Cold Brew Recipe
Make Cold Brew Recipe in just 20h 20m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Coffee concentrate
To serve (optional)
Equipment (not consumed)
Method
Coffee concentrate
- 1
Measure and combine
Add 1 cup coarsely ground coffee to a clean large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, covering them completely. Stir gently to ensure all grounds are wet and no dry clumps remain.
- 2
Steep
Cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap. Let the coffee steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16 to 20 hours. Room temperature will extract slightly faster; refrigerated will be a bit cleaner-tasting. Do not agitate during this time.
- 3
First strain
After steeping, set a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl and pour the coffee + grounds through it to catch the bulk of grounds. Press gently on the grounds with the back of a spoon to extract remaining liquid—do not force too hard, to avoid pushing through fines.
- 4
Final filtration
Line the sieve with a paper coffee filter, cheesecloth, or a very fine cloth and pour the coffee through it into the jar or pitcher you'll store the concentrate in. This removes fine particles for a clear concentrate. If using a paper filter, filtration can take 5–10 minutes.
- 5
Store
Seal the concentrate and refrigerate. Cold brew concentrate will keep well for up to 10–14 days; best within the first week.
To serve
- 6
- 7
Sweeten and flavor: stir in simple syrup (about 1–2 tbs per 12 oz drink) and/or 1 tsp vanilla extract if desired. Tastes and quantities can be adjusted.
- 8
Serve over ice: add ice to a glass (about 1 cup), pour diluted cold brew over the ice, stir, and enjoy.
- 9
Notes on scaling: to make a larger batch keep the same coffee-to-water ratio (1:4 by volume for concentrate). For ready-to-drink strength, use 1:2 ratio (coffee:water) before steeping, but most recipes use concentrate then dilute.