Case of the Mondays? Hack your Cold Brew Addiction

It’s Monday. You are probably amping up the caffeine. Undoubtedly buying iced coffee because it’s a zillion degrees outside. And in the process divesting your entire 401(k).

Stop doing that! Making your own iced coffee requires just a little bit of extra planning but will leave you flush with so many extra lettuce that you’ll be able to install a Scrooge McDuck style coin swimming pool!

You’re going to need to invest in a very small amount of equipment but chances are you probably already have most of this (or something in your kitchen that will work). I’d recommend obtaining a decent sized French Press (34 oz/ 8 cup), which makes this process run really smoothly. You can buy a French Press for $20, which means you’re breaking even on that after your first batch already! You also need a Nalgene or a Mason Jar or something to store your brew in the fridge at work.

“Scrooge McDuck” Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate 

Makes 4-6 cups finished iced coffee (depending on strength)

1 cup coffee grounds

2 cups water

Prepare to have your mind and wallet blow wide open by how easy this easy. Go to the store and buy a pound of coffee beans. Grind them (in the store and avoid having to buy a coffee grinder for your kitchen) for a French press setting.

Take out your French press. Pour in 1 cup of coffee grounds and 2 cups of water. Stir it up. Put the top on but don’t push down the press yet. Put it in the fridge and leave it overnight to brew.

In the morning, push the French press down. Pour the liquid out into your storage container. And voila you have cold brew concentrate!

To make a proper iced coffee, you’ll need to fill a glass with ice and dilute the concentrate with some water. The ratio is up to preference of coffee strength but generally I find that a 1:3 (concentrate: water) ratio is about where I want to be most mornings.

You just saved yourself $3.50 AND you can have a refill. How about that!