Cold brew coffee is rich, smooth and just as refreshing as iced coffee\u2014plus it’s surprisingly easy to make at home! You can use a French press, a\u00a0cold brew coffee maker<\/a>, or you can use our Test Kitchen’s go-to brewing method that utilizes a standard Mason jar and sieve. The process is straightforward, but there are a few tricks you can use to ensure this cold brew recipe tastes as good as the one you get from your local coffee shop.<\/p>\n
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Cold brew coffee is exactly what it sounds like: coffee brewed with cold water. The cold brewing technique reduces the coffee’s acidity, which in turn enhances its natural sweetness and complex flavor notes. Even those who take their hot coffee with sugar and cream might find cold brew coffee flavorful enough to enjoy plain.<\/p>\n
In case you’re wondering, there’s a notable difference between cold brew vs. iced coffee<\/a>. Iced coffee is hot coffee served over ice, whereas cold brew coffee is steeped for 12 to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Most people consider cold brew coffee to be smoother and less acidic, making it a terrific option for anyone with a sensitive stomach.<\/p>\n
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To make cold brew coffee, you only need two ingredients\u2014coffee and water\u2014plus a Mason jar and a sieve for straining. These are our top tips for making cold brew so good that you’ll ditch the cafe for good (OK, maybe you’ll still stop in for a scone):<\/p>\n
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Place the coffee grounds in a clean glass container. Stir in the cold water. Cover and refrigerate the brewing coffee for 12 to 24 hours. The longer the coffee sits, the stronger the flavor will be.<\/p>\n
Editor’s Tip: <\/em>Some members of our Test Kitchen recommend blooming the coffee (steeping the grounds in 1 cup of hot water for 10 minutes) before adding the remaining cold water. The near-boiling water releases carbon dioxide in the grounds, extracting more flavor from the beans.<\/p>\n
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Strain the coffee through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the grounds. Strain the coffee again through a coffee filter and discard the grounds. Serve the cold brew coffee over ice, with milk or cream if desired. Store the cold brew in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.<\/p>\n
Editor’s Tip:\u00a0<\/em>The second strain removes any fine particles or grounds, yielding the smoothest possible cup. If you don’t have a coffee filter, use cheesecloth or a clean linen napkin that you don’t mind staining.<\/p>\n
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Store the strained cold brew in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Keep it in the refrigerator, where it’ll stay good for up to two weeks. It will lose its brightness and aromatic properties over time, though, so try to enjoy it within a week.<\/p>\n
We love to freeze cold brew coffee in ice cube trays. The frozen coffee cubes are great for chilling iced coffee drinks without watering them down. Try using them in recipes like shaken espresso<\/a> or mocha frappe<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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Cold-brew coffee can be strong, depending on factors like steeping time, the type of coffee beans used and the ratio of coffee grounds to water. We recommend aiming for a stronger brew when you’re just starting. You can always dilute it with cold water or milk, but it’s harder to correct if you brew it too weak.<\/p>\n
You can make this cold brew coffee recipe with hot or cold water\u2014your choice! Letting coffee bloom in hot water for 10 minutes releases carbon dioxide from the coffee ground and extracts more flavor from the beans, adding depth to cold brew. That said, some prefer to make the recipe with all cold water to keep the acidity low. Try it both ways and decide which is right for you.<\/p>\n
A cup of cold brew is usually more expensive than a same-sized cup of freshly brewed hot coffee because of two factors: time and materials. Cold brew coffee steeps longer than regular coffee\u2014anywhere between 12 to 24 hours. It also requires a greater volume of ground coffee than other types of coffee<\/a>, like drip, French press or pour-over coffee.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"