Cold Brew Coffee
Coarse coffee steeped in cold water for eighteen hours and filtered, giving a concentrate that is smooth, low in acid and keeps for a fortnight.
Photograph credit: DFC 0816 A close-up of a hand holding a plastic cup while a chocolatey smoothie is poured over ice from a blender by PattayaPatrol · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · this resized copy is shared under the same licence
Method
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Grind the beans coarsely — much coarser than for filter, closer to raw sugar or breadcrumbs.
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Put the grounds in a large jar and pour over the cold water.
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Stir gently to make sure every ground is wet, then push any floating grounds under with a spoon.
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Cover and leave at room temperature for 16 to 18 hours, or in the fridge for 20 to 24.
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Do not stir it again during the steep; agitation increases extraction unevenly.
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Strain through a fine sieve first to take out the bulk of the grounds.
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Then filter again through a paper coffee filter or a double layer of muslin. This second pass is slow — 20 minutes or more — and it is what makes the brew clear rather than silty.
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You now have a concentrate. Taste it neat: it should be sweet, heavy and low in acid.
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To serve, dilute one part concentrate to one or two parts cold water or milk, over plenty of ice.
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A pinch of salt cuts any remaining bitterness, and a strip of orange peel suits fruitier beans.
Chef’s Tips
- Coarse grind. Fine grounds turn cold brew bitter and cloudy.
- Do not stir during the steep.
- Filter twice, and be patient with the second pass.
Pairing Suggestions
- A splash of oat milk
- Buttered toast
- A pastry
Storage & Reheating
The concentrate keeps 2 weeks refrigerated in a sealed bottle. Dilute to order.
Common questions
How long does Cold Brew Coffee take to make?
About 10 minutes of hands-on work — 10 minutes of preparation and of cooking — plus 16 hours of steeping, so allow 16 hours 10 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Cold Brew Coffee?
Coarse grind. Fine grounds turn cold brew bitter and cloudy. Do not stir during the steep. Filter twice, and be patient with the second pass.
What should I serve with Cold Brew Coffee?
A splash of oat milk; Buttered toast; A pastry.
How should Cold Brew Coffee be stored?
The concentrate keeps 2 weeks refrigerated in a sealed bottle. Dilute to order.
Is Cold Brew Coffee suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Cold Brew Coffee?
About 13 kcal per serving, with 0 g protein, 1 g carbohydrate and 1 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
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