Cold Brew Recipe

Time20m

Serves6

Make Cold Brew Recipe in just 20m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Combine coffee and water
Place 1 cup coarsely ground coffee in a clean 1‑quart (or larger) jar, pitcher, or French press. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water evenly over the grounds to saturate them. Use the back of a spoon to gently stir so all grounds are wet and there are no dry pockets.
2
Steep
Cover the vessel with a lid, plastic wrap, or a towel. Let the coffee steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16 to 20 hours. (Longer steeping yields stronger, more extracted concentrate; 16 hours is a good starting point.)
3
Strain
After steeping, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter, double layer of cheesecloth, or a nut milk bag into a clean container. If using a French press, press down slowly and then decant through a second fine filter for clarity. Discard or compost the used grounds.
4
Store concentrate
Transfer the cold brew concentrate to an airtight container and refrigerate. The concentrate will keep 7–10 days chilled; best within the first week.

5
Dilute and sweeten (optional)
Fill a glass with about 1 cup ice. Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice (adjust to taste). Add 1/4 to 3/4 cup cold water or milk to dilute (typical ratio 1:1 to 1:3 concentrate:water/milk). Stir. If you want it sweet, add up to 2 tablespoons simple syrup or other liquid sweetener and stir to combine.
6
Serve
Taste and adjust: add more water/milk for a milder drink, or more concentrate for stronger. Serve immediately. Keep remaining concentrate refrigerated for future servings.