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I brew coffee using a french press. After I've pressed it, how can I make it chill fast?

I've tried pouring it into a wider container (larger surface area) and putting it in the freezer. This is not optimal since I don't want to thaw the contents in the freezer. Also, this takes some time and risks spilling the coffee.

When it is cold enough I put some ice cubes in a drinking thermos, pour in the coffee, close the lid and shake it. This part of the process works well because the ice "only" transfers the cold to the coffee and not the surroundings. I guess I could use crushed ice instead for greater effect?

Is there a better/quicker way of making iced coffee?

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I've tried to edit your question but it's not totally clear where you're going with it. Have you posted one method or two? Are you starting out in the freezer to cool it off slightly and then icing it, and looking for a better overall process, or have you switched from using the first method to the second? In either case, please note, we don't permit polls here as per the FAQ, so please avoid questions of the form "here is what I do, what do you do?" in the future. – Aaronut♦ Aug 6 '12 at 15:11
I don't drink coffee so I don't know what happens to the freshness, but what happens if you make it the night before, and put it in the fridge for consuming the next morning? – lemontwist Aug 6 '12 at 16:35
@Aaronut, sorry if it was unclear, I just wanted to ask the question in the title. I provided "What have you tried?", so I don't get these answers. – Vixen Aug 7 '12 at 7:22
@lemontwist I think that freshness is not a problem, but the problem is rather that when I feel like having some ice coffe I want it the same day(hour) :) – Vixen Aug 7 '12 at 7:31

5 Answers

up vote 5 down vote

Brew it strong and then add ice. Alternately, freeze some coffee in ice cube trays and use those frozen coffee cubes to chill the new batch without diluting it.

Agitation (shaking) with cubes is a good substitute for crushed ice -- both ensure that the hot coffee meets the cold surface of the ice quickly.

If you sweeten your iced coffee, using chilled simple syrup will help cool the brew and avoid problems getting the sugar to dissolve (sugar doesn't dissolve well in cold liquids).

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Thx for the advice with brewing it strong and coffe-icecubes :) I already use (vanilla) syrup so that works fine. – Vixen Aug 7 '12 at 7:26
up vote 3 down vote

One of the fastest ways to cool something is with an ice bath. Pour your coffee into a large glass or metal bowl, and place that into an even larger bowl filled with ice water. Using a Bundt pan for the inner bowl will cool the contents even faster, as more of the pan comes into contact with the ice water than the bowl.

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It's an efficient method, but I also want to minimize dishes and work :) I mean filling up 2 ice trays and pouring it over to another container. But thanks for springing an idea, I'll definitly fill up my sink with cold water and placing the french-press itself in the water, since it only has thin glass walls. – Vixen Aug 8 '12 at 14:36
That's certainly an option! For maximum effect, toss some ice cubes in that cold water. – heathenJesus Aug 8 '12 at 15:10
up vote 2 down vote

As Caleb suggested, brew it strong and add ice. You can also pre-chill the container for an added cool boost.

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up vote 2 down vote

I would suggest making the iced coffee the night before, brew it at double strength for best results. Make sure to sweeten it with sugar (if desired) after it's just been brewed. Pouring over ice the next morning will dilute it just enough to taste like the perfect cup of iced coffee. I prefer to make my coffee with an aeropress but French Press pot works great too.

If you really need a good fix for same day, make a couple espresso shots and chill over ice.

I've also found this article really helpful on cold brewing which doesn't make the coffee so bitter tasting (less need for sweetening) http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee/

Enjoy!

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Looks a bit tedious, but maybe I can use some ideas from it :) I'll also check out the aeropress – Vixen Aug 8 '12 at 14:41
Awesome, glad you can take some ideas :) Aeropress, you may fall in love with it! – Adelle Charles Aug 8 '12 at 17:26
up vote 1 down vote

You could try the cold-infusion technique described by Harold McGee here.

You can improvise a cold-brewing system using a French-press pot or just a pitcher or bowl, with fine sieves, cheesecloth, or cloth or paper filters to strain out the grounds. Infuse coarsely ground coffee overnight in cold water, about 5 cups for every 1/2-pound of coffee, then press or filter the brew from the grounds. In my experience this can become tedious because fine particles clog the filters.

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