Cold Brew Coffee
This homemade cold brew coffee is smooth, rich, and incredibly low in acidity — made with just two ingredients and zero fancy equipment. Coarsely ground coffee steeps slowly in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, producing a deeply flavored concentrate that you can dilute to your preferred strength. It keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks, making it the most practical and cost-effective way to enjoy café-quality iced coffee every single day.
Equipment
- Large glass jar or pitcher At least 32 oz / 1 liter capacity — a wide mouth mason jar works perfectly
- Fine-mesh strainer For the first pass of straining out the coffee grounds
- Cheesecloth or paper coffee filters For a second, finer strain to remove sediment and achieve a clean concentrate
- Coffee grinder A burr grinder is strongly recommended for a consistent coarse grind
- Measuring cup For measuring the water
- Kitchen scale (optional) For precise coffee measurements
- Cold brew coffee maker (optional) A dedicated vessel with a built-in filter makes steeping and straining hands-free
- Long spoon For stirring the grounds and water to ensure full saturation
Ingredients
Cold Brew Concentrate
- 1 cup coarsely ground coffee 100g; medium or dark roast recommended — grind should resemble the texture of raw sugar or coarse sea salt
- 4 cups cold filtered water 950ml; filtered water preferred for the cleanest flavor — tap water works but the difference is noticeable
For Serving (Per Glass)
- ice Fill glass generously
- 1 part cold brew concentrate From the prepared batch above
- 1 part cold water or milk Use water for a lighter drink; oat milk, almond milk, or whole milk for a latte-style drink
- sweetener Optional — simple syrup, honey, or sugar to taste
- cream or half-and-half Optional — for a richer, creamier finish
Instructions
- Grind your coffee beans to a coarse setting, roughly the texture of raw sugar or coarse sea salt. Measure out 1 cup (100g) of coarsely ground coffee.
- Add the ground coffee to your large glass jar or cold brew maker, then pour 4 cups (950ml) of cold filtered water slowly over the grounds. Stir gently to ensure all the coffee is fully saturated with no dry pockets.
- Cover the jar tightly with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Steep for 12 to 24 hours — 18 to 20 hours is the sweet spot for the best balance of flavor and richness.
- Set a fine mesh strainer over a clean bowl or large measuring cup and pour the steeped coffee through it slowly. Do not press or squeeze the grounds — let gravity do the work.
- Line the strainer with cheesecloth or a paper coffee filter and pour the concentrate through a second time to remove fine sediment and produce a crystal-clear concentrate.
- Transfer the finished cold brew concentrate to a clean glass jar or pitcher with a tight-fitting lid, label it with the date, and refrigerate until ready to serve. The concentrate keeps for up to 2 weeks.
- Fill a glass with ice, then pour cold brew concentrate and an equal part of water or milk over the ice (1:1 ratio). Stir briefly, add sweetener or cream if desired, and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Grind coarseness is critical: A fine grind makes straining nearly impossible and produces a gritty, over-extracted concentrate. Always use a coarse grind similar to the texture of raw sugar.
- Don't skip the second strain: Running the concentrate through cheesecloth or a paper filter removes fine sediment and dramatically improves clarity and taste. It only takes a few extra minutes.
- Steep in the fridge, not on the counter: Room-temperature steeping speeds up extraction but increases the risk of bacterial growth and off flavors. Always refrigerate during steeping.
- Adjust the ratio to your taste: This recipe uses a 1:4 (coffee to water) ratio for a strong concentrate. For a lighter, ready-to-drink brew, use a 1:5 or 1:6 ratio and skip the dilution step at serving.
- Use filtered water: The quality of your water has a noticeable impact on flavor. Filtered or bottled water gives you a cleaner, brighter-tasting cold brew than tap water.
- Add flavors during the steep: A cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, or two or three crushed cardamom pods can be added to the grounds before steeping for subtle flavor with no extra effort.
- Storage — concentrate: Keep cold brew concentrate in a sealed glass jar or pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Glass is preferred over plastic to prevent flavor absorption.
- Storage — diluted cold brew: Once mixed with water or milk, cold brew is best consumed within 3 to 4 days.
- Warm cold brew: To enjoy cold brew hot, simply dilute the concentrate with hot water instead of cold. It holds up exceptionally well without becoming watery or bitter.
- No grinder? Ask your local coffee shop to grind your beans coarsely, or purchase pre-ground coffee specifically labeled for cold brew or French press.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Serving (8 oz diluted 1:1 with water)Calories: 10kcalSodium: 10mgPotassium: 120mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!