Lee's Cold Brew W/ Sweet Cream Recipe

Combine and steep

In a clean 1‑liter (or larger) jar or pitcher, add 1 cup coarsely ground coffee. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, making sure all grounds are saturated. Stir once gently to ensure even wetting.

Cover the jar and steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16 to 20 hours. Longer steep (up to 24 hours) yields a stronger, more concentrated brew; 16 hours is a good balance.

After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine mesh sieve lined with a double layer of cheesecloth, a nut-milk bag, or a paper coffee filter. Pour slowly and allow the concentrate to drip; you should end up with roughly 3 to 3.5 cups of cold brew concentrate. Discard grounds or compost them.

Transfer the cold brew concentrate to a sealed container and refrigerate until ready to use (keeps 7–10 days refrigerated).

Mix sweet cream base

Chill a medium mixing bowl. Pour 3 cups heavy cream and 1 cup whole milk into the bowl. Add 2 tsp vanilla extract and 3 tbsp simple syrup (adjust sweetness to taste).

Using a hand mixer or whisk, whisk the mixture for 30–60 seconds until slightly thickened but still pourable — you want a velvety pourable cream, not whipped peaks. Alternatively, for an ultra-smooth texture, combine ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously for 30–45 seconds.

Taste and adjust sweetness or vanilla, then refrigerate the sweet cream until cold. It will thicken slightly in the fridge; stir gently before using.

Fill a tall glass with 1 cup ice cubes.

Pour 1 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice. If the concentrate is very strong, dilute with 2–3 tbsp cold water, or reduce concentrate amount to taste. Stir once.

Gently pour or float 1/4 cup sweet cream over the top of the cold brew. The cream should form a layer and gradually cascade into the coffee when stirred.

Optional: lightly dust the top with ground cinnamon or cocoa to garnish. Serve with a straw or stirrer so the drinker can mix to taste.

Store any leftover sweet cream refrigerated for up to 5 days. Use cold brew concentrate within 7–10 days.