The AeroPress is such a great tool to use for every at home mixologist thanks to its compact design, durability, ease of use and—most importantly—it gives you the ability to extract a full-bodied espresso-style shot of coffee that every mixologist in a reputable bar or restaurant would normally use an espresso machine for. But what if you are thinking bigger and bolder? The new AeroPress Clear XL is perfect to make our Maple Sea Salt “batched” Old Fashioned.
The AeroPress Clear XL: Cocktails with Friends
To make this cocktail we are going to use the AeroPress Clear XL to make a bold cold brew concentrate. It is a simple and efficient process that gives you a smooth, rich, and highly versatile coffee base. This method is great for making iced coffee, sure, but when it comes to cocktails, it allows us to make a cold brew that you can then store in the fridge and use to make a single cocktail for yourself or “batch” cocktails for your next get together with friends. Let’s start with the cocktail recipe first so you have a sense of the cocktail you will be making followed by a recipe to make the perfect sea salt cold brew.
In a Mixing Glass add your choice of rye or bourbon, coffee concentrate, and maple syrup. Give the mix 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters. Fill your glass with ice and stir for 10-15 seconds. This cocktail is going to be served on the rocks (over ice) so be careful not to dilute the drink by stirring for too long.
In a Double Old Fashioned Glass strain your cocktail from the mixing glass into a rocks glass. Double Old Fashioned glass is best if you have one.
Garnishes: Peel a large swath of orange for your garnish. Add ice to your cocktail and then “express” the orange peel over your drink to extract the oils. Give it a twist to do this and then tuck the swath of orange peel down the inside of the glass. Finish with a pinch of sea salt if desired and enjoy!
Batches with friends: Follow the same instructions but build up to 8 cocktails at once if you have a large pitcher. Strain this batch and store it in a bottle in the fridge without ice. When someone wants a cocktail simply pour this batched cocktail over ice and finish with desired garnish.
AeroPress Clear XL Cold Brew Concentrate
Prepare the AeroPress Clear XL: Place an AeroPress paper filter (wet the paper filter) or metal filter into the filter cap and twist the filter cap onto the immersion chamber. Place the immersion chamber on top of your carafe, making sure it’s centered on the carafe for stability.
Pour Cold Water: Slowly pour 250 ml of cold, filtered water over the coffee grounds. Make sure all grounds are saturated evenly.
Stir Gently: Use the AeroPress stirrer or a spoon to mix the coffee and water for about 10 seconds. This helps ensure even extraction.
Let it Brew: Gently insert the plunger ½ inch into the top of the chamber, making sure the plunger is entirely passed the lip of the chamber (this creates a vacuum that stops your brew from continuing to drip through into your carafe. Let the coffee brew at room temperature for 10-12 hours or in the fridge for up to 24 hours. A longer brew time will extract more flavor and body.
Press the Coffee: Slowly press down on the plunger over 30-45 seconds. The coffee concentrate will flow into your carafe. You can now store this coffee concentrate for up to a week in the fridge.
