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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!
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.
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.
OTHER COFFEE RECIPES
Homemade Cold Brew
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!
Sabrina says
I have a cold brew making pitcher with a fine mesh filter tube that holds the coffee grounds and I also have filter bags that are sized for my 1 gallon glass drink jug. This makes preparing cold brew even easier by eliminating the hassle and mess of straining the finished brew.
The filter tube from my 1.3 L pitcher easily detaches from the inside of the lid, can be emptied into the trash from the top or bottom and is easy to clean. For the 1 gallon jug, just remove my filter bag from the jug when the brew is done and throw the mess away.
Lisa says
Thank you for the recipe! Where did you buy the glass for the cold brew? I love it!
Erin says
It's actually a tall Weck jar and you can buy them on Amazon or at the Container Store 🙂
El says
Hello,,, my daughter LOVES those glasses the iced coffee is in,,, would you be able to tell me where you got them please? I would love to shock her on Christmas morning with these under the tree... thank you in advance for your time