If you live in the Northern hemisphere, April through September is likely the year’s warmest and sunniest time. This time of year is the perfect time for anyone who enjoys coffee to try and make your own sun-brewed coffee to help beat the summer heat.
Whether you drink your favorite coffee black or as a latte with full fat or non-dairy milk, there’s something for everyone when it comes to sun brewing coffee in the comfort of your backyard instead of in your coffee machine. To learn more about how to make your own sun-brewed coffee, continue reading below.
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Ingredients and Tools to Make Sun Brewed Coffee
To begin making your own sun brewed coffee, consider stocking up on the following tools and ingredients for the greatest chance of success:
- Coffee beans
- Coffee grinder
- Water
- Mason jar
- A flat surface
- A hand towel
- A spoon
- Mason jar lid
- Cheesecloth
- Ice tray
- Optional milk and sugar
To make more than one serving of sun brewed coffee, simply double the amounts as you go. You can opt to use instant coffee instead of freshly ground coffee if you prefer, but buying fresh coffee will provide a bolder, stronger coffee.
Mix the Coffee with Water
The first step is to grind your coffee with your coffee grinder and mix it with water. Take your mason jar and fill it until it is almost full. Then, pour the ground coffee on top of the water and close the mason jar lid tightly.
This will ensure that no heat escapes as the coffee begins to brew in the sun. It will also stop unwanted bugs or germs from entering the mixture while it is brewing.
Find Some Direct Sunlight
The next step to properly brewing your coffee in the sun is finding a reliable source of direct sunlight. Make sure your sunlit spot is an easily accessible place where you can safely place the mason jar full of water and coffee grounds on a flat surface.
Before you place your coffee in the sun, give it a good shake to mix the grounds thoroughly with the water in the jar. Some of the grounds might settle, but don’t be alarmed if some float back to the top. This will change as the coffee begins to heat up and brew.
Let the Coffee Sit
Once you find a safe spot in the sun to keep your jar of coffee, let it sit for at least 12 hours. This step can be tricky if you have a very shady property or if the weather changes suddenly.
Do your best to locate a spot that won’t become shaded throughout the day and check the weather before you decide to sun brew.
If you’d like to add some insulation to help keep your mason jar of coffee hotter for longer, you can wrap a hand towel around it while it soaks up the sun. If you live in an apartment building and don’t have any outdoor space for brewing, you can also pick a sunny windowsill to do the job.
Filter Out the Grounds
After your coffee steeps outside in the sun for around 12 hours, it’s time to filter out the grounds. Unwrap your jar if it has been wrapped in a towel and bring it inside.
Give it a good shake until the entire contents of the jar are all one uniform dark coffee color. At this point, most of the grounds should have settled to the bottom of the jar.
Unscrew the mason jar lid and get a second jar. Put cheesecloth over the top of the other jar and pour the mixture from the original mason jar into the second jar through the cheesecloth.
This process will filter out all the grounds from the coffee. If some small grounds make it through the cloth, repeat this process a second time.
Add Milk, Sugar, and Ice
Once you have a strained coffee liquid, it’s time to add ice, milk, non-dairy alternative, and sugar to your personal preference. To make coffee ice cubes, pour a little bit of your sun coffee into an ice tray and let it freeze for a few hours.
Then, add the ice cubes into the jar with your other coffee mixtures and enjoy!
Delicious Coffee For Spring and Summer Enjoyment
Making sun brewed coffee is an enjoyable and straightforward process in which the whole family can participate. If you have small children, you can also make a decaf version or sun brewed non-caffeinated tea following the same steps.
Happy Caffeinating!
