This DIY cold brew coffee recipe guarantees the smooth taste you love without the hefty price tag!
Yes, cold brew coffee is a thing, and it appears to be sticking around. However, it can also be expensive to buy at a coffee shop. I don’t know about you, but inflation is leading me to cut costs wherever possible. Therefore, instead of standing in line at the coffee shop, I gave bottled cold brew in the juice aisle at my local grocery store a whirl. And yes, it tasted pretty darn good and was certainly cheaper than a single serving at the coffee shop.
BUT (there’s always a but) I wasn’t crazy about the plastic container it came in. We’re making a concerted effort here at Sunny Side Up to consume less and produce more. That means cutting down on single-use plastic when and where we can. So I took it upon myself to make my own cold brew coffee, and guess what? It is delicious! Today, I am sharing this recipe with all of you coffee lovers out there to prove just how easy it is to make yourself.
But first, let’s just start by understanding the difference between iced coffee and cold brew coffee.
The Cold Brew Coffee Difference
I like iced coffee just fine, but it’s honestly just freshly brewed double-strength coffee that was hot and then poured over ice. Nothing super special in my opinion. Cold brew coffee, though, is coffee that’s brewed at room temperature or cold water and then steeped for several hours before it’s enjoyed.
The word smooth is used a lot to describe cold brew coffee, and although I tried to come up with something different, I honestly think it’s the best adjective. It has a really rich, almost sweet taste and a significant caffeine hit, much higher than regularly brewed coffee. If you love your caffeine, you could technically indulge in a cold brew every day. I personally consider it a once-in-a-while beverage. Regardless, DIY cold brew coffee is easy to make, so why not give it a try?
What You’ll Need
One of the best reasons to make DIY cold brew coffee is it doesn’t require the use of special equipment. That is music to my simple living ears! I prefer to make mine in a french press like this one.
I bought one on sale, but thrift stores and garage sales are other great places to snag one. No french press? Don’t worry. A simple mason jar and a strainer will work just fine. The rest is ground beans and water. Seriously!
Important Things to Know
1. You won’t have great results with a bag of ground coffee beans from the coffee aisle. You need a coarse grind instead. I have a burr grinder that I love and I use it weekly, but if you don’t have one, coffee shops will grind coffee beans for you. Many grocery stores also have a coffee grinder in their coffee aisle with a dial that you can set to a coarse grind. 1 cup of coarsely ground beans will make 3 cups of cold brew coffee.
2. DIY cold brew coffee takes time to steep to develop that rich, smooth taste everyone loves. I like to make a batch in the early afternoon, then just put it in the fridge to enjoy the next day. Ideally, 18 to 24 hours is how long you’ll need to wait it out before you enjoy it.
3. If you do have a french press and want to use it for cold brew coffee, don’t push the plunger down until it’s ready to enjoy.
How to Make DIY Cold Brew Coffee
1. Measure 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee beans into a french press or a quart-sized mason jar.
2. Pour 3 cups of cold water over the ground beans.
3. Place your french press or mason jar in your refrigerator and let the coffee brew for 18-24 hours.
4. Remove the french press or mason jar from your refrigerator. If using a french press, gently press the plunger all the way down to the grounds, then pour and serve. If you made your cold brew in a mason jar, use a strainer to catch the coffee grounds as you pour the cold brew into a mug.
Enjoy your homemade and delicious DIY cold brew coffee! And yes, it is that simple.
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think! I love reading your comments.
Missed your blog! So glad to see you back!