Cold Brew Recipe

Measure and Grind

Measure 1 cup coarsely ground coffee. The grind should be similar to raw sugar or coarse sea salt. Use a burr grinder set to coarse, or buy pre-ground labeled "cold brew".

Combine Coffee and Water

In a clean 1.5–2 quart (1.5–2 L) jar or pitcher, add the coarsely ground coffee. Pour 4 cups cold filtered water evenly over the grounds. Ensure all grounds are saturated; give the mixture 4–6 gentle stirs with a long spoon or chopstick so no dry pockets remain.

Steep

Cover the jar or pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap. Steep at room temperature (18–22°C / 65–72°F) for 16–20 hours. For a brighter, lighter extraction, use 12–14 hours; for a stronger, more concentrated brew, steep up to 24 hours. Avoid prolonged steeping beyond 24 hours to prevent over-extraction and bitter notes.

Filter the Grounds

After steeping, place a fine-mesh sieve lined with a double layer of cheesecloth, a nut-milk bag, or a coffee filter over a large bowl or pitcher. Slowly pour the coffee mixture through the filter to separate the grounds. If using cheesecloth or a nut bag, gently press or squeeze to extract the liquid; if using a paper filter, allow the concentrate to drip through without forcing (this may take longer).

Second Filtration (Optional for Clearer Brew)

If you want a sediment-free concentrate, filter the strained concentrate a second time through a clean paper coffee filter set in a mesh strainer. This produces a clearer cold brew with less sludge in the bottom of your cup.

Store

Transfer the filtered cold brew concentrate to a clean, airtight container (glass bottle or jar). Refrigerate immediately. Concentrate will keep chilled for up to 10–14 days, best within 7 days for freshest flavor.

Dilute

Pour 1 cup cold brew concentrate into a serving glass. Add 1 cup cold water or milk (adjust ratio to taste — some prefer 1:1, others 1:2 concentrate:water). Stir gently to combine.

Sweeten and Finish

Add 1 tablespoon sweetener (simple syrup dissolves best in cold drinks). If using granulated sugar, dissolve it first in a small amount of warm water to make simple syrup or use a liquid sweetener. Add an optional 1 teaspoon splash of cream or half-and-half for richness and stir.

Serve Over Ice

Fill a serving glass with about 6 ice cubes. Pour the diluted, sweetened cold brew over the ice. Garnish with a twist of orange peel or a dusting of cinnamon if desired. Serve immediately.

Batch Serving Notes

This recipe yields about 4 cups of cold brew concentrate. For multiple servings, multiply the 'To Serve' ingredients accordingly (e.g., for 4 glasses, use 4 cups concentrate and 4 cups water/milk). Adjust sweetener and cream per glass to taste.