Drip Recipe

Combine grounds and water

In a clean pitcher or jar, add 1 cup coarsely ground dark roast coffee. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water evenly over the grounds so all grounds are saturated. Stir gently with a spoon to ensure no dry pockets remain.

Steep

Cover the jar and let the mixture steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12 to 18 hours. Longer steeping yields a stronger concentrate; 12 hours gives a bright but balanced brew, 18 hours produces a bolder, more chocolatey profile.

Strain

After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or a double layer of cheesecloth into a clean container. Press or gently squeeze the grounds to extract as much liquid as possible, then discard the spent grounds. You now have cold brew concentrate.

Adjust concentrate (optional)

If the concentrate is too strong for your taste, dilute with cold filtered water at a ratio of 1:1 (concentrate:water) until desired strength is reached. For this recipe plan on using about 1 cup of finished cold brew (concentrate diluted as preferred) per serving.

Prepare dairy

If using heavy cream for a richer mouthfeel, whisk 1/4 cup heavy cream into 1 cup whole milk until slightly frothy. Alternatively, keep milk cold and use as-is for a lighter drink.

Optional froth

For a textured top, froth about 1/2 cup of the milk mixture with a handheld frother for 10–20 seconds until microfoam forms. Reserve for finishing.

Sweeten the brew

Stir 2 tablespoons simple syrup and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract into 1 cup of the finished cold brew (or into the diluted concentrate) until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust sweetness to preference. Reserve remaining syrup for other servings.

Fill a tall glass with 1/2 to 1 cup ice cubes (about 1 to 1.5 cups depending on glass size).

Pour the sweetened cold brew over the ice until the glass is about two-thirds full (approximately 8 ounces / 1 cup).

Gently pour the milk + cream mixture over the back of a spoon held just above the coffee surface to create a layered 'drip' effect, or pour directly for a marbled look. Use about 3 to 4 ounces (roughly 1/3 to 1/2 cup) milk mixture per serving.

Optional: Spoon the reserved milk foam on top for a silky crown.

Finish with a light pinch (about 1/8–1/4 tsp) of flaky sea salt across the top to enhance flavor, and garnish with a citrus peel twist if desired.

Serve immediately with a straw or stirrer so the drinker can mix to desired uniformity.