How to Make Refreshing Cold Brew at Home

If you’ve ever craved a caffeine fix on a warm day, you’ve likely sampled a cold brew from a random coffee shop or convenience store. However, unless you’re an enthusiast, what you might not have known is that cold brew isn’t the same as iced coffee.

Cold brew vs. iced coffee: what’s the difference?

While specialty coffee roasters use Arabica beans, iced coffee generally refers to drip coffee brewed with hot water and then chilled or poured over ice. In contrast, cold brew is prepared with cool (or room temperature) water for a much longer period. This slow infusion pulls all the flavour from the coffee beans while leaving the elements that give coffee its more bitter and acidic properties.

This makes cold brew the perfect beverage for those who enjoy the kick of coffee but have conditions that don’t mesh with its acidity. Fortunately, you don’t need to enrol in a barista academy or have absurdly expensive equipment to achieve the smooth, flavourful blend that cold brew fans have come to love.

What you’ll need:

While it takes longer to prepare, cold brew is surprisingly easy to make. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

Coarsely ground coffee
Water (preferably distilled)
Measuring cup
Coffee filter (you can also use a regular wired strainer lined with mesh sieve or flour sack cloth)
Container (for steeping the cold brew)

You can use your favourite coffee beans to make a cold brew. Enthusiasts even suggest using beans that are about to go bad to further save costs. Whatever you use, just make sure it’s coarsely ground, as this allows for slower extraction of coffee flavours, resulting in a smoother less bitter drink. Conversely, using finely ground coffee tends to produce a more acidic and murkier blend.

Steps and tips for making cold brew:

Before starting, keep in mind that you need to steep your brew for at least 12 hours. So, it’s best to prepare it in the afternoon if you want a fresh batch the following day.

Grind the coffee

If you don’t have pre-ground coffee, set your grinder to its coarsest setting. Alternatively, you can make do with a spice grinder using short, one-second pulses. The grounds should be good to go when you achieve a texture akin to coarse oatmeal.

Mix coffee and water

Put the ground coffee into a container before pouring cold water. A good starting ratio for your first batch is four cups of water to one cup of ground coffee. Most experts and enthusiasts recommend using filtered water as they believe it results in a cleaner and sweeter brew.

Next, use a long-handled spoon to gently stir until the grounds are thoroughly saturated with water.

Steep the mix

Cover the container and let the mix steep for at least 12 hours. You can refrigerate it or leave it on the counter. This slower brewing process is what differentiates cold brew from iced coffee, allowing the coffee to fully infuse the water.

While you can cut the steeping time to around 10 hours, be wary that straining the brew too early can result in a weaker batch. In contrast, over-steeping can lend the coffee the bitter profile cold brewing aims to avoid. Stick with 12 to 16 hours just to be safe.

Strain the coffee

Pour the brew through your coffee filter and into your preferred container. You can also use a regular strainer, lining it with a mesh sieve or flour sack cloth. Whichever way you choose to strain the coffee, make sure you get all the residual grinds.

Enjoy your cold brew

Before taking your first sip, it’s important to note that this method produces cold brew concentrate that’s best served diluted with ice (or water). Depending on your preference, you can add syrup, milk, cream, or other sweeteners to enhance the flavour and texture of your beverage.

Play around with the mix

Apart from experimenting with different recipes, you can also play around with the coffee-to-water ratio. For instance, if you find that four cups of water results in a batch that’s too strong for your taste, you can increase it to six cups.

Final words

Cold brew has evolved from a hipster beverage to a global industry that’s surpassed the USD$1 billion mark. And it’s easy to see why. Apart from its naturally smooth flavour profile, there are myriad ways you can play around with cold brew to concoct a drink that’s distinctly yours. This makes it perfect for everyone, from aspiring baristas and mixologists to everyday folks who love a refreshing pick-me-up.