• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Almond Eater logo

  • Recipes
  • Recipes
    • Recipes by Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Sides
    • Recipes by Diet
      • Vegetarian
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Vegan
      • Mediterranean Diet
      • Paleo
      • Whole30
  • Meet Erin
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Home » Drinks » Homemade Cold Brew Coffee

Homemade Cold Brew Coffee

By Erin · January 5, 2020 · Updated July 19, 2020 · 1 Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Making homemade cold brew coffee is incredibly simple, and this post will show you how + give tips on making the best cold brew from the comfort of your own home! 

glass of cold brew with milk

As we kick off the new year, I think it’s time we start making the very best coffee at home! And by “we” I mostly mean “I” because I do enjoy getting lattes from a coffee shop, but I also really love prepping cold brew coffee at home.

I’ve been making homemade cold brew for a few years now, though not super regularly. If you like to switch up your coffee routine, you should definitely try this crazy simple cold brew recipe.

WHAT IS COLD BREW?

Great question! Cold brew is very different from traditional coffee, and here’s why: cold brew coffee never gets hot. Traditional coffee–drip coffee, coffee made in a french press–is made by combining coffee with hot water, and as a result the coffee is done within minutes. Cold brew, on the other hand, is made by pouring cold water over the coffee and then letting the coffee steep for HOURS vs. minutes.

The reason this is beneficial is because the longer coffee steeps, the more flavorful it becomes. If you’re a fan of iced coffee, I have a feeing you’ll like cold brew even more.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE COLD BREW

Start by adding coffee grounds–I recommend 2 cups–to a large pitcher. Then, pour 8 cups of filtered water overtop and let the coffee steep for 8-18 hours at room temperature.

Next, pour the coffee through a fine mesh strainer into another pitcher, discarding the coffee grounds. NOTE: you may have to do this twice to make sure there aren’t any remaining coffee grounds still in the coffee.

Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight and you’re good to go! It really is that simple.

step-by-step how to make cold brew

DOES IT MATTER WHAT KIND OF COFFEE I USE?

Yes, though the kind of coffee you use is up to you. The higher quality the coffee is, the better the cold brew will taste, plain and simple. But, if you prefer a dark roast, use a dark roast and if you’re more of a blonde roast person, go that route. Every kind of coffee has its own unique flavor, so it may take a bit of trail and error to find your ideal blend.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST COLD BREW

  • Grinding your own coffee will only enhance the flavor. Though you can use absolutely use a coffee grinder, you can also use a Nutribullet (yes really!)
  • The longer you let the coffee steep, the more flavorful it will be and the more coffee you’ll end up with. The ideal length for steeping coffee is 18 hours, but between you and me, I usually let mine sit for around 12 hours and I think it tastes great. I usually prep it in the morning around 7 am, then strain it around 7 pm and place it in the refrigerator overnight so it’s ready to go the next morning.
  • Hold off on the milk and/or cream. If you’re someone like me–that is, someone who loathes black coffee–you may want to add cream to your cold brew right away, but I’m going to advise you to take a sip of the black cold brew because you may be surprised at how much you like it as-is.

jar of cold brew coffee

OTHER COFFEE RECIPES

  • Cold Brew Protein Smoothie
  • Coffee Turmeric Smoothie
  • Cold Brew Cocktail
glass of cold brew with milk

Homemade Cold Brew

Making homemade cold brew coffee is incredibly simple, and this post will show you how + give tips on making the best cold brew from the comfort of your own home! 
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 hours
Servings: 8
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 2 cups ground coffee
  • 8 cups filtered water

Instructions

  • Pour coffee into a large pitcher. Then, pour water overtop and stir to combine. Allow coffee to sit at room temperature for 8-18 hours. The longer the coffee steeps, the more flavorful it will be.
  • Once it's steeped, pour coffee through a fine mesh strainer and into another pitcher, discarding the coffee grounds. NOTE: you may need to do this twice to make sure there aren't any remaining coffee grounds in the coffee. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight, then enjoy it cold either as-is or with a dash or milk/cream.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

*The higher quality coffee you use, the better your cold brew will taste!

Nutrition

Calories: 2kcal | Sodium: 12mg | Calcium: 7mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed Under: Drinks

Erin

About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Primary Sidebar

girl in kitchen

Hi, I’m Erin!

I share recipes for ALL diet types because I believe that healthy food should be incredibly delicious without being complicated. Learn more

Seasonal Picks

bowl of soup with pasta

Vegan Tomato Soup

bowl of soup with a spoon

Chorizo Sweet Potato Soup

bowl of soup with a spoon in it

Easy Black Bean Soup

instant pot vegetable soup

Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

Popular Recipes

stir fry in a skillet

Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

a bowl of pasta with lentils and red sauce

Lentil Bolognese Recipe (Vegan + Gluten Free)

sweet potato brownies

Flourless Sweet Potato Brownies

baked tofu

Crispy Baked Tofu

dog eating cake

Mini Dog Birthday Cake

Caramelized Onion Spaghetti Squash | squash filled with onions, mushrooms and kale for a healthy, vegetarian meal | thealmondeater.com

Caramelized Onion Spaghetti Squash

Download my Mediterranean Diet Guide for free!

And never miss one of my quick+healthy recipes.

As Featured On

Footer

  • Contact
  • Privacy

Copyright© 2021 | The Almond Eater. Site Credit

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter