Iced Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Make Iced Cold Brew Coffee 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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Cold Brew Concentrate
To Serve
Equipment & Extras
Method
Cold Brew Concentrate
- 1
Combine coffee and water
Place coarsely ground coffee in the bottom of a clean large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, making sure all grounds are saturated. Stir gently for 10–15 seconds to ensure even wetting.
- 2
Steep
Cover the jar with a lid (or plastic wrap) and let steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16–20 hours. Steeping 16 hours yields a balanced concentrate; up to 20 hours gives a stronger extraction.
- 3
Filter the concentrate
After steeping, place a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or a double layer of cheesecloth over a large bowl or another pitcher. Slowly pour the coffee and grounds through the filter. Allow it to drain naturally—do not press or squeeze—to avoid grit. If needed, filter a second time for clarity.
- 4
Store the concentrate
Transfer the filtered cold brew concentrate to a clean sealed container and refrigerate. Concentrate will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week (best within 4–5 days).
To Serve
- 5
Dilute and sweeten
For each serving, combine 1/2 cup cold brew concentrate with 1/2 cup cold water or milk in a glass (adjust ratio to taste; common range is 1:1 to 1:2 concentrate:water/milk). If you prefer sweetened, stir in simple syrup or your preferred sweetener—about 1–2 teaspoons for lightly sweetened; adjust to taste. Simple syrup mixes better than granulated sugar when cold.
- 6
Add ice and finish
Fill the serving glass with 1 cup ice cubes. Pour the diluted cold brew over the ice. If desired, add 1–2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk and give a gentle stir or create a layered look by pouring cream slowly over the back of a spoon.
- 7
Variations and tips
For a creamier iced coffee, use cold foam, half-and-half, or a splash of sweetened condensed milk. To make a mocha variation, stir in 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup. For a larger pitcher, scale the concentrate and dilution ratio proportionally.
Cleanup and Storage
- 8
Discard used coffee grounds (compost if possible) and rinse equipment. Rinse filter or discard paper filter. Clean jar and pitcher with warm soapy water.
