Not so Hot Toddy

Toddy...not the stuff Grandpa drank when he got a head cold, but the stuff that Coventry Arabica used to use to make the world's finest Cafe Mocha back before there was a coffee shop on every corner. Toddy is cold-brewed coffee and one of those things I never think of at 6:30 a.m. when my brain is on autopilot and I robotically fill up the reservoir on the classic drip-style coffee maker.

Although some fanatical purists may practically show their teeth while arguing their favorite method, I think there are so many ways to make a good cup of coffee. I've had outstanding joe from a French Press, from a percolator, from a Melitta filter, even from a saucepan (Turkish style). My basic opinion is that the coffee itself has to be halfway decent and it has to be made with a little focus. Other than that, however you want to get those coffee grounds wet is all up to you. Just make sure to save me a cup.

The reason why I am brewing some toddy overnight is because the heat index is currently in the triple digits and, much as I need a kickstart in the morning, a hot beverage doesn't hold as much appeal right now as it does mid-January. But the thought of an iced beverage in the morning, balanced somewhere between mellow and bitter, is making me want to go to sleep right now, just to rush tomorrow!

This month's Bon Appetit magazine had a one-page blurb on cold-brewed coffee, which is what got me going. The magazine gives proportions to make a whole pot. The Bon Appetit writers also have a similar blog post on the matter here: http://www.bonappetit.com/blogsandforums/blogs/badaily/2011/09/how-to-make-your-own-cold-brew.html
Since I am only planning on drinking a couple of cups of the stuff, here are my reduced proportions that I have brewing right now:

3/4 C coarsely ground coffee beans
4 C of water

Everything just gets all stirred up in the same vessel and allowed to sit overnight. I plan to filter out the grounds through a cheesecloth-lined strainer in the morning.

I have great expectations for my toddy. And as long as I am deviating from my hot black coffee routine, I may even indulge in a wee bit of heavy cream.