the top open through the white filter. It works.

I use something like that from Amazon. Here’s an awesome tip for you. Rather than putting the grounds in the strainer, I just add it directly into the mason jar and let it sit over night without inserting the cylinder strainer. Then when it’s done cold brewing, I insert the strainer to filter out the big particles and then put this flip top cap on it to pour over into a separate container while using a nut mesh bag to get the finer particles.

Fliptop cap for mason: Drink, Pour, Store! Wide Mouth Mason Jar Flip Cap Lid by County Line Kitchen with Airtight, Leak-Proof Seal and Innovative Flip Cap (WIDE MOUTH, Blue, 1 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776YQTLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tV.CDbG70SRQF

Nut bag mesh strainer:
2-PACK Best Nut Milk Bag - Restaurant Commercial Grade by GoNuts - Cheesecloth Strainer Filter For the Best Almond Milk, Cold Brew Coffee, Tea, Juicing, Yogurt, Tofu - BPA-Free Nylon 12"x10" Fine Mesh - Durable Washable Reusable - FREE Recipe E-book https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WFU80KA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-X.CDbF4N6DW3

Any type of coffee should work. I bought this a few months ago and it makes the best cold brew. 12 hrs on counter and 12 hrs in fridge. It makes enough concentrate for me for a week. I've tried all kinds of beans and different grinds. Finer grind is better.

I've tried the nut bags and they are just messy.

I freakin love this pitcher.

XL Best Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker & Iced Tea Pitcher Kit, Makes 1.3 Liters of Concentrate - Airtight Seal - System includes Jar / Carafe / Pot, Reusable Large Stainless Steel Micro Filter & Bumper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT85MPS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_iQYQzbS7ERK67

Nothing glamorous but this brews cold coffee and is easy.

She might want to take an extra step at the end and filter through a paper filter to catch smaller grains. But overall a good easy product to use.

https://www.amazon.com/Takeya-10310-Patented-Airtight-Silicone/dp/B00FFLY64U?th=1&psc=1

There a lot of more expensive options out on the market, just depends on what you are looking for in a brewer.

Search this subreddit for takeya and you can read about everyone else’s experiences.

I used to make kratom tea so I needed a way to filter the kratom out. Kratom is super finely ground, so the Thai tea filters I bought on Amazon work great. Used them for cold brew and nothing gets through. So if anyone is looking for a good filter option ,check out Thai tea filters, another plus is they're reusable. https://www.amazon.com/Thai-filter-stainless-steel-muslin/dp/6167204012

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DKUJYD0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use this one, works great although in retrospect I should have bought a normal glass not plastic pitcher, just easier to clean. I just use the coarsest grind possible, zero problems...of course, I am simply making paleo coffee with mine (whey, butter, coconut oil, cocoa, 1 raw egg) and guzzle it down in one gulp, rather than sipping it like a gourmand. :D

I really want to get one, but it just doesn't brew enough for me. I brew 64oz every few days, so the size wouldn't cut it. I've messaged them multiple times suggesting a bigger one, who knows if they'll follow through.

Edit: For the record, here is one of my favorite devices for cold brew. Cheap, and brews 64oz easily!

https://www.amazon.com/Takeya-Flash-Chill-Maker-Quarts/dp/B0095ZBJT2/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1486419399&sr=1-1&keywords=takeya+2+quart

https://www.amazon.com/CoffeeSock-ColdBrew-Reusable-Organic-KIT64/dp/B00L7478JE

I brew in this, but you can also use it to filter out sediment. Quick and easy to clean.

This is one of the more popular commercial setups.

https://toddycafe.com/toddy-cold-brew-system

I prefer a coffee sock and a gallon glass jar. 12 oz. of coffee on the counter for 12 hours and you are good to go.

https://www.amazon.com/CoffeeSock-ColdBrew-Filter-Certified-Reusable/dp/B015WTS0RS/ref=sxin_3_ac_d_pm?ac_md=2-0-VW5kZXIgJDE1-ac_d_pm&keywords=coffee+sock&pd_rd_i=B015WTS0RS&pd_rd_r=45644cf3-98f2-4160-8b80-661607b5eb18&pd_rd_w=0lsUO&pd_rd_wg=upwNC&pf_rd_p=24d053a8-30a1-4822-a2ff-4d1ab2b984fc&pf_rd_r=35C6GYY1NGEMM77M5AQ6&psc=1&qid=1574886893&s=home-garden

https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Gallon-Airtight-Leakproof-Plastic/dp/B075JR6H11/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=one+gallon+glass+jar&qid=1574886910&sr=8-8

Don't have one either but you're definitely paying for a e s t h e t i c with the Blue Bottle one. You can save ten bucks by getting a regular Hario bottle in brown on Amazon. This is the same thing, just blue.

Lazy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TF7WSVI/ref=asc_df_B00TF7WSVI5104127/

[Baratza Encore] (https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK)

Family members love it and it has lasted for them. I'm doing aeropress as well so this works for me. If you are making your own espresso at home though I've read that you should go with their higher end model.

I have [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I7JKAQ0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and it has done well for me, I make it strong, and dilute the batch in a 3 liter jug

No problem. It should say coarse grind and the bag should be brown on the side with the yellow in the middle. This was my go to coffee when I started making cold brew and I didn’t have a grinder. Also, I’m pretty sure they only offer coarse grind coffee with the two types I mentioned above. Here’s a link for it

Gevalia Special Reserve Costa Rica Ground Coffee (10 oz Bag) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LRVTHJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CdOQDb75NHVYX

You could use something like this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010N3CRFO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qtFuzb8Q2YN87

Also curious. Just occurred I found this mini kegerator at Walmart for $25 in the bargain bin (brickseek), wonder if it'd handle cold brew.

SPT BD-0538 Mini Kegerator & Dispenser, Stainless Steel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AYO4QYM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jMNmDbSKSEGK7

I'll try one day but maybe someone else has tried it.