How to make Cold Brew Coffee that is easy, smooth and perfect for summer sipping! No fancy equipment required (just some good coffee 😉 )

cream being poured into a glass of iced coffee.

Love coffee? You might also like this Easy Frappe Recipe, copycat Starbucks Frappuccino or this Caramel Frappuccino!

I don’t want to admit it’s taken me until now to jump on the Cold Brew Coffee train, considering how much I love my coffee.

The thing is, I didn’t really understand the allure.

Whyyyyy did I need to start making my coffee a different way? I had a perfectly find coffee maker.

If we had leftover coffee, I’d stick it in the fridge to make myself an iced coffee later. Good enough right?

Wrong.

Cold brew coffee is a completely different thing, for a few reasons.

What is Cold Brew Coffee?

The biggest difference between cold brew and regular coffee is simple: cold brew is brewed with cold water.

Hot water pulls acid out of the coffee, which is harder on your body (stomach, teeth, etc.) and affects the taste. Cold brew is noticeably smoother and even a little naturally sweeter, so you don’t need to load it up with cream and sugar to enjoy it.

Note: Huffpost points out that regular brewed coffee contains a higher level of antioxidants, so there’s reason to enjoy both! 😉

cold brew coffee in a glass with ice and cream.

What do I need to make Cold Brew Coffee?

You can use a French Press or any large jar or pitcher, as long as you have cheesecloth or a coffee filter to strain out the grounds.

Making Cold Brew Coffee using a French Press:

A French press makes straining easy. If you need a larger batch (for a barbecue, camping trip, or just because), use a large glass pitcher and strain it through cheesecloth instead.

Making Cold Brew Coffee in a jar or pitcher:

Combine your coffee and water in a large mason jar or glass pitcher. Let it soak for the recommended time, then strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter set inside a mesh sieve.

How long does it take to make cold brew coffee?

The only downside to cold brew is the wait. Steep for 12-24 hours; we usually go the full 24 hours at room temperature for a nicely concentrated flavor. Twelve to 18 hours works too, but I wouldn’t go less than that.

Which coffee beans or grounds make the best cold brew?

Honestly, use what you like! Our favorite is a vanilla hazelnut variety from Costco. We prefer light or medium roast since dark roast tends to be more bitter, but any coffee you enjoy will work. Coarse ground coffee is generally recommended, though store-bought grounds will get you great results too.

Cold Brew Coffee recipe

written by Ashley Fehr

How to make Cold Brew Coffee that is easy, smooth and perfect for summer sipping! No fancy equipment required (just some good coffee 😉

square image of cream being poured into a glass of cold brew coffee.

4.80 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups filtered water
▢ ⅓ cup coarse ground coffee, light or medium roast

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Combine water and coffee in a french press or large pitcher or jar with a lid. Be sure to stir to moisten coffee grounds.
Let soak for 12-24 hours. Strain using the French press, a cheese cloth or coffee filter over a fine mesh sieve (see post above for more detailed notes).
Sweeten or add cream as desired (if you wish to sweeten, I recommend a liquid sweetener or coffee syrup as sugar won’t dissolve easily in cold coffee).

Video

Notes

We prefer a 1:6 coffee to water ratio. If you like stronger cold brew coffee, I would recommend a 1:5 or 1:4 coffee to water ratio (so 1 cup grounds to 5 or 4 cups water – the less water you use, the stronger it will be).

Nutrition

Calories: 3cal, Sodium: 13mg, Potassium: 19mg, Calcium: 8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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