Here are three delicious recipes with cold brew coffee, plus everything you need to know to make perfect cold brew at home with a French Press.
Learn how to make cold brew coffee at home and use it to make a Cinnamon Dolce Cold Brew Coffee, a Caramel Cold Brew Frappuccino, and a Cold Brew Coffee Butterscotch Martini. Read all the way to the end for some tips and FAQs. #coldbrew #coffee… Click To Tweet
If cold brew coffee is simply one of those things you can’t live without, you’ve come to the right place!
No matter what time of year it is, whether it’s sweltering or freezing outside, cold brew coffee remains at the top of the Starbucks most popular coffee drinks list.
You probably already know that a cold brew coffee at Starbucks can cost you around $5 a pop! That can be a big hit to the budget, especially if you’re a caffeine addict like me.
Here’s what you didn’t know! Cold brew coffee is easy to make at home.
In my opinion, it tastes even better than the cold brew from the local coffee shop, and it costs pennies to make.
You can make cold brew coffee at home with a French press or in a Mason jar, and it takes about the same amount of effort as brewing iced tea. How’s that for awesome?
You can make cold brew coffee at home with a French press or in a Mason jar, and it takes about the same amount of effort as brewing iced tea. How’s that for awesome? #coldbrew #coffee #BeYourOwnBarista Click To Tweet
What Makes Cold Brew Coffee Different from Regular Coffee?
Cold brew coffee is made using cold water, while regular coffee is made using hot water.
The folks at your coffee shop would like you to believe some special skill or equipment is required, but that’s not the case at all.
All you really need is… time. A lot more time actually. It takes about 12 hours to make cold brew coffee, instead of the two minutes required to make a cup of regular drip coffee.
But, it’s that slow, cold brewing method that makes cold brew coffee taste so good. It’s got all the caffeine and flavor of a regular iced coffee.
But cold brew is brewed without heat, so it’s smooth, not bitter or acidic like regular coffee can be. That’s what makes cold brew so special!
In fact, since cold brew coffee is less acidic, it’s easier on your teeth and your stomach, which is a huge bonus you may not have thought about.
The Best Coffee to Use for Making Cold Brew Coffee at Home
The best coffee to use for making cold brew coffee at home is freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee. The fresher, the better.
My favorite places to buy coffee beans are Koa Coffee and Volcanica because their beans are roasted fresh and shipped in small batches to ensure the best quality and freshness.
The fresher your coffee is, the better your cold brew coffee will taste, and pre-ground coffee that’s been sitting on the shelf at your grocery store for a month or more isn’t going to give you the best result.
Not only that, but cold brew tends to bring out the flavors and notes of the coffee more than traditional brew. Don’t use cheap, stale, grocery store coffee, or it’s going to taste like something you bought at the local gas station!
If you haven’t tried making coffee with freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee beans before, I urge you to give it a try just once. I bet you’ll never go back to stale beans from the grocery store again!
Seriously! There really is a huge difference!
How to Grind Coffee Beans for Cold Brew Coffee
Whether I’m making espresso, traditional coffee, or cold brew, I always grind my coffee beans fresh. For cold brew, the grind should be course, so you don’t end up with sediment in your cold brew. You will need about ¾ cup of ground coffee to make four cups of cold brew coffee.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee in a French Press
To make cold brew coffee in a French Press, you will need a ratio of ¾ cup of coarsely ground coffee for every four cups of cold, filtered water.
All you do is place the grounds in the bottom of your French Press and pour in the water. Don’t push the plunger down yet!
Now, your cold brew coffee will need to sit in the fridge overnight, or for 12-15 hours.
When you’re ready to drink it, simply push the plunger down and pour. Your cold brew will be concentrated, so you’ll need to add ice and cold water to taste.
Feel free to add flavoring, milk, or liquid sweetener as desired.
If your cold brew is too strong for your taste, add water to dilute it. If it’s not strong enough, use more coffee grounds and allow it to steep longer next time.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee in a Mason Jar
Yes, you can make cold brew coffee without a French Press!
To make cold brew coffee in a Mason jar, you will need a 32-ounce Mason jar, ¾ cup coarsely ground coffee beans, and four cups of filtered, cold water.
Simply place the ground coffee at the bottom of your jar and pour the water over the top.
Cover the jar and set it in the fridge overnight, or for about 12-15 hours.
When you’re ready to drink, strain the coffee through a piece of cheesecloth or a metal strainer with a fine screen.
Serve with ice, milk, flavoring, and liquid sweetener as desired.
Cold Brew Coffee Recipes
Now that you know how to make cold brew coffee at home, you can make all kinds of fancy flavored cold brew coffee drinks right in your own kitchen.
Of course, you can simply substitute cold brew for regular coffee in any iced coffee drink, but here are three of my favorite cold brew drinks to get you started.
Cinnamon Dolce Cold Brew Coffee
This delicious Cinnamon Dolce cold brew is sweetened with brown sugar and maple syrup, then flavored with a hint of cinnamon. Trust me when I tell you… it’s absolutely divine!
Start by making a simple syrup using ½ cup of light brown sugar, 1/3 cup of pure maple syrup, ½ cup of water, and a cinnamon stick. Add all the ingredients for the syrup into a small saucepan and simmer gently for about five minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and then remove the cinnamon stick.
To make your Cinnamon Dolce Cold Brew, fill a glass with ice and add 1 cup of concentrated cold brew coffee. Stir in two tablespoons of your cinnamon dolce syrup and add milk or your preferred alternative to taste.
If you make your cold brew and simple syrup the night before, you can have this delicious cold brew drink ready to go in under two minutes and be out the door! The syrup will keep for up to a week in the fridge.
This delicious Cinnamon Dolce cold brew is sweetened with brown sugar and maple syrup, then flavored with a hint of cinnamon. Trust me when I tell you… it’s absolutely divine! #coldbrew #coffee #BeYourOwnBarista Click To Tweet
Caramel Cold Brew Frappuccino
If you’re a fan of Starbucks Cold Brew Caramel Frappuccino, you’re going to love this homemade version of the coffee shop classic even more! All you need are three ingredients and your Ninja personal blender.
Plan ahead the night before and make your cold brew coffee. You’ll also need to freeze one cup of your favorite unsweetened milk or milk alternative in an ice cube tray.
In your blender, combine 1 cup of cold brew coffee, 8 of your frozen milk ice cubes, and two tablespoons of high-quality caramel syrup. Feel free to adjust the am
Blend until smooth, and it’s ready to serve and go!
If you’re a fan of Starbucks Cold Brew Caramel Frappuccino, you’re going to love this homemade version of the coffee shop classic even more! #coldbrew #coffee #BeYourOwnBarista Click To Tweet
Cold Brew Coffee Butterscotch Martini
You know I just had to include an adult beverage in the mix! I came up with this recipe to make a Cold Brew Coffee Butterscotch Martini a few weeks ago at a bonfire we had with some friends. It’s super yummy, and I just couldn’t wait to share it!
It couldn’t be easier to make. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add one or two shots of vodka (depending on your desired buzz factor), ½ cup of cold brew coffee, ½ ounce of butterscotch schnapps, and ½ ounce of coffee liqueur.
Shake until combined and chilled. Strain into a martini glass and serve. If you’re feeling fancy, you can rim the glass some butterscotch syrup.
I came up with this recipe to make a Cold Brew Coffee Butterscotch Martini a few weeks ago at a bonfire we had with some friends. It’s super yummy, and I just couldn’t wait to share it! #coldbrew #coffee #martini #BeYourOwnBarista Click To TweetFrequently Asked Questions About Making Cold Brew Coffee at Home
What is the ratio of coffee to water for cold brew coffee?
For most people, the best ratio of coffee to water for cold brew coffee is ¾ cup ground coffee for every four cups of cold water.
This amount will fit perfectly in a 32-ounce French Press or Mason jar.
Of course, the ratio can be adjusted according to your personal taste, but you may need to adjust the size of your container accordingly.
Some people prefer a much stronger, more concentrated cold brew and use ratios of as much as 1-part coffee to three parts water.
How long should I steep cold brew coffee?
Cold brew coffee should be steeped for 12-15 hours. If you enjoy a stronger cup of coffee or want a more concentrated cold brew, you can steep cold brew coffee for 18-20 hours and add cold water to taste.
How do you dilute cold brew coffee?
Cold brew coffee concentrate can be diluted with equal parts of cold water if you allow it to steep for up to 18 hours.
Keep in mind that if you add milk or some other creamer, that will dilute the intensity of your coffee, so adjust the amount of water you add accordingly.
How long does cold brew coffee last in the fridge?
Cold brew coffee will last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator once it’s been diluted. On the other hand, concentrated cold brew coffee can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. After that, the flavor won’t be as good.
Why does my cold brew coffee taste bitter or sour?
If your cold brew coffee tastes bitter or sour, you probably steeped it too long and over-extracted the grounds. Sometimes, grinding the coffee too fine also results in bitter-tasting cold brew.
Next time try using a coarser grind and shortening the steeping time. Remember, you will probably need to fine-tune grind and steep times a little bit each time you buy a new batch of beans.
Is cold brew coffee stronger than regular coffee?
Cold brew coffee is stronger than regular coffee because it’s made with a higher ratio of ground coffee to water. However, by the time you add water, ice, and milk or creamer, your cold brew will probably have a similar amount of caffeine as regular coffee.
Conclusion
Cold brew coffee is one of the most popular drinks on the Starbucks menu.
Now you can make it at home for pennies, instead of spending about $5 a serving.
Homemade cold brew tastes even better than the coffee shop version and it’s super convenient to have it on hand when you’re in a hurry to get out the door in the morning.
Cold Brew Can Be Used In Place of Espresso in Any of These Delicious Iced Coffee Recipes:
Vanilla Latte: Make it Hot or Iced, Just Like Your Favorite Coffee Shop
S’mores Frappuccino: A Coffee Shop Copycat Recipe You Can Make at Home
Spiked Coffee Cocktails? Yes, Please!
