Iced Coffee Recipe

Cold brew (makes about 4 cups concentrate)

Combine 1 cup coarsely ground coffee with 4 cups cold filtered water in a large jar or pitcher. Stir gently to saturate grounds, cover, and steep in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 12–18 hours. After steeping, strain through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean container. This yields a concentrate; dilute 1:1 with water or milk when serving (use 1 cup concentrate for this recipe).

Hot-brew / quick concentrate (alternate)

If you need iced coffee quickly, brew 1 cup very strong coffee using 1 cup hot water and 1/2 to 3/4 cup medium-ground coffee (use a French press or pour-over). Immediately cool: pour over an ice-filled heatproof container or place in the refrigerator to chill. This yields about 1 cup strong coffee to use in the assembly step.

If using granulated sugar, make simple syrup by combining equal parts sugar and hot water (for example, 2 tablespoons sugar + 2 tablespoons hot water). Stir until dissolved and cool. For the recipe, stir 2 tablespoons simple syrup into 1 cup coffee concentrate (adjust to taste). Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon if desired; mix well. Using a liquid sweetener or syrup prevents graininess in the cold drink.

Choose your milk: pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk, half-and-half, or plant milk per 1 cup coffee, adjusting richness to taste. For a creamier iced latte, use 1 cup milk and skip additional water. If you want cold foam, chill milk and froth 1/4 cup using a milk frother or vigorously shake in a jar for 30 seconds until foamy.

Fill a tall glass with 1 cup ice cubes.

Pour 1 cup coffee concentrate or strong brewed coffee over the ice.

Add sweetener mixture (about 2 tablespoons simple syrup) and 1 teaspoon vanilla, if using. Stir to combine.

Pour in 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk or your chosen dairy/non-dairy. For an iced latte, use 1 cup milk and omit extra water. Stir gently to combine; top with prepared cold foam if desired.

Garnish with a few whole coffee beans or a light dusting of cinnamon. Serve immediately with a straw.