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    Home » Recipes » Beverages » Coffee

    Cold Brew Coffee

    Published: Jul 17, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    Cold Brew Coffee is SUPER easy to make with only coffee and water! Add your favorite syrup, cream, and cold foam for the perfect summer drink.

    cold brew with ice and half and half in a glass with a glass straw

    We love iced coffee year-round, but it tastes extra delicious in the summer! Keep this cold brew coffee in the refrigerator so that you can make your favorite specialty drinks without having to leave your home.

    What You’ll Find In This Post

    • Cold Brew Coffee Ingredients
    • How To Make Cold Brew Coffee
    • Cold Brew Coffee Ratio
    • Cold Brew Coffee Recipes
      • Vanilla Cold Brew Iced Coffee Recipe
      • Caramel Cold Foam Iced Coffee Recipe
      • Cold Brew Latte Recipe
    • Storage Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Coffee Recipes
    Ingredients in bowls.

    Cold Brew Coffee Ingredients

    To make cold brew coffee, all you need is ground coffee and water. You can make it stronger or weaker depending on your preferences and how you plan to use it.

    • Coffee: For the coffee, you can use ground coffee or buy coffee beans and grind them yourself. Freshly ground coffee beans will give you the best results. As with any coffee you make, the brand and the roast matter, so go with whatever your favorite is. You can even use flavored beans if you want.
    • Water: For the best results, we recommend using filtered water.
    a glass measuring pitcher with cold brew in it

    How To Make Cold Brew Coffee

    Although cold brew coffee is very easy to make, it does have to be in the refrigerator for a long time, so keep that in mind.

    • Put the ground coffee in a pitcher or a large bowl. Pour the water over the coffee and stir to moisten all of the grounds. Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator. We keep ours in the refrigerator for 24 hours, but you can do less if you want weaker cold brew coffee.
    • Remove the pitcher from the refrigerator and strain the iced coffee. Store the cold brew in the refrigerator.

    Cold Brew Coffee Ratio

    Concentrate Ratio: Make the cold brew concentrate in a 1:3 ratio. One cup of coffee grounds to three cups of water.

    Drinks Ratio: Use the cold brew concentrate to make coffee drinks in any ratio you prefer. You can use ice cubes and cream to dilute the coffee or dilute it with water.

    • Ice Cubes and Cream: 1 cup of ice cubes, 3/4 cup of cold brew coffee concentrate, 1/4 cup of cream (use heavy whipping cream, half-n-half, or flavored creamer).
    • Diluted Coffee Concentrate: 1/2 cup of cold brew coffee and 1/2 cup of water (or less it you want it to be stronger).

    Cold Brew Coffee Recipes

    a hand pouring half and half into a glass

    Vanilla Cold Brew Iced Coffee Recipe

    One of our favorite drinks to make with this recipe is vanilla cold brew iced coffee.

    • Ice: Put one cup of ice cubes. We used our countertop nugget ice maker for smaller cubes. You can also use the large cubes or break larger cubes up into smaller pieces.
    • Coffee: Add 3/4 cup of cold brew coffee concentrate. You can also add cold water for weaker coffee.
    • Syrup: Add one to two tablespoons of vanilla syrup. We used our homemade vanilla bean syrup.
    • Cream: Top with 1/4 cup of half-n-half or your favorite creamer and enjoy!
    a hand pouring cold brew into a glass with caramel in it.

    Caramel Cold Foam Iced Coffee Recipe

    Another popular beverage is caramel cold foam iced coffee. This drink is fun because it has caramel swirled on the glass and caramel-flavored cold foam on top!

    • To make caramel cold foam iced coffee, start by drizzling caramel ice cream topping on the sides of the cup and then add one cup of ice cubes.
    • Next, pour 3/4 cup of cold brew coffee concentrate over the ice cubes. You can also add water for weaker coffee.
    • Then, pour one to two tablespoons of caramel coffee syrup and a couple of tablespoons of half-and-half over the top.
    • Finally, make the cold foam, adding 1/2 teaspoon of caramel syrup to the milk before whipping it. Add a pinch of salt for salted caramel cold foam. Spoon the caramel cold foam onto the drink.
    pouring half and half into iced coffee

    Cold Brew Latte Recipe

    A cold brew latte is made with coffee concentrate and milk! You can add flavoring if you prefer, or keep it simple with only cold brew and milk.

    • Put one cup of ice cubes into a cup.
    • Add 3/4 cup of cold brew concentrate (add water for weaker flavor).
    • Top it with 1/4 cup of whole milk.
    • Or skip the ice cubes and warm the concentrate in the microwave before adding milk for a hot latte.

    Storage Instructions

    Store cold brew concentrate in the refrigerator in a covered container for 3-4 days for the best flavor or up to a week!

    a hand pouring cold brew into a cup

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make decaf cold brew coffee?

    Yes, you can use decaf coffee grounds to make decaf cold brew.

    Why is cold brew better?

    It is better because the coffee is smoother, less bitter, and less acidic than other coffee since hot water extracts the bitter flavor from the coffee.

    What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?

    The difference is that cold brew coffee is made in cold water over a longer period of time, and iced coffee is brewed hot and then poured over ice.

    Can you drink cold brew coffee hot?

    Yes, you can warm cold brew coffee to enjoy it hot.

    More Coffee Recipes

    • Here’s How To Make Iced Coffee with an espresso machine, instant coffee, and a Keurig.
    • You can make Cold Foam at home for all of your iced coffee drinks!
    • An Iced Chai Latte is chai tea, milk, and espresso over ice.
    • This Mocha Punch is a combination of chocolate, coffee, and ice cream!
    • A Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake Frappe is topped with streusel topping.
    • This Peppermint Mocha Whipped Coffee is perfect for the holidays.
    iced vanilla cold brew in a glass

    Cold Brew Coffee

    Cold Brew Coffee is SUPER easy to make with only coffee and water! Add your favorite syrup, cream, and cold foam for the perfect summer drink.
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Additional Time: 1 day day
    Total Time: 1 day day 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5
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    Equipment

    • Milk Frother
    • Can Shaped Glasses
    • Cheesecloth
    • Mesh Strainers Set

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup ground coffee
    • 3 cups filtered water

    Instructions

    • Put the ground coffee in a pitcher or a bowl. Pour the water over the coffee and stir to moisten all of the coffee grounds.
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours for stronger cold brew coffee.
    • Line a fine-mesh strainer with a couple of layers of cheesecloth and place it over a bowl. Strain the coffee and discard the grounds.
    • Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. It is best when used within a week but may last up to two weeks.

    Video

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    Notes

    One: Storage

    Store in the fridge in a covered container for 3-4 days for the best flavor or up to a week.

    Two: Vanilla

    Use one cup of ice cubes, 3/4 cup of cold brew (add water for water flavor), 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup, and 1/4 cup of half-n-half.

    Three: Salted Caramel

    Drizzle caramel ice cream topping inside the cup. Add one cup of ice cubes, 3/4 cup of cold brew, 1-2 tablespoons of caramel coffee syrup, 2 tablespoons of half-n-half, and top with salted caramel cold foam.

    Four: Cold Brew Latte

    Put 1 cup of ice cubes into a cup, add 3/4 cup of cold brew (add water for weaker flavor), and top with 1/4 cup of whole milk. You can also skip the ice cubes and warm the cold brew in the microwave before adding milk for a warm latte.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/2 cup | Calories: 1kcal | Sodium: 7mg | Calcium: 4mg
    Course: Beverages
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

    More Coffee

    • Iced coffee in a cup with a green straw.
      How To Make Iced Coffee
    • Cold foam on a glass of iced cold brew coffee with a glass straw.
      How To Make Cold Foam
    • Peppermint mocha coffee.
      Peppermint Mocha Whipped Coffee
    • Iced pumpkin spice latte.
      Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Tonia Larson from The Gunny Sack.

    Hi, I'm Tonia! Welcome to The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 14+ years! Meet Tonia Larson →

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