Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Cold Brewtus (Burlington, VT)
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Frequently paired with
The best thing to pair and share with COLD BREW COFFEE
Ingredients
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Cold Brew Concentrate
To Serve (per 8 oz glass)
Equipment / optional additions
Method
Cold Brew Concentrate
Measure and combine
Add 1 cup coarsely ground coffee to a clean 1.5–2 quart jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water over the grounds, ensuring all grounds are saturated. Stir gently for 10–20 seconds to make sure no dry pockets remain.
Steep
Cover the jar or pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap. Let the coffee steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 16–20 hours. Steeping at room temperature gives slightly brighter notes; refrigeration yields a cleaner profile. Do not agitate during steeping.
Strain (first pass)
After steeping, place a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth (or a nut milk bag) over a large bowl or another pitcher. Slowly pour the coffee and grounds through the sieve to remove the bulk of the grounds. Allow it to drain; gently press the grounds with the back of a spoon to extract remaining liquid but avoid pressing too hard (it can add bitterness).
Filter (second pass)
For a clearer concentrate, pour the strained coffee through a paper coffee filter or a very fine mesh sieve into the final storage container. This removes fine sediment and yields a smoother cup. This step can take 10–30 minutes depending on filter and quantity.
Store
Cover and refrigerate the cold brew concentrate. It will keep well for up to 10 days; best within 5–7 days for optimal freshness. Label with brew date if making in larger batches.
To Serve (per 8 oz glass)
Sweeten (optional)
If you like your cold brew sweetened, add 1–2 teaspoons simple syrup (or preferred liquid sweetener) and stir until combined. Simple syrup blends better than granulated sugar when served cold. Taste and add more sweetener if desired.
Serve
Garnish with a splash of cream or a few drops of flavored syrup if desired. Serve immediately over ice. Leftover diluted servings should be consumed within 24 hours; keep unused concentrate refrigerated.
Notes & Ratios
Yield and strength: The recipe yields about 4 cups of cold brew concentrate. The suggested serve ratio is 1:1 concentrate to water/milk for an 8 oz serving. For a stronger cup, try 2 parts concentrate to 1 part water/milk. Adjust grind size (coarser) and steep time (16–24 hours) to tweak flavor and extraction.