Cold Brew Recipe

Combine coffee and water

Place 1 cup coarsely ground coffee in a clean large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, making sure all grounds are saturated. Stir gently to ensure even wetting.

Steep

Cover the jar or pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap. Let the mixture steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16 to 20 hours. Longer steep (up to 24 hours) yields a stronger, more concentrated brew; shorter (12–14 hours) yields lighter flavor.

Strain

After steeping, place a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or use a nut milk bag over a clean pitcher or bowl. Slowly pour the steeped coffee through the sieve to catch the grounds. If using cheesecloth, you may need to strain a second time through a clean layer to remove fine sediment.

Optional second filtration

For an extra-clear concentrate, strain the liquid again through a clean fine-mesh sieve or a paper coffee filter. Transfer the finished cold brew concentrate to a sealed container and refrigerate. Concentrate will keep 7–10 days refrigerated.

Fill a tall glass with about 1 cup ice.

Pour 1 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice.

Dilute with up to 1 cup cold water or milk, depending on desired strength and creaminess. Typical ratio is 1 part concentrate to 1 part water/milk for ready-to-drink strength; adjust to taste.

Add sweetener if desired. Stir to combine. For best mixing, use simple syrup or pre-dissolved sweetener. Taste and adjust dilution or sweetness to preference.

Serve immediately. Store any unused concentrate refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 10 days; dilute only when serving.

Discard used spent coffee grounds or compost them. Rinse and wash the jar, sieve, and cheesecloth/nut bag with warm soapy water; allow to air dry.