How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home – Easy Recipe & Tips

Thanks to these extremely humid Mediterranean summers, we constantly find ourselves reaching for a cold refreshing beverage. More often than not, it is an iced coffee to keep us alert for the day’s lengthy to-do list. In the family of iced coffees is the trending cold brew beverage which is packed with caffeine and delicious flavor.

What is Cold Brew Coffee?

Not to be confused with iced coffee, cold Brew coffee is a coffee beverage that’s brewed with cold rather than hot water. It is made by steeping ground coffee in cold or room temperature water for 12 – 24 hours. While it usually depends on the origin of coffee beans used, cold brew coffee often tastes stronger than your typical hot brewed coffee. Despite its name and method of preparation, cold brew coffee can also be enjoyed hot, simply by heating it instead of adding ice.

Benefits of Cold Brew Coffee

Before we get into how to make the perfect cold brew coffee and potentially change your views on brewing your own coffee at home, let’s discuss its benefits.

• It may boost your metabolism as hot coffee does
• It can enhance your mood
• Thanks to its caffeine and magnesium properties, it may reduce your risk of heart disease
• As it’s slightly less acidic than hot coffee, it may not irritate your stomach as much and is less likely to result in acid reflux
• It is easy to make from the comfort of your own home and can be ready when you’re in a rush
• It improves focus and boosts alertness
• It is rich in antioxidants that can help reduce your risk of health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

How to Make the Perfect Cold Brew Coffee

Now that you’re familiar with many of the benefits of cold brew coffee, we imagine you are currently rummaging through your cupboards for some ground coffee beans. Let’s make some cold brew!

Equipment:

Here is what you will need to make cold brew coffee at home:

• A coffee grinder (if you are using whole beans)
• A jar
• A mesh strainer
• A wooden spoon

Ingredients:

For 2 cups of cold brew coffee, you will need:

• ½ a cup of freshly ground coffee beans
• 2 cups of filtered cold or room temperature water
• Ice (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place your freshly ground coffee beans in a jar
2. Pour the water over the grounds to saturate them all
3. Stir the mixture with the spoon to make sure all the grounds are wet
4. Cover the jar and let the coffee grounds steep on the counter or in the fridge for 12-24 hours. The longer you brew it, the stronger it gets.
5. Pour the coffee through a strainer and discard the ground coffee
6. To serve, pour over ice.
7. If you prefer it less strong, dilute it with cold water or a milk of your choice

Tips for Making the Best Cold Brew Coffee

• The typical ratio for cold brew is 1:4 beans to water but you are welcome to amend the recipe as per your preferences
• The longer you brew the coffee, the stronger it becomes
• If you’ve accidentally added too much coffee grounds or made it too strong, it can easily be diluted by steeping in in more cold water or adding milk or creamer to your cup
• If you don’t want to consume caffeine, you can swap the beans for decaf and it tastes just as good!
• Make it even more flavorful by adding a pump or two of your favorite flavored syrup to the cup

Conclusion

Have we convinced you to make cold brew yourself? Brew your favorite refreshing beverage overnight, with very minimal prep time and ingredients and equipment you already have in your pantry.