Maple Morning Recipe

Make cold brew

Combine 1 cup coarsely ground coffee and 4 cups cold filtered water in a large jar or pitcher. Stir gently to ensure all grounds are wet. Cover and steep in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 12–18 hours (12 hours gives a lighter extraction; 18 hours is stronger).

After steeping, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean container. Press gently to extract liquid, then discard grounds. You will have a cold brew concentrate. For this recipe measure out 1 cup of the concentrate (see Assembly). Store any extra concentrate refrigerated up to 1 week.

Make syrup

In a small saucepan combine 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 2 tablespoons water, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Warm over low heat, stirring, until just simmering and cinnamon is fully incorporated, about 2–3 minutes. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain if you prefer a completely smooth syrup. This yields enough to sweeten multiple drinks; use approximately 1 tablespoon per serving.

Prepare sweet cream

In a small bowl or jar combine 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt. Whisk vigorously (or shake in a sealed jar) for 20–30 seconds until slightly thickened and combined but still pourable. Do not whip to stiff peaks; the texture should be pourable, silky sweet cream.

Build the Maple Morning

Fill a tall glass with 1 cup ice. Pour 1 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice. Add 1 tablespoon of the maple cinnamon syrup (adjust to taste) and stir gently to combine. Slowly float about 2–3 tablespoons (30–45 ml) of the prepared sweet cream over the top so it creates a layered look. Sprinkle a light pinch (~1/4 tsp) of ground cinnamon on the cream as garnish. Serve with a straw and stir before drinking to blend.

Optional adjustments: For a milder drink, dilute the cold brew with 1/4–1/2 cup water or milk before adding syrup and cream. For a chilled but less icy version, use fewer ice cubes.