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    Home » Recipes » Drinks (Non-Alcoholic) » How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

    LAST UPDATED: May 9, 2021 • FIRST PUBLISHED: June 4, 2020 By Toni Dash 13 Comments

    How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Cold Brew coffee in a jug and mixed in a glass with ice (title image)

    Cold Brew Coffee isn’t just for hipsters and cool coffee house sipping. It’s very easy to make at home. Everything you need to learn to make smooth, rich iced coffee without a bitter aftertaste.

    Cold Brew coffee in a jug and mixed in a glass with ice (title image)

    For coffee lovers, iced coffee is the perfect solution for the summer months when a steaming hot cup of Joe seems too much.

    It’s easy to brew coffee at room temperature, turning into a coffee concentrate to be hand mixed at desired strength in a refreshing drink. 

    The best part is, unlike hot coffee, cold-brewed coffee is stripped of bitterness, so you’ll enjoy the smooth flavor of coffee!

    I drink this every morning in the summer and think you will love it too!

    Jump to:
    • The Best Iced Coffee
    • Ingredients and Supplies
    • How To Make It – Step-by-Step
    • Making a Glass of Iced Coffee
    • Pro Tips and Variations
    • How to Serve It
    • Storing Cold Brew Coffee
    • More Drink Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Try these Recipes too!
    • Recipe

    The Best Iced Coffee

    If you’ve ever tried to make iced coffee or cold brew coffee at home by pouring hot coffee over ice, you’ll know it doesn’t give the coffee house result you hoped for.

    This method will correct all of that.

    By brewing coffee at room temperature to make a concentrate, you can mix up iced coffee to fit your desired strength and flavor. 

    It’s easy and takes about 5 minutes to set up. 

    After it’s done, store the cold brew concentrate in the refrigerator to mix up a glass whenever the mood strikes.

    Although cold brew coffee takes more planning and time than an old-fashioned percolator or French press, its benefits are worth it.

    You will get the same caffeine kick you depend on and love, and much more flavor.

    Cold brew coffee supplies

    Ingredients and Supplies

    Here’s what you’ll need:

    • 1 cup of medium-coarse ground coffee
    • 4 cups of water
    • Fine mesh strainer (sieve)
    • Coffee filter or cheesecloth
    • Glass container with lid for brewing
    • Serving jug or storage jar

    Coffee

    If you grind coffee at home already, pick your favorite beans and grind them on a medium-coarse setting.

    If you don’t use a coffee grinder, use the grinder at the grocery store.

    Pour in the whole beans and select medium-coarse for the grind size.

    Any coffee can be used. Pick your favorite blend or flavored coffee.

    Straining the Coffee

    Straining the coffee when it has finished brewing removes the coffee and sediment from the coffee concentrate.

    Using a fine mesh sieve or strainer is needed.

    I add a regular paper coffee filter inside the strainer which filters everything out in one pour.

    Cheesecloth can also be used instead of a filter to line the sieve.

    OR run it through the sieve twice if needed to remove the sediment.

    Brewing Jar

    The glass jar you use for brewing the coffee doesn’t need to be fancy. It does need to hold about 5 cups.

    I use the large Mason jar shown in the photos. 

    After the coffee is drained it can be stored in any glass container. I use a quart size Mason jar.

    How To Make It – Step-by-Step

    STEP 1: In a large glass jar or container combine the ground coffee and water; stir (photos 1-4).

    Steps to make Cold Brew Coffee (photo collage) adding coffee to water in glass jar

    STEP 2: Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 8-16 hours. Photo 5 at start of brewing. Photo 6 after 16 hours.

    NOTE: the longer it sits the stronger the coffee concentrate will be.

    cold brew coffee recipe process steps 5-8 (brewing and straining)

    STEP 3: Straining the brewed coffee. Line a fine mesh strainer or sieve with a coffee filter. Pour the brewed coffee into the strainer and allow the coffee concentrate to drain through.

    Store in a sealed glass jar or dispenser in the refrigerator and discard the coffee grounds.

    Making a Glass of Iced Coffee

    As a rule of thumb, mix the coffee concentrate with equal parts of cold water. Half coffee concentrate and half cold water.

    Making Cold Brew Coffee from homemade coffee concentrate in a glass with ice
    Cold Brew coffee concentrate and water in a tall glass with ice

    Pro Tips and Variations

    Experiment with how long you allow the coffee to brew

    You may want to wait 24 hours for a more powerful coffee concentrate.

    Add sugar and/or spices before you let the mixture sit

    A dash of cinnamon or a half teaspoon of vanilla extract provides a pleasant aroma and subtle flavor to your brew.

    Use cold brew coffee for coffee cocktails

    Instead of chilled percolated or French pressed coffee in your coffee-based cocktails, use this recipe.

    The desired coffee flavors and aromas will be better without any bitterness.

    glass of cold brew coffee with cream and a metal straw with a jar of cold brew coffee in a jar in background

    How to Serve It

    While cold-brewed iced coffee is usually served with milk, you may enjoy it without.

    Adding a small amount of coconut water gives it a lightly tart flavor, for something unique and refreshing.

     For most people, the coffee concentrate is too strong to drink by itself.

    However, if you consider yourself a hardened coffee fanatic, you may like a shot of pure coffee concentrate to give you an extra boost.

    If you like it sweet, add some homemade simple syrup (flavored or not). It blends quickly into the iced coffee.

    Heat it Up!   

    If you love the process and results of cold brew coffee, why stop when the weather turns cold again?

    Heat your coffee concentrate–either diluted with water or not–on the stove.

    If you have the ability to steam milk, try a cold-brewed latte or cappuccino.

    Storing Cold Brew Coffee

    The coffee concentrate can be stored up to 2 weeks, in a sealed glass jar, in the refrigerator.

    The flavor may lessen over time but it will still be good to drink.

    Do not store it diluted with water. Store the concentrate and mix up a glass at a time.

    glass of cold brew coffee with ice and a metal straw and jar of coffee behind

    More Drink Recipes You’ll Love!

    • How to Make Iced Coffee Soda
    • Arnold Palmer drink
    • Tropical Smoothie Recipe
    • Firecracker Punch
    • Wassail
    • Chai Masala + Chai Lattes

    Try these Recipes too!

    • Italian Cream Cake
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    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!
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    Recipe

    Cold Brew coffee in a jug and mixed in a glass with ice (title image)

    Cold Brew Coffee

    Making Cold Brew Coffee at home is easy and delicious! You'll be loving it all summer long.
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Brewing time (6-18 hours): 6 hours
    Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 cups coffee concentrate (8 cups iced coffee when diluted)
    Calories: 1kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Equipment

    fine mesh strainer
    Fine mesh strainer/sieve
    Glass container for brewing
    Serving jug (optional)
    cheesecloth
    Coffee filter or cheesecloth

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup medium-coarse ground coffee
    • 4 cups water

    Instructions

    • In a large glass container, gently stir coffee grounds into water.
    • Cover and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 8 to 16 hours. NOTE: The longer the mixture sits, the stronger the resulting coffee concentrate.
    • Pour mixture through the strainer lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth into serving jug. You may want to strain the coffee twice to remove as much sediment as possible.
    • The result is a concentrated solution, so mix with equal parts cool water.
    • Chill and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1kcal | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 29mg | Calcium: 7mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara Welch says

      June 08, 2020 at 12:35 am

      5 stars
      What a great way to start my day! Looking forward to waking up with this tomorrow morning!

      Reply
    2. Cathy says

      June 05, 2020 at 3:47 pm

      This is my new favorite summer drink!

      Reply
    3. Beti | easyweeknightrecipes says

      June 05, 2020 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      Cold brew coffee sounds SO good right now!! I bet it tastes amazing!

      Reply
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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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