Abstract: A cooking system includes a housing having a hollow interior including a cooking zone for receiving food to be cooked, a heating element associated with said housing, and a grill plate having a support surface for supporting food within said hollow interior. The grill plate has a thermal mass sufficient to maintain a temperature required to achieve a Maillard reaction of said food At least a portion of said cooking zone is disposed between said support surface and said heating element. Said heating element is operable to heat said support body to impart contact cooking from said support surface to food supported thereby in said cooking zone.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cold brew beverage includes providing a flavorant, identifying a brew cycle for preparing the cold brew beverage, and performing said brew cycle, wherein performing said brew cycle includes steeping said flavorant within a predetermined volume of water having a temperature between about 30° C. and about 50° C.