Description
Cold Brew Coffee offers a smooth, rich, and refreshing coffee experience with low acidity and bitterness. Perfect for any time of day, this easy-to-make at-home recipe brings out the best flavors of your favorite beans through a slow steeping process, resulting in a velvety concentrate that can be enjoyed over ice or with plant-based milk and natural sweeteners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup coarsely ground coffee (medium or dark roast)
- 4 cups filtered water
Optional Additions
- Natural sweetener (honey (natural), maple syrup (natural), or agave (natural)), to taste
- Plant-based milk (e.g., oat milk, almond milk, plant-based creamers)
- Vanilla extract (natural) or cinnamon (natural), to taste
Variations
- Cinnamon sticks or cardamom pods (natural gelling agent) for spiced cold brew
- Cocoa powder or plant-based chocolate syrup (natural) for a mocha flavor
- Fresh orange juice or orange zest for a citrus brightness
- Rose water (natural) or mint extract (natural) for flavored cold brew
Instructions
- Measure and Grind: Start with coarsely ground coffee beans; use about 1 cup of coffee to 4 cups of filtered water for balanced strength. The coarse grind helps prevent over-extraction and bitterness.
- Combine Coffee and Water: Place the coffee grounds in a large jar or pitcher. Pour filtered water evenly over the grounds. Stir gently to ensure all grounds are saturated, then cover tightly.
- Steep Slowly: Let the mixture steep in the refrigerator for 12 to 18 hours. This slow extraction infuses the water with deep coffee flavor while keeping acidity low.
- Strain Thoroughly: After steeping, strain the mixture using a fine mesh sieve lined with a natural gelling agent cloth or a coffee filter to remove the grounds and leave behind a smooth, rich concentrate.
- Dilute and Serve: Mix cold brew concentrate with water or your favorite plant-based milk to taste. Add your preferred natural sweetener if desired and pour over ice for a refreshing treat.
Notes
- Use freshly roasted and ground coffee beans for the most vibrant flavor.
- Always steep and store cold brew in the refrigerator for best taste and freshness.
- Adjust coffee-to-water ratios to achieve your preferred strength.
- Strain carefully using a natural gelling agent cloth or paper filter to keep the brew clean and sediment-free.
- Serve cold brew over plenty of ice or with chilled plant-based milk for the best experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 to 18 hours (steeping)
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Cold Steeping
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 5-10 (without sweetener or milk)
- Sugar: 0 g (without sweetener)
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0-2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Cold Brew Coffee, Smooth Coffee, Iced Coffee, Plant-Based Milk Coffee, Natural Sweetener Coffee, Refreshing Coffee Drink
