If you love a smooth, refreshing, and naturally less acidic coffee, cold brew is the perfect way to get your fix! With just a few simple ingredients and a bit of patience, you can make a barista-quality iced coffee right at home. Whether you love it black or topped with creamer, this recipe is easy and endlessly customizable. If you’re looking for more delicious drink ideas, check out our Arnold Palmer!
Why You’ll Love Cold Brew Iced Coffee
- Smooth flavor: Less bitterness than hot-brewed coffee.
- Make ahead: Brew a big batch to keep in the fridge for days.
- Customizable: Sweeten and add milk exactly how you like it.
- Budget-friendly: Skip the coffee shop and save money.
Tips & Tricks
- Use coarsely ground beans — Finer grinds can make your cold brew cloudy and hard to strain.
- Adjust strength — If the concentrate is too strong, dilute with cold water or ice to taste.
- Straining — Cheesecloth or a paper coffee filter inside a fine-mesh sieve works great for a clean, grit-free brew.
- Serving ideas — Add flavored syrups (like vanilla or caramel) or a sprinkle of cinnamon for a café-style upgrade.
Substitutions & Variations
- Beans: Try a dark roast if you like a deeper, richer flavor.
- Milk: Swap in oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk for a dairy-free option.
- Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup can be tasty alternatives to sugar or simple syrup.
Storage
Cold brew concentrate will stay fresh for up to one week in the refrigerator when stored in a sealed jar or pitcher. Always stir before serving, as separation is normal.
Can You Freeze Cold Brew?
Absolutely! Pour leftover cold brew concentrate into ice cube trays and freeze. Pop a few cubes into your next glass for an extra-strong, never-watered-down iced coffee.
Iced Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup coarsely ground medium-roast coffee beans
- 4 cups cold filtered water
- Ice cubes, for serving
- Whole milk or any preferred milk or creamer, for serving (optional)
- Simple syrup, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- In a large jar or pitcher, add the ground coffee.
- Pour in the cold filtered water, making sure all the grounds are fully saturated. Stir gently with a long spoon to combine.
- Cover the jar or pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours, or up to 18 hours for a stronger brew.
- After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine-mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter or a piece of cheesecloth into another clean pitcher or jar to remove the grounds. Discard the grounds.
- To serve, fill a glass with ice cubes, then pour in the cold coffee concentrate. If desired, add whole milk or your favorite creamer, and sweeten with granulated sugar or simple syrup to taste.
More Delicious Drinks
Southern Sweet Tea
Homemade sweet tea is smooth, refreshing, and easy to make for summer parties, picnics, or family dinners.
Homemade Lemonade
Cool down with this easy homemade lemonade recipe made with fresh lemons, sugar, and water. Perfectly refreshing, sweet-tart, and ready in just 5 minutes!
Blueberry Lemon Fizz
Blueberry Lemon Fizz is a refreshing cocktail with blueberries, lemon, vodka, and club soda, served over ice.