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Making cold brew coffee at home is easier than ever with this recipe! All it requires is your favorite coffee beans, water, and a little bit of time to achieve a cup of coffee that is smooth, rich, and delicious!
Cold brew coffee has become very hot in recent years! It’s all the rage in coffee shops like Starbucks but it can easily be made right at home – and for a fraction of the price!
What is cold brew coffee?
What differentiates cold brew coffee from regular brewed coffee or even regular iced coffee is that it is made without heat. Yes, that’s right! It is brewed cold, hence the name!
Freshly ground coffee is mixed with cool water and is steeped in the fridge for an extended period of time (usually 18 – 24 hours) before being strained and served as desired.
Brewing coffee this way leads to a cup of java that is smooth, rich, and less acidic than regular coffee. It’s perfect served over ice with your favorite creamer or even topped with homemade cold foam!
What you need for this recipe
- Coffee Beans
- Water
- Coffee Grinder
- Large Container with Lid
- Wooden Spoon
- Large Measuring Cup
- Fine Mesh Strainer
- Cheese Cloth or Coffee Filters (optional)
Making Cold Brew Coffee at Home
- Coarsely grind the coffee beans. See section below on grinding and/or buying beans.
- Combine the grounds and water. Add the grounds to a large container, followed by cool water. Stirring gently to make sure all the beans have gotten wet.
- Cover and steep. Place the container in the fridge for at least 18 hours, up to 24. I like to do this overnight.
- Strain the coffee. Place a damp piece of cheese cloth in a fine mesh sieve set over a large measuring cup and pour the steeped cold brew into it.
- Serve the coffee. Use whatever kind of sweetener, creamers, or mix-ins you’d like. I, personally, love a splash of vanilla simple syrup and cream.
- Store the leftovers. Cold brew lasts up to seven days in the fridge!
Choosing the right coffee beans
What kind of beans should I use? A nice dark roast is best for cold brew coffee. The flavors have time to develop in the fridge so you get a big, bold cup of joe by using a dark roast. Of course, if you have a favorite bean that you really adore, feel free to use that!
Can you make decaf cold brew? Of course! We often do a half-caf batch in our house as I’m particularly sensitive to caffeine. Just use your favorite decaf beans and proceed with the recipe as written.
Grinding the coffee beans
Why coarse ground beans? It’s best to use beans that are coarse ground for this process because the increased surface area of the grind means the water can extract more coffee goodness.
Depending on the type of coffee grinder you are using, you may need to grind in batches. I have this grinder and I usually grind my beans in three batches. Just a few quick pulses per batch gets me to the perfect coarseness.
Can I use regular coffee grounds from the store? Yes, technically you can, but the results may not be as stunning as if you ground the beans fresh yourself. Of course, not everyone has a coffee grinder at home, and that is A-OK!
If you're using pre-ground coffee, it would be a good idea to strain the coffee twice after steeping, to be sure you're getting any small pieces of grounds out of the liquid.
An alternative to using store-bought ground coffee is to go to a coffee shop, select some beans, and ask them to coarsely grind them for you. Some grocery stores also have a section where you can select bulk beans and grind them in-store. Be sure to select the coarsest grind on the machine (sometimes labeled as French press).
Coffee and Water Measurements
In all my cold brew making and drinking experience, I have found that the best measurements for beans and water is a 1:8 ratio. 1 ounce of beans per 8 ounces of water makes a brew that is rich and bold without being too strong. If it is simpler to remember, think 1:1 – 1 ounce of coffee beans to 1 cup of water!
Of course, if you want a stronger brew, you can adjust the ratio to 1:6 (1 ounce of beans per 6 ounces of water) or even 1:4 if you want it to be more of a cold brew concentrate that can be diluted with water when serving.
How many cups is 6 ounces of beans? 6 ounces of coffee beans (what I call for in this recipe) is roughly 2 dry cups of whole beans. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, you can use a dry measuring cup to get the amount needed. You can also eyeball half of a 12-ounce bag of beans if you’re feeling wild.
Whatever measurement of coffee you use, be sure the container you're using for steeping is large enough to hold both the grounds and the water. I like to use 2-quart mason jars or Cambro containers.
Storing the Coffee
Properly stored, this cold brew will last for up to one week. It’s a great option to make on a day off and enjoy a glass every day before work. I like to give the jar a little shake before serving, as some settling is natural.
Making Cold Brew Coffee in a French Press
Making cold brew coffee in a French press is easy as can be! Simply add the grounds and water to the press, stir, let steep for at least 18 hours, and then press the plunger down before serving.
This is a great option if you’re wanting to make a small batch of fresh cold brew every day or every other day.
Disposing of Used Coffee Grounds
Not sure what to do with the grounds once you’ve strained the coffee? Try dumping them outside! Coffee grounds are a great addition to a compost pile (that’s what we do). Or sprinkle them over your garden to add lots of nutrients to the soil.
Ways to Serve Cold Brew Coffee
The main appeal of cold brew coffee for a lot of people is how smooth and rich it is without being acidic or difficult on one’s digestion. Because of the smooth flavor profile, cold brew coffee can be served simply plain over ice, or with your favorite sweeteners and creamers.
Be sure that if you’re sweetening the cold brew, the sweetener is a liquid such as a honey mint simple syrup, agave, or maple syrup. Sugar granules will not dissolve easily in an iced glass of cold brew and will stay all grainy on the bottom of the glass.
You can also top the glass of cold brew with homemade salted caramel cold foam, if desired!
Cold brew coffee can also be heated and served hot like regular brewed coffee, if that’s your thing.
Or! Turn some into homemade coffee ice cubes to keep your coffee drinks cold without water them down!
Easy Cold Brew Coffee at Home
Equipment
- Coffee Grinder
- Large Container with Lid
- Wooden Spoon
- Large Measuring Cup
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Cheese Cloth or Coffee Filters (optional)
Ingredients
- 6 ounces Coffee Beans
- 48 ounces (6 cups) Cool Water
Instructions
- Coarsely grind the coffee beans in a coffee grinder. (I typically grind my beans in three batches, for just a few pulses each.)
- In a large jar, combine the ground coffee and cool water, stirring well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 18 hours, up to 24.
- After the coffee has steeped, place a fine mesh sieve over a large measuring cup or bowl. If using, line the sieve with damp cheese cloth or a coffee filter.
- Slowly pour the coffee through the sieve. Discard the grounds as desired.
- To store the cold brew until ready to serve, rinse out the container you brewed the coffee in and pour the strained cold brew back into the container.
- Serve over ice with your favorite sweeteners and creamers as desired!
- Leftover cold brew coffee can be stored in the fridge for up to one week.
Notes
- If desired, you can strain the coffee a second time.
- 6 ounces of whole coffee beans equates to roughly 2 dry cups of whole beans.
- Refer to post for additional notes on coffee beans, serving, and steeping options.
Liz says
Do you use 6 ounces of whole beans which you say grinds into 2 cups of dry grounds? And then use 2 cups of grounds to 6 cups of water?
Or, do you grind the dry beans and use 6 ounces of the grounds to the 6 cups of water?
Amanda Gajdosik says
Hi Liz, the note states that 6 ounces of whole coffee beans is equivalent to roughly 2 measured cups of dry, whole beans, I will make sure it is stated even clearer in the recipe card. I made that note for those that do not have a kitchen scale. It would NOT be the same as 2 cups of ground coffee. Alternatively, if you don't have whole coffee beans or a kitchen scale, you can use 6 ounces of pre-ground coffee which would be half of a 12 ounce bag of grounds (that is the size most retailers sell grounds in). Also to note, if you are going to use the pre-ground, store-bought beans, the brew might not be as delicious, as those grounds are much finer than coarsely grinding 6oz/2 cups of beans at home.
You'll want to use all 6 ounces of the coffee grounds (whether you coarsely grind them yourself or use 6 ounces of pre-ground coffee) with the 6 cups of water. It keeps the 1:1 ratio of ounces of coffee to cups of water that we want for cold brew coffee.
I hope this helps and was clear enough for you!
Amanda