7 Cold Brew Hacks To Maximize Your Summer Caffeine Situation

Marcus Boni, the Head of Coffee at Trade, tells Bustle that basics like making sure you're using room temperature or cold filtered water for brewing are crucial to getting a good cup of coffee. Because cold brew's signature is that sweet, smooth taste without much of the acid present in other coffees, you want to be doubly sure you're not brewing it with water that's hot.

Boni also tells Bustle that folks should use "freshly roasted coffees that have depth in body and flavor, nothing too darkly roasted." If you're really looking to max out the amount of caffeine you're getting in your daily cup, though, give blonde roast beans a holler. While there's not a *huge* variation in the amount of caffeine from light roasts to dark roasts, there is evidence that "some caffeine is lost in the roasting process," according to The Washington Post, so you may be getting just a little extra by kicking it with blonde roast.

According to Mr. Coffee's official blog, you can get the most caffeine from your beans by grinding them super fine, since "[a] greater amount of caffeine is extracted from beans the more they're ground." But Boni cautions that finely ground coffee can cause "sharp or bitter flavors in your cold brew." He advises using coarsely ground beans to help maintain that light, creamy flavor throughout the long brewing time. If you're looking for a more acidic cold brew, feel free to try finely ground, but you may want to have some creamer/flavoring ice cubes on hand if you underestimate just how acidic it will turn out.

Believe me, I'm a big fan of the ultra-reliable and cheap drip coffeemaker I've had since my dorm room days, but when it comes to making cold brew, sometimes getting a slightly fancier gadget is worth it for the convenience. Boni recommends Hario's Mizudashi cold brew pot, which comes with an insert you pour your freshly ground coffee into, allowing you to pour it straight from the pot when it's brewed. If you have a regular french press on hand, you can use that and be perfectly fine.

Many of us enjoy adding a splash of flavoring to coffee once it's in our cup, but Wonder How To suggests something that will truly take your cold brew to the next level: infusing your coffee while it brews. "[A]dd some brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the mix when you brew it," the site suggests, adding that other while-brewing options to consider are ginger and, after brewing is over, vanilla extract, condensed milk, and even gelato.

For an extra caffeine kick, snag an ice cube tray and fill it with coffee — that way, when you go to ice your cold brew, it won't get watered down by ~regular~ ice cubes. You can either use leftover cold brew from previous batches once you've got the hang of making it, or you can use regular brewed coffee, which is great for folks who can sometimes find cold brew just a little *too* sweet. Coffee ice cubes are also great for you if you don't have a lot of time in the morning to prep your coffee — try freezing a mix of half coffee and half oat milk, or coffee with flavorings, then pop 'em in your cold brew in the morning for low-lift boosts of creamer and flavoring.

Boni tells Bustle figuring out your perfect cold brew is likely going to take some testing. "Start with the base recipe amount of coffee, then add more should you desire a richer profile in your next brew," he advises. This extends to trying out different coffee blends, different roasts, different grinds, and even different add-ins. If you're one of those who has a fussy request you feel bad asking for at the coffee shop, give it a try at home. And above all, don't expect to nail your dream cup of cold brew on the first try. You're not a master cold brew barista — yet.

With these hacks in mind, you can make the most of cold brew season — and make the most of cold coffee the rest of the year, too. Go forth and brew!