Iced Coffee Recipe

Combine coffee and water

Add 1 cup coarsely ground coffee to a clean mason jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, ensuring all grounds are wet. Stir gently to combine.

Steep

Cover the jar or pitcher and let the mixture steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12 to 18 hours. A longer steep (up to 18 hours) yields a stronger concentrate.

Strain

After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean container. If needed, strain a second time to remove remaining sediment. The result is a cold brew concentrate (roughly 1:4 coffee:water).

Store

Cover and refrigerate the concentrate for up to 1 week.

Prepare glass

Fill a tall glass with 1 cup ice cubes.

Dilute concentrate

Pour 1 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice, then add 1 cup cold water or milk (adjust ratio to taste; use more water for a milder coffee, or more concentrate for stronger).

Sweeten and flavor

Add about 2 teaspoons simple syrup (or sweetener to taste). If using flavored syrup, add 1 teaspoon. Stir gently to combine. Note: simple syrup mixes easily into cold drinks; granulated sugar will not dissolve well.

Finish with dairy (optional)

Add 2 tablespoons milk, cream, or half-and-half if you prefer a creamier iced coffee. Stir or gently pour to create a layered look.

Garnish and serve

Insert a straw, optionally add a sprinkle of cocoa or cinnamon, and serve immediately. Adjust sweetness or milk to taste.

Rinse the used coffee grounds from the sieve or cheesecloth and compost the grounds if desired. Clean the pitcher and glassware as usual.