Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

Combine coffee and water

In a clean 1‑liter (or larger) jar or pitcher, add 1 cup coarsely ground coffee and 4 cups cold filtered water. Stir gently to ensure all grounds are saturated.

Steep

Cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap. Let steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12 to 18 hours. Longer steeping (up to 18 hours) yields a stronger, more concentrated brew.

Strain

After steeping, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter, cheesecloth, or a nut milk bag into a clean container. If needed, strain a second time to remove fine sediment. The liquid collected is cold brew concentrate.

Dilute (optional)

Taste the concentrate. Typical serving strength is 1 part concentrate to 1–2 parts water or milk. For this recipe assume a 1:1 dilution if you prefer standard strength: mix 1 cup concentrate with 1 cup water or milk when assembling the drink.

Store the unused concentrate covered in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Prepare glass

Fill a 12‑16 oz glass with 1 cup ice.

Add concentrate

Pour 1 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice. If your concentrate is very strong, pour 1/2 cup concentrate and 1/2 cup water instead.

Add milk

Choose one milk option and add 1/2 cup: whole milk, half & half, almond milk, or oat milk. Pour gently so you can see the swirl, or stir to combine.

Sweeten (optional)

If desired, add 2 teaspoons simple syrup (or sweetener of choice). For vanilla flavor add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; for flavored syrup add 1 tablespoon. Stir well to combine.

Taste and adjust

Taste the drink and adjust strength, milk, or sweetness to your preference. Add more milk for a creamier drink or more concentrate for stronger coffee.

Serve immediately with a straw or spoon. Enjoy chilled.