Cold Brew Coffee At Home

This heat wave drove us to drink. Cold brew coffee that is.

Our mornings typically start around 7:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee, oatmeal or cereal, and The Today Show. While we always see Jill’s Steals and Deals, we’ve never had an urge to buy any of her steals. It wasn’t until the Primula Cold Brew Coffee Maker Carafe and Primula Cold Brew Travel Bottle combination deal that I felt like I needed to buy it.

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This Jill’s Steals and Deals deal was around the same time as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts’ Cold Brew campaigns were picking up heat. By this time, I was hooked on Starbucks’ Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew. I thought that this carafe would fulfill my need for cold brew in the morning. When it arrived, I filled it up with our Dunkin’ Donuts French Vanilla Grounds (we’re obsessed), and left it in the fridge to steep.

The first batch of Dunkin grounds was just ok. Good, but it didn’t give me the taste that Starbucks gave me. I recently made a second batch last week and it was much better. I think it had to do with me mixing the grounds in the mesh filter and shaking the carafe every once in a while. After the first batch of Dunkin brew ran out, I found Starbucks pitcher packs staring back at me when I was in the store. These allow you to make their cold brew at home. So I picked up a box.

It was awesome amazing just right delicious. It tasted as if a well-trained barista made it for me. I used the Primula pitcher to steep the cold brew. The pitchers lasted 5 work days. Fatima likes hot coffee in the morning, so I was the only one drinking cold brew before work. This was true for the Dunkin grounds and the Starbucks Pitcher Packs. I use a larger mug, so you may be able to squeeze out a sixth cup.

The Verdict:

• Starbucks pitcher packs are my #1 choice for at-home brewing.
• Dunkin grounds are still good, but I need to experiment more with other spices. This is the more cost-effective option.
• For cream, use a flavored cream. Coffee-mate’s French Vanilla creamer is pictured above.
• I needed to add a bit of sugar to the Dunkin grounds brew. Little to none with Starbucks.

My mornings be like, “Keep it coming!”