Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

Combine coffee and water

Place 1 cup coarsely ground coffee in a large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, ensuring all grounds are saturated. Stir gently to combine.

Steep

Cover the jar or pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap. Let steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16 to 20 hours for a smooth, balanced concentrate (12–24 hours range acceptable; longer yields stronger extraction).

Strain

After steeping, line a fine-mesh sieve with a coffee filter, double layer of cheesecloth, or a nut-milk bag over another large container. Pour the steeped mixture through the filter to separate grounds. If needed, strain a second time to remove fine particles. You now have cold brew concentrate.

Dilute (optional)

Taste the concentrate. For serving, dilute concentrate with cold water or milk at about a 1:1 ratio (1 part concentrate to 1 part water or milk) or adjust to taste. Reserve concentrate in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Fill a serving glass with 1 cup ice cubes (about 1 cup). Pour 1/2 to 1 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice depending on desired strength (use 1/2 cup concentrate + 1/2 cup water/milk for milder, or 1 cup concentrate for stronger).

Add 1/2 cup milk, half & half, almond milk, or oat milk (adjust quantity to taste). Stir gently to combine. If you prefer a sweeter drink, add 1–2 teaspoons simple syrup and stir until dissolved.

Taste and adjust: add more milk for creaminess, more concentrate for strength, or more simple syrup for sweetness.

Serve immediately over ice. Store any unused concentrate refrigerated (up to 2 weeks).