DIY Coffee Concentrate

By Kathy_Hester

When you make your own concentrate it’s dirt cheap and you get to use the roast that you like the best. The hands on time to make it is about 5 minutes – maybe 10 if you grind your own beans. Coffee concentrate keeps in the fridge for about 2 weeks.

Ingredients

• French Press Coffee Maker or a Mason Jar
• Coffee ground for a French Press

Preparation

Step 1

These directions are for a French Press, but you can use a mason jar. The French Press has a built in filter, but if you make it in a mason jar you have to use a fine mesh strainer to filter the grounds out.

If you want to be fancy you can grind your own coffee beans. I usually don’t measure my coffee grounds, but I add them up to the top of the black rim on the bottom of my French Press. I use about 3/4 cup per liter of coffee concentrate for my largest French Press.
Note: Using the black line as a measurement works on a 1 or 2 cup smaller French Press as well.

Fill with water about half-way. The grounds will just float on top.

I swirl it around to mix the grounds in well, but you could use a spoon if you prefer.

Add the rest of the water, until the mixture is about a finger’s width below the pour spout. Carefully place the filter/plunger so that it is just on top of the grounds keeping them under the water. Let sit overnight in the fridge.

When it’s ready all you need to do is gently press down the plunger to press the coffee grounds to the bottom. Pour into your favorite pitcher with a lid or mason jar(s) and store in the fridge. It will last at least 2 weeks.

To use the concentrate either add water to it before heating or when making an iced coffee or add nondairy milk for a richer experience.

The ratio will vary depending on the strength of coffee you used and how much coffee you added to begin with. I recommend tasting it as you go the first time you make a new batch.
Also if you don’t shake it up before you use it the bottom of the batch will be much stronger than the top.