How to Make Cold Brew
Learn how to make cold brew at home with just two ingredients and a few minutes of prep time.
Cold brew coffee is smooth, naturally sweet, and less acidic than traditional iced coffee recipes, making it perfect for busy mornings or afternoon pick-me-ups.
Once you realize how easy it is to make a batch ahead of time, you’ll always have rich, refreshing coffee ready in your fridge.
Whether you enjoy it black, creamy, or flavored with syrups, this simple method gives you café-style results right from your kitchen.
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What is Cold Brew Coffee?
This smooth, low-acid method involves steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in cold water for 12–24 hours instead of using heat.
This slow process creates coffee that is:
- smoother in flavor
- naturally sweeter
- lower in acidity
- perfect for making ahead
It’s different from iced coffee, which is brewed hot and then chilled.
Why You’ll Love This Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
This method works especially well because it:
- requires only 2 ingredients
- saves money compared to coffee shop drinks
- keeps in the refrigerator for up to 1 week
- makes a strong concentrate you can customize
- works great for iced coffee bars, flavored drinks, and summer mornings
How to Make Cold Brew
- Add coarsely ground coffee to a large jar or pitcher.
- Pour water over the grounds and stir gently.
- Cover and refrigerate for 12–24 hours. Longer steeping = stronger flavor.
- Strain the coffee through a coffee filter, fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove sediment and leave a smooth concentrate.
- Dilute concentrate with water, milk, almond milk, oat milk or flavored creamer
- Serve over ice.
A few simple tips for how to store iced coffee can help your homemade drinks stay smooth for days. If you hate watered-down iced coffee, coffee ice cubes make all the difference.
The Best Cold Brew Coffee Ratio
Start with this simple ratio if you’re a beginner: 1 cup coffee : 4 cups water
To serve the concentrate, dilute 1:1 with water or milk
Example:
- ½ cup concentrate
- ½ cup milk
- ice
Adjust stronger or lighter depending on your taste.
Don’t Forget To…
- Scroll down to print the full recipe with step-by-step instructions and exact measurements.
- Check out my Kitchen Essentials for the pans, mixing bowls, and baking tools I use to make this recipe a breeze.
- Save or share this recipe on Pinterest!
Medium or dark roast coffee beans are usually the best choice because they create a smoother, richer flavor with less bitterness. These roasts often have chocolatey or nutty notes that taste especially good when brewed slowly with cold water. Popular options include Colombian coffee, breakfast blends, and French roast. For the freshest flavor, use whole beans and grind them coarsely right before brewing.
You can, but coarse ground coffee produces smoother flavor and less sediment.
Yes, since it’s made as a concentrated brew and then diluted before serving. Since it steeps for 12–24 hours, the result typically contains more caffeine per serving than traditional iced coffee. However, strength can vary depending on how it’s diluted. Once mixed with water or milk, the caffeine level may be similar—but the flavor will still taste smoother and less acidic than iced coffee.
Things to Add to Cold Brew
Try adding:
Milk & Cream Options
- half and half
- whole milk
- oat milk
- almond milk
- sweet cream
Sweeteners
- your favorite coffee syrups
- maple syrup
- honey
Flavor Boosters
- cinnamon
- cocoa powder
- caramel sauce
- chocolate syrup
- pumpkin spice
Fun Coffeehouse-Style Add-Ins
- vanilla extract
- coconut milk
- flavored coffee creamers
- protein powder
- ice cream (for a dessert-style treat)
Tip: Start with a small amount, stir, and adjust until it tastes just right.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker 64oz, Iced Coffee Maker with 304 Stainless Steel Filter, Mason Jar Pitcher with Lid and Spout (Black)
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For even more ideas, try experimenting with different Coffee Flavor Combinations and Iced coffee recipes to create your own favorite version at home.
If you’re still deciding whether cold brew is right for you, check out Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee to learn the differences in flavor, caffeine, brewing methods, and which one might fit your coffee style best.
This simple concentrate is the perfect base for flavored drinks like vanilla iced lattes and caramel coffee recipes included in my Ultimate Iced Coffee Guide.
Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole coffee beans
- 6 cups filtered water
Instructions
- Roughly grind 1½ cups of coffee beans, keeping the grind coarse (similar to sea salt).
- Add the ground coffee and water to a large pitcher or jar. Stir gently to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for 12–24 hours, depending on how strong you prefer the flavor.
- Line a fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth or a paper coffee filter. Slowly pour the mixture through to remove the grounds.
- Transfer the strained concentrate to a clean container and keep refrigerated.
- Cold brew is a concentrate. Dilute before drinking: ½ cup concentrate ½ cup water or milk and ice. Adjust to taste.