Homemade Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
Make cold brew coffee concentrate at home with 2 ingredients. Skip the coffee shop and build your own iced coffee bar for the week.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely ground coffee medium or dark roast works best
- 6 cups cold filtered water
Instructions
- Add the coarsely ground coffee to a large pitcher, Mason jar, or other non-reactive container.
- Pour the cold filtered water over the coffee grounds.
- Stir gently until all of the grounds are completely saturated.
- Cover the container and refrigerate for 18 to 24 hours.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl or pitcher and line it with cheesecloth, a nut milk bag, or a coffee filter.
- Slowly pour the coffee through the filter. If needed, strain a second time for an extra-smooth concentrate.
- Transfer the finished concentrate to a clean glass bottle or Mason jar with a lid.
Storage
- Store refrigerated for up to 10 days.
How to Make One Glass of Iced Coffee
- Ingredients
- Ice
- ½ cup Homemade Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
- ½ cup milk, half-and-half, or your favorite dairy-free milk
- 1–2 tablespoons homemade coffee syrup, if desired
Instructions
- Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice.
- Add your favorite coffee syrup, if using.
- Pour in the coffee concentrate.
- Add the milk.
- Stir until well combined and enjoy.
Favorite Flavor Combinations
- Vanilla – Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup + whole milk
- Caramel – Homemade Caramel Coffee Syrup + flaky sea salt
- Mocha – Homemade Chocolate Coffee Syrup + whipped cream
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon – Brown Sugar Cinnamon Coffee Syrup + half-and-half
- Hazelnut – Homemade Hazelnut Coffee Syrup + cream
- Toasted Coconut – Homemade Coconut Coffee Syrup + coconut milk
Notes
Tips for the Best Cold Brew
Use coarsely ground coffee. Fine grounds can make the concentrate cloudy and bitter.
Filtered water produces a cleaner, smoother flavor.
Medium and dark roast coffees create the richest concentrate, while lighter roasts have brighter, fruitier notes.
For a stronger concentrate, increase the coffee to 2½ cups per 8 cups of water.
Cold brew concentrate is designed to be diluted before drinking. Mix it with milk, water, or a combination of both to suit your taste.
This concentrate is the foundation for an easy homemade coffee bar. Make one batch on Sunday, keep a few homemade flavored syrups in the refrigerator, and you'll have café-style iced coffee ready in just a minute all week long—for a fraction of the cost of a daily coffee shop run.
Use coarsely ground coffee. Fine grounds can make the concentrate cloudy and bitter.
Filtered water produces a cleaner, smoother flavor.
Medium and dark roast coffees create the richest concentrate, while lighter roasts have brighter, fruitier notes.
For a stronger concentrate, increase the coffee to 2½ cups per 8 cups of water.
Cold brew concentrate is designed to be diluted before drinking. Mix it with milk, water, or a combination of both to suit your taste.
This concentrate is the foundation for an easy homemade coffee bar. Make one batch on Sunday, keep a few homemade flavored syrups in the refrigerator, and you'll have café-style iced coffee ready in just a minute all week long—for a fraction of the cost of a daily coffee shop run.