Coffee and cocoa nibs

[PLAY_DEAD]

So I'm planning on adding the 4 oz of cocoa nibs that came with my NB chocolate milk stout extract kit. I'm going to soak them in some vodka for a couple of weeks and add the solution to secondary. Should I crush the cocoa nibs before I speak them?

I would also like to add some coffee flavor to the brew on secondary. Should I use beans or cold brewed coffee? Can any one provide me a recipe for cold brewed coffee if that I'd the preferred method?

As always, grateful for everyone's input!

 

[Pappers_]

I've never crushed the cocoa nibs when I used them. As for coffee, I like the cold brewed coffee and the way I do it is to grind the beans, soak them in room temperature water for a day, then pour through a coffee filter.

 

[PLAY_DEAD]

Thanks! What is your water to coffee ratio for a 5 gallon batch?

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

I do crush the nibs a little in a ziplock bag and then put them in vodka. I also include 2 or 3 vanilla beans split and cut up to give more of a milk chocolate flavor rather than bitter bakers chocolate.

For cold brew, I cool 2 1/2 cups of boiled water and add 1/2 cup mild coffee grounds. Put it in the fridge for 24 hours and run through a coffee filter to yield 2 cups of cold brew.

My last mocha stout (5 gal) I used 3 oz nibs and 3 vanilla beans soaked in vodka for 5 days and added 1 week before bottling. I added the 2 cups of cold brew to the bottling bucket. It came out just right. Everyone's taste is different so adjust accordingly.

 

[PLAY_DEAD]

Thanks BlueHouse! Can vanilla extract be added? If not, where do you buy vanilla beans?

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

You can use extract but be sure it's pure extract and not imitation. I get vanilla beans at my local Stop & Shop. My LHBS also sometimes carries them. To prepare them, split them and scrape the seeds out. Then cut into pieces and add everything (including the scrapings) into a jar and add just enough vodka to cover them. You can add the nibs to the same jar. Soak for a few days or a few weeks - whatever you want. Then add the entire contents to the fermenter 4 - 7 days before bottling/kegging. Some people just add the tincture (vodka) but I put it all in. Figure out what works for you.