Homemade Cold Brew Coffee is rich, smooth, and mellow. It’s less acidic and bitter than regular coffee, making it the best iced coffee drink to enjoy this summer. Plus, it’s so much cheaper than buying at your local coffee shop.
The best part? Making cold brew coffee at home is so much easier than you think. Although it takes time to allow the coffee to steep, it really only requires a few simple steps and no special equipment (especially if you grind the coffee at the grocery store).
What is Cold Brew?
Cold brew coffee is coffee that is steeped very slowly in low temperature (at room temperature or in the fridge). This process makes it taste a lot different from hot brewed coffee using the exact same coffee beans. Cold brew coffee is less acidic and less bitter than regular iced coffee, and it boasts a more mellow taste overall.
Cold brew coffee is also more expensive than regular coffee when you buy it at your local coffee shop. Why? It’s more time-consuming — but it’s also better. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to make it at home. So, save your money and try this cold brew coffee recipe!
Why You'll Love This Cold Brew Coffee
- It’s so easy to make. You won’t believe how easy it is to make homemade cold brew. Although it takes a while to steep, the steps are simple. Grind your coffee beans. Soak them in water. Strain out the coffee grounds. Store the filtered coffee in the fridge. That’s it.
- It will save you money. Say goodbye to those premium charges for cold brew coffee at Starbucks or local coffee shops by making your own cold brew at home. You’ll be surprised just how much you can save every month by choosing coffee at home instead of the cafe.
- Make it a weekly routine this summer. Your filtered cold brew will last in the fridge for up to one week. That means you can add cold brew to your weekly meal prep to enjoy easy iced coffee all week long!
Ingredient Notes
To make this easy homemade Cold Brew Coffee, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- whole coffee beans
- water
You will also need measuring cups, a coffee grinder, large pitcher or jar, fine mesh sieve, and a cheese cloth or coffee filter.
How to Make the Best Cold Brew Coffee
- Grind coffee beans. Transfer the coffee beans to a coffee grinder and grind them on the coarsest setting. If you grind the beans at the grocery store, make sure to choose the coarse setting or French Press-style.
- Steep coffee. In a large pitcher or jar, combine the coffee grounds and water. Stir the coffee in to make sure that the grounds are completely saturated with water. Cover the pitcher with the lid or a small plate and let it steep on the counter at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 18 hours.
Grind coffee beans. Steep coffee.
- Strain. Line a fine mesh sieve with a cheese cloth or coffee filter. Pour the coffee through the prepared sieve and into a clean jar or container.
Strain coffee. Store cold brew in a jar or container.
- Serve. Pour the cold brew concentrate over a glass of ice leaving about ¼ of the cup empty to allow room to dilute it with water, milk, or creamer.
How to Store Cold Brew
Store the strained cold brew in a sealed jar or container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use you favorite coffee beans: Don’t switch to a cheaper coffee bean to make cold brew. Higher quality beans will yield higher quality cold brew, so stick with your favorite coffee beans when making this recipe.
- Use whole coffee beans: You cannot make good cold brew coffee using pre-ground coffee beans. You need to purchase whole coffee beans and grind them coarsely. This is very important when making the best cold brew coffee.
- Use filtered water: Depending on where you live, you can use tap water otherwise filtered water will make a difference in the outcome of your cold brew. Consider buying bottled water or using filtered water from a Brita pitcher or other water filtering system.
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Recipe
Cold Brew Coffee
- Total Time: 18 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 servings
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Homemade Cold Brew Coffee is rich, smooth, and mellow. It’s less acidic and bitter than regular coffee, making it the best iced coffee drink this summer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole coffee beans
- 4 cups water, filtered
Instructions
- Transfer the coffee beans to a coffee grinder and grind them on the coarsest setting. If you grind the beans at the grocery store, make sure to choose the coarse setting or French Press-style.
- In a large pitcher or jar, combine the coffee grounds and water. Stir the coffee in to make sure that the grounds are completely saturated with water.
- Cover the pitcher with the lid or a small plate and let it steep on the counter at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 18 hours.
- Line a fine mesh sieve with a cheese cloth or coffee filter. Pour the coffee through the prepared sieve and into a clean jar or container.
- Store the strained cold brew in a sealed jar or container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- To serve, pour the cold brew concentrate over a glass of ice leaving about ¼ of the cup empty to allow room to dilute it with water, milk, or creamer.
Notes
Use you favorite coffee beans: Don’t switch to a cheaper coffee bean to make cold brew. Higher quality beans will yield higher quality cold brew, so stick with your favorite coffee beans when making this recipe.
Use whole coffee beans: You cannot make good cold brew coffee using pre-ground coffee beans. You need to purchase whole coffee beans and grind them coarsely. This is very important when making the best cold brew coffee.
Use filtered water: Depending on where you live, you can use tap water otherwise filtered water will make a difference in the outcome of your cold brew coffee. Consider buying bottled water or using filtered water from a Brita pitcher or other water filtering system.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Steeping Time: 18 hours
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Steep
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cold brew coffee, cold brew, iced coffee, coffee
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