Smooth Cold Brew Coffee Recipe (Easy Mason Jar Method)

Cold brew is the coffee I make most in my kitchen, especially in warm weather. It is incredibly smooth, naturally a little sweet and never bitter, and making it at home takes about 5 minutes of actual work. You just stir coarse coffee and cold water together in a jar, leave it overnight, then strain it. The next morning, you have a big batch of rich coffee concentrate that lasts all week. This is the simple cold brew coffee recipe I have used for years.

Quick answer: To make cold brew coffee, stir 1 cup (85g) of coarsely ground coffee into 4 cups (950 ml) of cold, filtered water in a large jar. Cover and let it steep at room temperature or in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. Strain it through a fine mesh sieve lined with a paper filter or cheesecloth. Dilute the concentrate 1 to 1 with water or milk, pour over ice and enjoy.

One batch makes about 6 to 8 drinks, depending on how strong you like it.

Why You Will Love Homemade Cold Brew?

• It is super smooth. Cold water pulls out the rich chocolatey flavors and leaves most of the bitterness behind.
• It is lower in acid. Many people with sensitive stomachs find cold brew easier to drink than hot coffee.
• It is ready all week. One batch of concentrate lasts up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
• It is cheap. A homemade glass costs a fraction of a cafe cold brew.
• No special equipment. A big jar and a sieve are all you need.

Ingredients and Equipment

This makes about 3 cups (700 ml) of concentrate, enough for 6 to 8 drinks.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (85g) whole coffee beans, coarsely ground (medium or dark roast)
• 4 cups (950 ml) cold or room temperature filtered water

To serve

• Ice
• Water or milk to dilute
• Simple syrup, vanilla syrup or creamer (optional)

Equipment

• A large jar or pitcher (at least 6 cups / 1.5 liters)
• A fine mesh sieve
• A paper coffee filter, cheesecloth or a clean thin kitchen towel

Getting the grind right

The grind is the most important part of cold brew. You want it coarse, like raw sugar or breadcrumbs. Fine coffee makes cold brew muddy and bitter, and it is very hard to strain. If you buy pre ground coffee, ask the shop to grind it for French press or cold brew.

The Best Cold Brew Ratio

I like making concentrate because it takes up less space in the fridge and I can make each glass as strong as I want.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee (Step by Step)

Grind the coffee. Grind the beans on the coarsest setting.

Combine. Put the grounds in your jar, pour in the water and stir gently with a long spoon until all the grounds are wet. Some will float, which is normal.

Cover and steep. Put on the lid and let it steep for 12 to 18 hours. You can leave it on the counter (it steeps a little faster) or in the fridge. I usually start it after dinner and strain it the next morning.

Strain once. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl or pitcher to catch most of the grounds.

Strain again. Line the sieve with a paper coffee filter or cheesecloth and strain again for a clean, smooth coffee with no sludge. Be patient, this can take a few minutes.

Store. Pour the concentrate into a clean jar, seal and keep it in the fridge.

Serve. Fill a glass with ice, pour in ½ cup (120 ml) of concentrate and ½ cup (120 ml) of water or milk. Sweeten if you like and stir.

Ways to Serve Cold Brew

• Classic black. Concentrate and water over ice. Bold, smooth and almost zero calories.
• With milk or cream. Use milk instead of water for a creamy, latte style drink.
• With creamer. A splash of my homemade coffee creamer turns it into a sweet, flavored treat in seconds.
• Hot cold brew. Yes, really. Mix concentrate with an equal amount of boiling water for a smooth, low acid hot coffee. It tastes a lot like an americano coffee, just mellower.
• Cold brew tonic. Pour concentrate over ice and top with tonic water and a slice of orange. It is fizzy and refreshing.

6 Cold Brew Flavors to Try

• Vanilla sweet cream cold brew. Whisk 3 tbsp heavy cream, 2 tbsp milk and 1 tbsp vanilla syrup until frothy and pour it on top.
• Salted caramel cold foam. Froth cream, milk, caramel sauce and a pinch of sea salt and spoon it over the cold brew.
• Cinnamon cold brew. Add 1 cinnamon stick to the jar while it steeps.
• Mocha cold brew. Stir in 1 tbsp chocolate syrup and top with milk.
• Maple oat cold brew. Sweeten with maple syrup and top with oat milk.
• Coconut cold brew. Use coconut milk and a few drops of coconut extract.

Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee

Cold brew and iced coffee are not the same thing. Cold brew is steeped in cold water for many hours, so it is smoother, sweeter and less acidic. Iced coffee is hot brewed coffee that is cooled and poured over ice, so it is quicker and tastes brighter. When I forget to start a batch of cold brew the night before, I make my quick iced coffee recipe instead.

My Tips for the Best Cold Brew

• Use good beans. Medium and dark roasts with chocolate or nutty notes taste amazing as cold brew.
• Do not steep too long. After about 20 to 24 hours, it can start to taste woody and bitter.
• Strain twice. The second strain through a filter makes it silky and clear.
• Use filtered water. It makes a cleaner tasting coffee.
• Do not squeeze the grounds. Pressing them pushes bitter flavors and sludge into your coffee.

Common Mistakes

• Grinding too fine. This is the most common mistake. It makes cloudy, bitter cold brew that is hard to strain.
• Not diluting the concentrate. Concentrate is very strong. Always mix it with water or milk.
• Using a weak ratio. Too much water and too little coffee gives a thin, flat drink.
• Leaving it out too long. Once strained, keep it in the fridge.

How to Store Cold Brew

Keep cold brew concentrate in a sealed glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It tastes best in the first week. Diluted cold brew is best within 2 to 3 days. Freeze leftover cold brew in ice cube trays to use as coffee ice cubes.

Cold Brew Coffee FAQs

How long should cold brew steep?

Steep it for 12 to 18 hours. At room temperature, 12 hours is usually enough. In the fridge, aim for 16 to 18 hours.

What is the best coffee for cold brew?

A medium or dark roast, coarsely ground, works best. Look for beans with chocolate, caramel or nutty flavor notes.

Does cold brew have more caffeine?

Cold brew concentrate is strong, so it has more caffeine per ounce than regular coffee. Once you dilute it 1 to 1, a glass usually has about the same caffeine as a cup of drip coffee, or slightly more.

Can I make cold brew in a French press?

Yes. Add the coffee and water to the French press, steep for 12 to 18 hours, then slowly press the plunger down and strain through a paper filter for extra smoothness.

Why is my cold brew bitter?

It was probably ground too fine, steeped too long, or the grounds were squeezed while straining. Try a coarser grind and a shorter steep.

Is cold brew better for your stomach?

Many people find it gentler because it is less acidic than hot brewed coffee. Everyone is different, so see how you feel.

Final Thoughts

Once you start making cold brew at home, it is hard to go back. Five minutes of work at night gives you smooth, rich coffee all week long. Start a jar tonight, and tomorrow morning you can enjoy your own cafe style cold brew.