Cold Brew Coffee

Featured in Refreshing Drink Recipes for Every Occasion.

This hassle-free cold brew recipe uses coarsely ground coffee and water left to soak overnight. The result? A mellow, low-acid coffee concentrate you can drink hot or chilled.

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Updated on Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:54:38 GMT
A mason jar with cold coffee being poured, with scattered coffee beans on the surface around it. Pin it
A mason jar with cold coffee being poured, with scattered coffee beans on the surface around it. | chefmelt.com

Need a foolproof way to make delicious cold brew at home that's better than what you'd get at cafes? Here's my go-to method for creating smooth, zero-bitterness iced coffee! Making it yourself costs way less than buying it out, and this simple approach guarantees amazing results every single time. Believe me, after you've tried brewing cold coffee this way, you won't ever look back!

Time For Some Coffee Magic

This straightforward technique involves just four basic steps. Begin with roughly ground coffee beans for your DIY brew - it really transforms the final product. Soak it overnight in room temperature water, filter it come morning, and boom - you've got perfect cold brew concentrate ready to enjoy any way you prefer!

Benefits Of DIY Brewing

Whipping up cold brew at home totally makes sense! My simple technique creates coffee that's naturally mellow and silky, never harsh. You can tweak how strong your homemade batch is exactly to your taste, and one preparation lasts the entire week. On top of that, this straightforward approach saves tons of cash compared to daily purchases!

Ways To Drink It

Regular Over Ice
Mix your concentrate with ice, add some water or milk - delicious every time!
Heat It Through
This simple technique works wonderfully heated too - just warm it slowly.
Personalize It
Dress up your DIY cold brew with half-and-half, flavored syrups, or spices.

My Top Tricks

For awesome DIY cold brew without fail: Pick coarse coffee grounds in this simple technique - finer ones turn it bitter. Clean water creates tastier coffee, and don't let it steep beyond 15 hours. My favorite hack for this homemade batch? Put some in ice cube trays to chill your drink without making it watery!

A glass jar is being filled with dark, brewed coffee. Pin it
A glass jar is being filled with dark, brewed coffee. | chefmelt.com

Creative Variations

This simple technique leaves tons of room for tweaking! Try putting vanilla in your DIY cold brew, or pop in a cinnamon stick while it sits. I sometimes swap regular water for coconut water in my homemade batch - it's fantastic! This straightforward approach even works perfectly as a foundation for mocha when you add some chocolate syrup.

Reuse Those Coffee Grounds

After finishing your DIY cold brew, hang onto those grounds! They work great in my garden compost pile - plants go crazy for them. You can craft a DIY body scrub, or use dried ones to soak up smells. This homemade approach keeps on giving long after you've finished your coffee!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why use coarse coffee grounds?

Coarse grounds keep the coffee from tasting too bitter and make filtering much easier.

→ Is the steeping time important?

12 hours is the sweet spot. Less time gives you weak coffee, and too much steeping makes it taste harsh.

→ Can pre-ground coffee work?

Absolutely, but make sure you ask for a coarse grind; the usual fine ground stuff isn't ideal for this.

→ How long can I store it?

It stays fresh for up to 7 days if kept in a sealed container in the fridge.

→ Why make cold brew over hot coffee?

It has a softer, less tangy flavor and is superb for making iced coffee drinks.

Cold Brew Coffee

Whip up a refreshing cold brew coffee with just water and some coffee beans. Let it steep overnight for best results.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
~
Total Time
10 Minutes

Category: Beverages

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 3 Servings (1)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 4 cups (907g) of water.
02 1 cup (113g) of whole coffee beans.

Instructions

Step 01

Set your coffee grinder to the coarsest level and crush the beans until they’re a bit like rough cornmeal.

Step 02

Put the ground coffee into a big container, then pour in the water.

Step 03

Give it all a gentle stir to make sure all the coffee grounds are soaked.

Step 04

Cover it up and leave it to brew for 12 hours. You can keep it at room temp or pop it in the fridge.

Step 05

Get a strainer and line it with a piece of cheesecloth.

Step 06

Pour the coffee through the prepared strainer to separate the liquid from the grounds.

Step 07

Move the strained coffee into a storage container.

Step 08

When you're ready to drink, adjust it by adding water or milk until it tastes just the way you want.

Step 09

Pour it over ice for a refreshing cold drink or warm it up for a cozy hot coffee.

Notes

  1. You can make this using a French press instead.
  2. The strength can be customized to your liking.
  3. Store it for a week in the fridge.
  4. It’s easier on your stomach compared to regular hot coffee.

Tools You'll Need

  • A coffee grinder.
  • A large container for mixing.
  • Cheesecloth for straining.
  • A strainer to remove coffee grounds.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~