What is Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew coffee is simply coffee that is steeped in cool/cold water instead of brewed with hot water. The result of this cold brewing process is a coffee with less acidity and different flavor profile. Some believe it tastes deeper/richer while other say it’s a bit more mellow. Cold brew coffee is great over ice. Some like to make it into an iced coffee and others drink it over ice. You can also use the coffee in recipes from chocolate cake to making your own Kahlua or, in an Irish Coffee.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee with the County Line Kitchen Mason Jar Cold Brew Coffee Maker
What follows are my directions for making cold brew coffee in the County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Coffee Maker. Principles of cold brewing are consistent but, your actual steps might vary based on the type of cold brewer you use.
A note about coffee: Directions for this cold brew indicate that a coarser grind of coffee is best. I’ve had good luck using pre-ground coffee …the horror, I know, I know :-) . But, our budget is a little tight. Some very small grinds get left behind, I avoid them by not pouring every last drip out of the brewer.
Step 1: Measure 1 C of coffee
Step 2: Load the coffee into the stainless steel filter
Step 3: Begin to fill the cold brew coffee maker
Step 4: Make a clockwise motion ensure that all the coffee ground get a good soaking
Step 5: Continue soaking all the coffee grounds as the mason jar below fills.
Step 6: Once you have reached just below the neck of the mason jar stop the water. Your coffee grounds should be well saturated by now.
Step 7: The mason jar is filled with water and the cold brewing has started. Put the lid on and let the coffee brew for 24 hours. When the 24 hours is up, your cold brew is ready. 
Step 8: Transfer the coffee into a pitcher and store in the refrigerator.
Cold Brew Coffee Brewing Video
County Line Kitchen Mason Jar Cold Brew Coffee Maker Review
We’ve had the County Line Kitchen cold brew coffee maker in the house for a few months and made about eight batches of cold brew coffee. This has given me enough time to make some observations.
The Good
- It’s simple and easy to replace the mason jar. It’s a mason jar, afterall (duh!). Other systems use plastic carafes with plastic lids that seem prone to breakage.
- It’s easy to use, no moving parts.
- Fairly simple to clean.
Things to Improve
- The instruction booklet. Seems like the helpful tips should be moved into the recipes. Learning that I could use half as much coffee and not dilute it in the tips sections (after I brewed and wasted the first batch that I learned I could dilute) would have been appreciated.
Buy the County Line Kitchen Mason Jar Cold Brew Coffee Maker