How to Make Spiced Cold Brew at Home

How to Make Spiced Cold Brew at Home

October 29, 2021

Get in the Halloween spirit by making your own spiced cold brew!

iced coffee, person holding glass

It’s that time of year when we’re all looking for something festive to drink to get in the Halloween spirit. All of the cafes around you are making their own festive drinks, so why can’t you do this at home too? Making your own deliciously spiced cold brew coffee is easy, all you need is some coffee, a few spices, and a French press, pitcher, or some kind of container to make it in. This combination of delicious cold brew coffee and spices is sure to get you excited for Halloween!

What’s the best coffee to use for your cold brew?

Cold brew coffee uses time and cold water to bring out delicious coffee flavours and caffeine content. In contrast, regular coffee uses heat and pressure to extract coffee and caffeine. The brew time is longer for cold brew coffee, but you can make it once and have it last for up to two weeks. Switch up your morning routine with this delicious spiced cold brew in a few easy steps.

french press coffee

All coffees have different flavour profiles so the type of coffee you choose to use for your spiced cold brew will change your coffee. There are a variety of factors creating the distinct flavours of each coffee bean!

So, here are some beans you can choose from depending on what kind of flavours you’re looking for:

If you’re looking for something fruity, sweet, and bright in your coffee, we recommend trying out on of our lighter roasts such as GuatemalaPeru, or Colombia.

If you want something rich and chocolatey, we recommend using our Ignition BlendMixtape Espresso and Brazil roasts.

If you’re looking for something even bolder, give our Asphalt roast a try.

Give something new a try and find the perfect fall drink for you!

  

Everything you need to know to get started.

spice set, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 - 1 cup coarse ground coffee
  • 4 - 5 cups cold water
  • 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon of cloves
  • ½ a teaspoon of vanilla extract

If you're worried about vampires you can always add some garlic too! 

 

Equipment:

  • French Press (8 cups French Press) or Pitcher

Follow these simple steps to get started:

1: Begin by getting out your French press or Pitcher and your favourite beans from Road Coffee, Canada’s best coffee roaster. If your coffee beans are still whole grind them so that you have a coarse grind. It should look and feel similar to breadcrumbs.

iced coffee pitcher, with coffee beans

Road TipThe general French Press ratio is 1 tablespoon grounds to 1 cup of water! 

For pre-ground coffee, proceed to step 2.

2: Add 8 tablespoons of ground coffee to the bottom of your French Press or Pitcher.

Then, add your nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla extract to your coffee grounds.

Road Tip: You can play around with different spices to get your own desired flavour.

3: Slowly pour 5 cups of cold or room temperature water over your coffee grounds and spices.

4: Gently stir your grounds, spices, and water to make sure the grounds are wet and saturated.

Road TipEnsuring saturation of the coffee grounds is important as it allows the coffee grounds to expand, allowing the full flavour from the coffee to end up in your final cup!

5: Put your cold brew mix in the fridge and let the grounds soak in for 12 - 24 hours.

Road tip: The strength of the coffee depends entirely on the brewing time. For a weaker coffee, only brew for 12 - 16 hours. For a stronger cup of coffee, brew for 20 - 24 hours.

6: Once your grounds have finished soaking remove the concentrate from your fridge. Then, press the plunger down if you’re using a French press and strain your brewed coffee into a resealable jar or vessel to store your cold brew in your refrigerator.

Road Tip: If the plunger feels like it's starting to tighten, pull it out an inch or two, then resume.

Step 7: Now you have your spiced cold brew concentrate! To serve and enjoy follow the instructions below!

 

Serving your spiced cold brew coffee

Halloween drinks

To serve it as an iced beverage:

  1. Add the desired amount of ice into your glass.
  2. Pour 1 part coffee concentrate and 1 part water into your glass.
  3. Add cream, sugar and whatever else you want to your coffee and then top it with some whip cream to get extra festive with it! Stir and enjoy!

Optional: Add some baileys if you’re feeling like an extra special treat!

Road tip: Try alternative milk for a different flavour taste!  

You can pour any leftover concentrate in a jar or container and leave in your refrigerator. You can continue to enjoy the concentrate for up to 2 weeks!

 

A great way to get in the Halloween spirit 

This spiced cold brew coffee is a great way to get yourself feeling festive just in time for Halloween. Make the most of the end of fall by adding this extra deliciousness to your morning routine by following this super easy recipe!

Author Cori Thorstad