Cold Brew Recipe

Combine coffee and water

Add 1 cup coarsely ground coffee to a clean large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water evenly over the grounds so all grounds are saturated. Stir gently for 10–15 seconds to ensure no dry pockets remain.

Steep

Cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap and let steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16 to 20 hours. Room temperature will yield slightly brighter flavors; refrigerated steeping yields a smoother, cleaner profile.

First strain

After steeping, place a fine mesh sieve lined with one sheet of cheesecloth (or a coffee filter) over a clean container. Pour the coffee slowly through the sieve to separate most of the grounds. Discard the grounds or compost them.

Second strain (for clarity)

Line the sieve with a fresh sheet of cheesecloth or a new coffee filter and pour the brewed coffee through again to remove finer particles. This step results in a clearer concentrate and reduces sediment in the final cup.

Store

Transfer the filtered cold brew concentrate to a sealed container and refrigerate. The concentrate keeps for up to 7–10 days; best consumed within 5 days for peak freshness.

Dilute to taste: pour 2 parts cold brew concentrate to 1 part water or milk over ice (typical 1:1 to 1:2 concentrate-to-diluent range). For a single 8 fl oz serving, combine 4 fl oz concentrate with 4 fl oz milk or water over ice.

Sweeten if desired: add simple syrup or preferred sweetener to taste (start with 1–2 tbs per 8 fl oz serving). Stir to combine.

Serve: add ice, pour the diluted cold brew into a glass, stir, and enjoy. Store remaining concentrate refrigerated.

Rinse equipment immediately to prevent staining. Compost used grounds or dispose of them. Wash jar, sieve, and other tools with warm soapy water.