As of writing, it's 90 degrees outside with humidity that's making it feel more like 100. That's the Midwest in late July for you. Allow one of our favorite X (Twitter) accounts, Midwest vs. Everybody, to explain what stage we're in, specifically.

So, now you know! And what better way to cool down while staying energized this summer than with a smooth, delicious cup of cold brew coffee.

For starters, we're not just talking about iced coffee. You can basically pour any coffee you've brewed at home over ice, and you'll have an iced coffee. And there's nothing wrong with that... we make those frequently in the summer, too!

Cold brew is an entirely different brewing method that extracts bold flavors with low bitterness over time. Generally speaking, it's made by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water for 12-24 hours to produce a strong, smooth coffee concentrate or a ready-to-drink concoction.

With some Everette's Sandrolini Dark Roast beans, a filter or strainer, and a container with a lid (like a Mason jar), anyone can make cold brew at home. However, we recommend starting out with a kit, especially for first-timers. As you get more confident, you can always adjust your process or components! Here's a kit we like, which we use to make cold brew for our farmer's market samples:

• County Line Kitchen Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker (Amazon)

Now, onto the guide for making cold brew coffee at home.

NOTE: This guide outlines the method for using a filter DURING the steeping process, not straining the coffee AFTER the steeping process. Both are valid methods for making a cold brew, but we prefer this one for less mess and fewer components.

Step 01: Choose The Best Coffee Beans

Start with high quality, freshly roasted Arabica beans. Cold brew tends to bring out natural sweetness and chocolatey notes, so a medium or dark roast is ideal. Beans from regions like Colombia or Ethiopia tend to work really well. Strangely enough, you can get coffee from us that features beans from these regions. Fancy that!

Step 02: Grind The Beans Coarse

You want a coarse grind, sort of like raw sugar or sea salt. A finer grind can result in over-extraction, making it taste bitter. Coarse grounds are easier to filter/strain and help create a cleaner cup. If you don't have a grinder with customizable settings, even a simple grinder with a spinning blade will give you a medium-coarse grind that will work just fine.

Importantly, remember this ratio: One (1) gram of coffee grounds to 10 mL of water for a brew that's ready to drink, or 1:4 if you're making a concentrate.

Step 03: Combine Coffee and Water

Depending on the size of your filter and container, put the desired amount of coffee grounds into the coffee filter, and then place it in the container. (Don't forget the ratio from Step 02!)

Slowly pour filtered water -- cold or room temp -- through the grounds (hence the recommendation for a coarse grind), letting the water seep through and fill up the container.

Once full, cover the container and shake or stir it gently for a few seconds to ensure total saturation, and then store the container in a cool, dry space or in a refrigerator.

Step 04: Patience...

For now, it's a waiting game. The grounds need to steep in water for 12-24 hours before it's ready, whether you're making a concentrate or ready-to-drink. Longer brewing will produce a stronger coffee flavor, but you don't want to overdo it.

Step 05: Clean Up and Enjoy Your Cold Brew

Remove the filter from the container and discard the grounds. If necessary, transfer the coffee into another container for serving, and continue to store in the fridge to keep it fresh for a longer time.

As with any brewing method, make your coffee drink however you please! You can even warm it up in the microwave. Just because it's brewed cold doesn't mean it has to be consumed cold... though that would defy the weather conditions of "Hell's Front Porch" that we discussed earlier!

Continue to check out our blog and follow us on Instagram at everettes_coffee for more coffee tips and tricks. Happy brewing, and stay cool out there!