3.78 45 Published Apr 26, 2021, Updated May 22, 2024 It all started with a trip to Austin, Texas! We discovered cold brew and I became totally hooked, but when we got back to Richmond we couldn’t find it anywhere so we has to start making it at home. We bought a Toddy cold brew system and the rest is history! Don’t worry, you don’t have to have a cold brew maker for the recipe I’m sharing today. This method is really easy and requires minimal kitchen equipment.
What is Cold Brew Coffee?
Just in case you’re new to the concept, cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in room-temperature water for 12-24 hours. This creates a coffee concentrate that you mix with cold water or milk for a perfectly smooth and delicious cup of joe.
Why is Cold Brew Coffee So Much Better?
We routinely make a batch of cold brew concentrate to enjoy throughout the week during the spring/summer months. It’s become an essential part of our Sunday meal prep and one of my favorite ways to drink coffee. Here’s why:
Cold Brew Coffee Ingredients
coarsely ground coffee beans – if you buy your coffee beans from a coffee shop and don’t have a grinder, you can ask them to grind them for you! If you buy your coffee beans at the store, you can use the self-service area to grind the beans. You can also grind the beans at home if you have a personal grinder. cold water – use filtered water for optimal flavor! a large mason jar – any large container will do, I just prefer a large mason jar for storing.
How to Make Cold Brew
The recipe I’m sharing here is the basic technique that uses minimal kitchen equipment.
Mason Jar
French Press
Another option is to use a French press to make your cold brew. It depends on the size of your French press, but you may need to halve the recipe I’ve shared below to ensure it will fit in your French press.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
If you fall in love with making your own cold brew you may want to invest in a cold brew coffee maker like the Toddy cold brew system. With this system you can make a big batch of cold brew at once! We LOVE ours.
How to Serve Cold Brew
After letting your cold brew steep, you strain it and then you’ll have cold brew concentrate! Play around with how much water you need to dilute it based on how strong you like your coffee. I recommend using equal parts coffee concentrate to water so I would do a cup of ice with 1/2 cup cold brew concentrate with 1/2 cup of cold water. If you want your coffee a bit stronger I’d do 3/4 cup cold brew concentrate with 1/4 cup water. Add milk, cream and sugar to your liking and enjoy! Like I mentioned earlier, you can serve this warm or cold. If you want a warm cup of coffee simply add hot water or milk to the concentrate or pop your cup in the microwave.
Storing Cold Brew Concentrate
Make sure you strain the coffee grounds from the concentrate after allowing to steep for 12-24 hours. If you keep the grounds in your coffee, the end result will be stronger and more bitter. After straining, store the cold brew concentrate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like to use a large mason jar or glass carafe for this!
More Coffee Drinks to Try
Creamy Iced Coffee Healthy Frappuccino Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee) Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Macadamia Milk Latte Protein Coffee
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.
