Hey Coffee Co. Cold Brew Recipe

Combine coffee and water

Place 1 cup coarsely ground coffee into a large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, ensuring all grounds are saturated. Stir gently for 10–15 seconds to make sure there are no dry pockets.

Steep

Cover the jar and let the mixture steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16–20 hours. For a slightly brighter cup, steep on the shorter end (16 hours). For a fuller-bodied concentrate, steep closer to 20 hours.

Strain

After steeping, place a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth (or a coffee filter) over a bowl or another pitcher. Pour the steeped coffee through to separate grounds from liquid. If needed, strain a second time through a fresh filter to remove fine sediment. Transfer the filtered concentrate to an airtight bottle or container and refrigerate. Concentrate will keep 7–10 days refrigerated.

Dilute to serving strength

Fill a serving glass with 1 cup ice. Pour 1/2 to 1 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice (start with 1/2 cup for a 1:1 dilution, increase if you prefer a stronger drink). Add 1/2 to 1/2 cup cold water or milk to reach desired strength and creaminess. Typical ratio: 1 part concentrate to 1 part water/milk for ready-to-drink strength.

Sweeten and flavor (optional)

If you like sweetened cold brew, stir in 1 tablespoon simple syrup (or to taste). For a subtle vanilla note, add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract and stir until combined. If using granulated sugar, dissolve it first in a small amount of warm water or use a liquid sweetener so it blends easily.

Serve

Garnish with a straw and serve immediately over ice. Keep remaining concentrate refrigerated for future servings.

Clean jar, sieve, and any filters promptly after use to avoid oils and grounds drying on equipment. Adjust coffee-to-water ratio to taste: increase coffee for stronger concentrate (e.g., 1.25 cups coffee to 4 cups water) or reduce for milder concentrate.