Cold Brew Coffee
This easy recipe for Homemade Cold Brew Coffee uses a super simple technique to produce a smooth, strong coffee concentrate that's perfect for iced coffee, lattes, espresso martinis, coffee cocktails and more!
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Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 1kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup coarse coffee grounds * see note
- 4 cups COLD water
Instructions
- Add the coffee and water to a container with a lid, then give it a good stir.
- Cover and let sit for at least 12 hours or up to 36 hours. You can brew the coffee at room temperature or refrigerated. If brewing at room temperature, the coffee will extract faster, so a shorter time is better. If brewing in the refrigerator, the coffee will extract slower so you can let it go a little longer.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over top of a large bowl, then strain the coffee once to remove most of the coffee grounds.
- Discard the coffee grounds,* then place a coffee filter, a few layers of cheese cloth, or a few layers of paper towels inside the strainer set over top of another bowl.
- Pour the coffee into the strainer and allow it to drain slowly over the bow. It will take longer to drain this time, so have patience and don't try to force it through.
- Once the liquid has finished straining, discard the solids and transfer the liquid to a jar ot bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to a month.
- To serve, pour the cold brew coffee over ice and dilute it with a bit of water if desired. Add your favorite sweetener or creamer, then enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Medium to coarsely ground coffee will produce the smoothest cold brew. Using a finer ground coffee will result in a cloudier, more sludgy coffee that could taste bitter.
- It's best not to let your coffee brew for more than 24 hours at room temperature and 36 hours in the refrigerator. This can cause the cold brew to over extract and turn bitter. 16-24 hours is usually the sweet spot, but it will ultimately depend on the type of coffee you're using, the size of the grounds, the temperature it's brewing at and personal preference. It might take a few batches to make your perfect cup!
- For a flavored cold brew, try using flavored coffee beans or adding a few spices to the brew. Cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, star anise, nutmeg, vanilla beans and cacao nibs all make great additions. You can also flavor a cup of cold brew with your favorite flavored coffee syrup or creamer.
- If your tap water isn't the best quality or has a distinct flavor, definitely use filtered or bottled water to make your cold brew coffee. It will make all the difference!
- The leftover coffee grounds can be used as a body scrub or plant fertilizer. Don't throw them away!
- Cold brew coffee at the 1:4 ratio is STRONG. Many people like to dilute it with some water before drinking, or just let the ice melt a bit. But be warned, this stuff will make you wired!
Nutrition
Calories: 1kcal | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 29mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.01mg