Coffee! We’re all addicted, right? Right?! Summer usually just means switching from your coffee sleeve to a straw, but with the cold brew coffee craze hitting every coffee shop in town it seems everyone’s favorite beverage has some competition.
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Iced Cofee vs. Cold Brew
So what’s the big deal anyway? Aren’t cold brew and iced coffee the same thing? Well, if you’re asking me that, you’ve obviously never had cold brew. You can tell the difference in the taste! Here’s a little cold brew 101: cold brew is made by steeping coffee ground in cold filtered water. You know, the same way you would make coffee minus the heat. It takes longer to brew, but if you like full flavor and subtle sweetness in your coffee, it’s the way to go.
Iced coffee is made by brewing coffee twice as strong in your favorite traditional method and then cooling it. This gives the coffee a lighter body. Cold brew is brewed overnight (or rather, we prefer to brew it overnight) in cold filtered water, giving it a lower acidy taste and making it smoother. So if you were wondering what makes cold brew coffee better, the answer is the taste! Of course, this is a personal preference though so we’re totally not judging if you’re still an iced coffee drinker.
How To Make Cold Brew Coffee
The process for making cold brew took me some trial and error, to be honest, but once I got my recipe down I have not gone back to iced coffee. I might be a tiny bit particular about my coffee. Just a touch. I like to fresh grind my beans every time I make coffee because I really can taste the difference. My favorite coffee grinder for regular daily cups is the Bodum Bistro Electric Blade Grinder because it’s compact and perfect for grinding up just enough for one pot, but you do have to eyeball the grind.
When we partnered with Bodum on a tutorial I was beyond excited to find out that they make a Cold Brew Coffee Maker! My first thought was “my cold brew is going to look so much fancier than pouring it out of a giant mason jar.” Then I realized not only that but it was also going to make my life so much easier.
I love my Cold Brew Coffee Maker because it comes with a flat lid so you can pour in your coffee and water and then cover to store in the fridge overnight without the handle of the French Press taking up all the room. Once your coffee is brewed, you just secure on the press top and push down like a regular French Press and it has a handy little pour lock so you don’t accidentally spill coffee all over your fridge (been there too many times).
The below recipe for cold-brewed coffee specifically uses this cold brew coffee maker, which will make your life easier if you love coffee. However, you can definitely repeat these steps with any kind of container. The recipe cold brew recipe below is from Bodum, the coffee masters, so if you follow it carefully, you will definitely have the best tasting cold brew!
Coffee beans – whole (use your favorite beans; light, medium, or dark roast)
Bodum recommends a medium to dark roast for best result (163 grams)
PREPARATION & EXECUTION:
In order to make delicious tasting cold brew, you’ll need to grind your coffee beans with the correct coarseness. This is KEY. If you’ve ever tried making cold brew with espresso ground coffee, you know what I mean. If you’ve never done that, I do not recommend.
Cold brew requires a coarse grind, just like your French Press. If you do not have a burr grinder, you can use a blade grinder. A blade grinder will often produce an uneven grind, hence a burr grinder is preferred. If you’re using a blade grinder, grind the coffee until it resembles sea salt.
We are using a 1:8 coffee to water ratio. What does that mean? It means that for every gram of coffee, we add 8 grams of water. The bean has a total capacity of 51 oz, 1.5 L, or 1500 grams. This water to coffee ratio is two times stronger than normal. Cold brew is best when it is very bold, so it doesn’t get watery when you add ice and milk.
On your scale, weigh 163 g. of coffee beans. (1300/8 = 162.3). Why 1300? We need to allow space for the coffee beans, and since the total capacity of The Bean is 1500 grams, and the coffee takes up nearly 200 grams, we need to subtract 200 from 1500 for a total 1300.
Now that you have your coffee measured out, it’s time to grind. On the burr grinder, twist the arrow to the French Press illustration, which is located to the far right. Set the timer to 20 seconds, add the coffee to the hopper (funnel) and press the start button. Keep going until all the beans are ground. You may have to empty the glass container a few times.
Once you’ve ground all the coffee, transfer it to The Bean. Place The Bean on the scale and tare. Add 1300 grams of water, and stir to ensure all coffee beans are completely saturated. Put on the lid and place in the fridge for 12 hours. Don’t rush this. PROTIP: Make it when you get home from work, and it will be ready for you in the morning.
After 12 hours, your cold brew coffee is ready. Remove from fridge and replace the lid with the plunger. Press down.
Plunging should be easy. Do not use force. If you experience difficulty pressing down, you can remove the plunger lid and give it a gentle stir. You can also raise the plunger a bit and slowly press down.
Your cold brew is ready to be served. Dilute with water, ice, and/or milk. Since the cold brew is stronger than normal, it is recommended to dilute for optimal taste. PROTIP: If you’re not happy with the taste of the final product, you’re likely either:
1. Over-extracting – the brew time is too long; or
2. Under-extracting – the brew time is too short (try with 18-24 hours). Experiment with the contact time until you get the right balance for your taste. Every bean is different.
We also got a chance to try out these super sleek Bodum Pavina double walled glasses. I’m sure you’ve seen other double walled glasses like these before, but these are my favorite so far. They are so light and beautifully designed. They keep your cold brew cold and your regular brew hot. Since I got them, I’ve used them for just about everything. There’s no condensation to worry about on those (too) humid Chicago summer days and my cup is never too hot when I’m drinking tea out of them. Big fan over here. Also, the shape and weight make them the perfect stemless wine glass (just saying).
Have more tips to add to this article? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook!
Do you ever wake up just thirsty for a venti Passion Tea Lemonade? No? Just me? Ok well, we know that the Starbucks addiction is real and if you’re reading this, you get it too. Since picking up Starbucks every morning can start to add up, I needed an easier way to get my Passion tea Lemonade fix, so ta-da! This Starbucks copycat recipe is so close to the real thing that it almost keeps me away from the real thing (but let’s be serious, nothing can keep me away forever). The Starbucks copycat recipe for Passion Tea Lemonade is also great if you’re looking for a party punch recipe that you know will be a hit! I’ve made this in a big batch before for a backyard BBQ and it was gone so fast I had to make a second batch.
Copycat Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade
This recipe will make one pitcher of Passion Tea Lemonade but it’s so easy to double if you’re making enough for a party of people. All you need is 1 part water to 2 parts lemonade and use 1 tea bag for every 8oz of water. So simple!
Are you a Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade addict as well? Then you'll love our copycat recipe. Make a big batch for your next party!
Course
Drinks
Cuisine
American
Prep Time5minutes
Cook Time10minutes
Total Time15minutes
Servings4servings
Ingredients
1bagPassion tea
8ozwater
3tbspsugar
16ozlemonade
Instructions
Bring 8 oz of water to a boil and add in tea bag.
Steep for 5 – 10 minutes.
Stir in sugar while the water is still warm.
Mix well until dissolved.
Add sweetened tea and lemonade to a pitcher. Mix well.
Your passion tea lemonade is ready to serve!
Recipe Notes
You can try less sugar or another sweetener if you wish.
So simple, right? I know. I felt silly for always running to Starbucks too. Of course, you can repeat these steps with other tea flavors and customize how sweet you like it. If you try mixing it with other flavors, let us know which was your favorite in the comments!
This recipe is super delicious, and you won’t believe it takes less than thirty minutes to prepare! Who doesn’t love quick and easy meals for a busy weeknight, or to whip up for some surprise guests? I guarantee you’ll get hooked on this Broccoli Tortellini Alfredo recipe and crave it like I do! You can even make it your own by adding some of your other favorite ingredients like grilled chicken, mushrooms, or bell peppers. No matter how you prepare it, you’re sure to love it.
If you’ve never tried this easy dinner recipe before, you’ll seriously be wondering what you’ve been doing this whole time when you see how quick it is to make. After coming home from a long day or work, this will be the only thing you’re thinking about making. Don’t believe us? Check out the video! (It’s only a minute long, so you know it’s easy.)
Easy Dinner Recipe: Broccoli Alfredo Tortellini
Seriously, stock your freezer and buy a couple jars of alfredo sauce for those nights you’ve been running around and all you want to do is binge watch Netflix and eat on the couch as fast as possible. Don’t love broccoli? No biggie, try swapping out the broccoli with your favorite veggies or add in some grilled chicken to really make it the perfect meal.
I am about to show you one of the greatest recipe creations I have ever dreamt up. Many times I get a weird idea in my head like, What if we made banana split tacos? And then, because I am just crazy enough, I try to create that recipe. Sometimes these crazy ideas work and sometimes, well, they don’t. Luckily, I have a family that will eat just about anything, even when it is a flop. Well, this Easy Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake Recipe is one of my original recipe success stories. This recipe is not only delicious, which is important, but it’s also so easy to make and only requires four ingredients!
These four ingredients…
Turn into a slice of this awesomeness…
This recipe was the result of seeing crazy recipes with canned rolls and box cakes all over the place. Layered desserts are always really hot on the internet. Well, I totally had an ah-ha moment and thought, “What if I make a cinnamon roll stuffed with cheesecake?” That’s how it started and since I am always trying to make easy recipes, I simplified it even more. This recipe is everything you love about cinnamon rolls and cheesecake combined in one bite. You can make it for dessert or breakfast. It is awesome warm or cold. (I prefer mine slightly warm.)
First you press one can of rolls into a prepared cake pan. That’s the easy part that the kids can easily help with. Then you make the super simple cheesecake filling. It’s not overly sweet because the cinnamon rolls are pretty sweet already. Layer the cheesecake filling on top. Next up is the second can of cinnamon rolls laid on top. Bake and drizzle with the glaze that came with your cinnamon rolls. That’s it! It’s that simple.
If you are looking for a perfect brunch recipe that is not too sweet or a way to wow the new neighbors when they come for coffee, just grab these simple ingredients and in 45 minutes, perfect cheesecake.
Preheat Oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9 inch round cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Press one can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls into the bottom of the prepared 9 inch cake pan. Use your fingers to join the rolls to form the base.
Cream powdered sugar, softened cream cheese, and vanilla together.
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the base layer of cinnamon rolls.
Roll out remaining rolls using a rolling pin to make them cover the top of the cream cheese mixture. Join the rolls using your fingers to form the top crust.
Bake for 30 - 35 minutes.
Drizzle the glaze that was included with the cinnamon rolls over the baked cheesecake. You can use one or both packets depending on how sweet you prefer.
Spring and summer are a great time to try out a new party punch recipe. Whether it’s a graduation party, bridal or baby shower, wedding reception, or a simple backyard cook-out you’ll definitely want to check out some of these drink recipes. There are enough party punch recipes here to try a new one every weekend this summer! Weekends are a perfect excuse for a party, right? Your liver will hate you but your taste buds will thank you.
Party Punch Drink Recipes for Summer
This Cake by the Ocean cocktail looks as fun as it does tasty. After all, what’s better than a rim of sprinkles and floating fruit. Oh! The umbrella. Don’t forget the sweet little umbrella. The perfect drink for a tropical themed bridal shower, don’t you think?
Being a mermaid is the new being a Bohemian gypsy and Mermaid Water is the perfect drink for all mermaids. Think of this recipe when you are having a mermaid themed bachelorette or birthday party. Add a sea shell tiara and you are good to go!
Why do I want to read this Strawberry Punch Limeade recipe with a Southern drawl? Doesn’t the name make you think of pretty ladies in fancy dresses having fun chatting in the shade of a big old oak tree? Ok, maybe not but it sure does look good!
Bahamian Blaster Party Punch looks like a reflection of the sunset over the ocean. A great drink to enjoy while reminiscing about past adventures on the seas or the back yard pool. Either way, if you have too many you’ll never be able to say its name!
Cherry Limeade Sangria Cherries and Limeade? Sweet and sour and sweet. It’s a beautiful drink and super easy to make up. PLUS you can keep the ingredients on hand for last-minute visitors since many of the ingredients are frozen. Perfect drink recipe for a super hot afternoon or surprise summer guests
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Whiskey Sour Party Punch is one of those recipes for the gals at the party who like their booze on the brawny side (me!) No sweet, delicate, lightly boozy drink here. This punch recipe will give you the (liquid) courage for just about anything.
On a sweltering day when the kids have zoned out from too much time in the pool and the adults want to sit and relax you’ll want to pull out this Frozen Fruit Sangria. Refreshing, cooling and not too filling.
Blackberry Basil Vodka Lemonade combines sweet, tart lemonade with the delicious flavors of blackberry and basil in a refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for summer.
Just when you thought that you couldn’t be impressed by another drink the Champagne Float comes along and knocks your socks off by how pretty it is. Just mulitply the number of sorbet scoops and bottles of sparkling wine by the number of guests and it’s a non-stop party punch drink recipe. Rainbow sherbet will go with any color scheme the party is decorated with. Bonus!
Drink recipes that can be made in big batches make hosting any party a breeze. This Coconut Rum Punch will keep you out of the kitchen so you can visit with friends and family.
Raspberry Lemonade Fizz – anything with a little fizz to it is bound to be a party favorite. Just remember to keep the adult version out of reach of the kiddos unless you want some REALLY UNEXPECTED surprises.
Pineapple Rum Punch is the perfect mix of tropical flavors in one amazing and easy to make party drink! Perfect on those hot summer days when you want to pretend you’re on a hammock staring at the ocean.
We definitely have some favorites in the bunch, but all of these alcoholic punch recipes are delicious. Which one are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments!
Pizza is always a family favorite. Kids love it because it’s bread and cheese. Moms love it because it doesn’t cost much and everyone loves it because it is super fast to make. This is the easiest recipe for pizza bread I’ve ever seen. This is the pizza bread recipe my mom used to make our big family of five kids that got everyone happy to sit at the dinner table. Now, this is the recipe that I make for parties or when I am scrambling for a last minute dinner idea. I mean, it’s not hard at all and only has four ingredients – winning.
You seriously can’t go wrong with this 4-ingredient pizza bread recipe. It’s the best last minute option if you’re scrambling for dinner, but you can also get fancy with it! Replace the bread with cauliflower dough or even zucchini boats and you’ve also got a healthier, gluten-free option making it a real crowd pleaser.
