How To Make Cold Brew Iced Coffee At Home

Summer is just around the corner, and nothing is more refreshing in the heat of summer than a tall glass of cold brew coffee. Cold brew coffee, also commonly known as iced coffee, is everyone’s favorite caffeinated beverage with a cold twist.

The first time I made cold brew coffee at home, I thought, well I’ll just pour brewed coffee into a glass filled with ice, add some milk and call it a day. No. It tasted bad.

So, I did my research and found out I was doing it all wrong and that there was a much better method to homemade cold brew iced coffee.

I have been using this method ever since and I can tell you it’s a game changer. This cold brew iced coffee recipe is perfect for anyone craving a deliciously smooth and rich caffeine kick.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (4 ounces / 113 grams) whole coffee beans
• 4 cups (32 ounces / 907 grams) water

Equipment Needed

• Coffee or Spice Grinder
• French Press

Directions Using a French Press

1. Grind all of the coffee beans on the coarsest setting on your grinder or in 1-second pulses in an electric grinder. You will have just under 1 cup of coarse grounds.
2. Take the lid off the French press and place the coarsely ground coffee inside.
3. Pour in water to fill just below the top of the French Press. Stir the mixture to moisten and mix up all of the coffee grounds (try to find a wooden spoon for this to avoid causing scratches or cracks in the glass beaker).
4. Place the lid back on but do not press down the plunger. Place the French press in the refrigerator or leave it on the counter and let it steep overnight (12 hours).
5. Once the brewing is complete, press down the plunger and pour the coffee into your glass. If you’d like to dilute the concentrate, only pour enough to fill half your glass or mug and add in water to fill the rest.
6. Serve the coffee over ice. Feel free to add water, cream, milk or flavored sugar syrup to dilute the concentrate.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (4 ounces / 113 grams) whole coffee beans
• 4 cups (32 ounces / 907 grams) cold or room temperature water

Equipment Needed

• Coffee or Spice Grinder
• Pitcher
• Fine strainer
• Seal-able container

Directions Using a Pitcher

1. Grind all of the coffee beans on the coarsest setting on your grinder or in 1-second pulses in an electric grinder. You will have just under 1 cup of coarse grounds.
2. Place the coarsely ground coffee inside the pitcher.
3. Pour in the water. It will seep through the grounds and begin to fill the pitcher.
4. Give the mixture a stir and place it in the fridge to steep overnight or for 12 hours.
5. When the brewing is complete, strain the mixture.
6. Serve the coffee over ice. Feel free to add water, cream, milk or flavored sugar syrup to dilute the concentrate.
7. Store the remainder in a sealed container in the fridge

If you can’t finish all of your iced coffee in one day, let alone on sitting, don’t worry, you can always store it for later!

Without adding water to your concentrate, the concentrate will last up to two weeks in a properly air-tight container in your fridge. If you dilute it, it has a lifespan of about 2-3 days.

With that being said, like most things, the fresher it is the better it will taste.

Cold brew is quite different from hot coffee and has many perks. Aside from the high caffeine levels we just learnt about, cold brew is becoming the drink of choice amongst coffee junkies for various health reasons. Cold brew coffee benefits include:

Less Acidity

As we’ve already learned, cold brew never comes in contact with heat, so harsh acids and oils from the beans don’t get extracted. This makes it easier on your body and is a great alternative for those who suffer from acid reflux, indigestion or heartburn.

Taste

Because cold brew concentrate is less acidic, it naturally produces a chocolaty and smoother taste. Iced coffee tends to taste bitter and sour as a result of the heat, hence why we often need to add sweeteners and dairy to achieve the creamy and caramelized flavors.

Better for your stomach

When you drink beverages like coffee, with high-acidity, your body becomes disturbed and your stomach turns. Luckily, cold brew coffee consists of more alkaline than acidity which is essential for functioning and healing.