DIY Cold Brew Coffee for Foolproof Iced Coffee at Home

I love coffee. At times I think there should be a coffee addicts support group for people like me. While I love my traditional hot cup of joe, sometimes I like to change it up and drink some cold. I love coffee dates (you know where *wink*) but hate the price tag. So I make my own DIY cold brew coffee for foolproof iced coffee at home.

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Why DIY Cold Brew Coffee?

I am asked a lot why I brew cold brew coffee for my iced coffee instead of just using my leftover traditional brewed coffee. To me, that’s a no brainer, but let me explain.

Coffee releases antioxidants when it is hot-brewed. While these antioxidants can be healthier for the coffee-drinker, they also create a bitterness in the coffee. This bitter taste is not complementary for iced coffee drinks, which tend to be sweeter. Cold brewing coffee to drink cold keeps the bitterness from extracting from the coffee.

You can read more about the chemistry of brewing coffee here.

How to Cold Brew Coffee at Home

Making cold brew coffee concentrate at home is simple. It takes a minimum amount of effort, just a bit of patience to make it perfect.

You will need:

• 4 3/4 cups coarsely ground coffee beans
• 6 cups cold water

Simply stir together the ground coffee and cold water. I recommend making it in a 1/2 gallon mason jar (which is what I use). This already has the lid to store this as it steeps without contamination.

Let your coffee steep at room temperature for at least 10 hours or up to 24 hours.

After your coffee has steeped, line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth. Center over a large funnel (I use my canning funnel) over another clean 1/2 gallon mason jar. Pour the coffee through the strainer, pressing slightly with a wooden spoon.

Discard the used coffee grounds (or save them for use in the garden this spring). Store the coffee concentrate in the refigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Make Your Perfect Cup of Iced Coffee

• 1/2 cup DIY Cold Brew Coffee
• 2 tsp sweetener (I like my sugar free vanilla syrup)
• 1/4 cup half-and-half or whole milk

Fill a glass with ice. Add coffee and sweetener, stirring to combine. Top with milk and enjoy.

DIY Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 3/4 cups coarsely ground coffee beans
• 6 cups cold water

Make Your Perfect Cup of Iced Coffee

• 1/2 cup coffee concentrate
• 2 tsp sweetener
• 1/4 cup milk or half-and-half

Instructions

• Simply stir together the ground coffee and cold water. I recommend making it in a 1/2 gallon mason jar (which is what I use). This already has the lid to store this as it steeps without contamination.
• Let your coffee steep at room temperature for at least 10 hours or up to 24 hours.

Make Your Perfect Cup of Iced Coffee

• Fill a glass with ice. Add coffee and sweetener, stirring to combine. Top with milk and enjoy.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: coffee

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