Summertime Iced Coffee

I’m adding a new category today — Drinks!! Yea, this will be fun. There are so many options out there: cold drinks for the dog days of summer, warm drinks to soothe your numb fingers, and flirty cocktails for any festivity! Please pass along any requests or ideas, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I decided to add this cold brew coffee recipe as a post (even though it is so incredibly simple) because even the most basic recipes need posting sometimes. For the longest time I was making iced coffee by brewing a pot of coffee then letting it chill. It was ok, but just ok. The cold brew process is so simple, as all it really demands is time for “brewing” in the refrigerator, and produces such delicious flavors.

In a large pitcher, add 1 cup ground coffee (if you’re grinding it yourself, make it coarse) to 4 cups water. Filtered water is preferred but not required. Give it a quick stir and then set in refrigerator for at least 12 hours. When ready, pour the liquid through a strainer or cheese cloth into a bowl to remove the coffee grounds. I repeat this process a few times to make sure I remove all the gritty coffee grounds. When the coffee is clean of the grounds, pour the reserved liquid into a pitcher. Your coffee is now ready to use! Taste the coffee and adjust with additional water if too strong for your liking. The coffee will keep for up to 4 weeks if refrigerated.

Add whatever fixings you like to your drink then get outside and enjoy your delicious
glass of refreshing Summertime Iced Coffee!!

Ingredients:

1 cup ground coffee
4 cups cold (preferably filtered) water

Makes 4+ cups of Iced Coffee

Tips for Success

Cold brew is about as easy as it gets, but a few small details make a big difference in how smooth your coffee tastes.

• Go coarse on the grind. Coarsely ground coffee is easier to strain and gives a smoother, less bitter brew. Fine grounds make a muddy coffee that is hard to filter.
• Be patient. Twelve hours is the minimum. I often let mine go 16 to 18 hours for a richer, deeper flavor. Much longer than a day and it can start to taste bitter.
• Strain gently. Do not press or squeeze the grounds while straining. That pushes bitterness into your coffee.
• Use a paper filter for the last pass. After a strainer or cheesecloth, one final pour through a paper coffee filter catches the last bits of fine sediment.
• Make coffee ice cubes. Freeze some of your cold brew in an ice cube tray. Regular ice melts and waters down your drink, but coffee cubes keep it strong to the last sip.

Ways to Dress It Up

Once you have your cold brew in the refrigerator, the fun begins. Here are some of my favorite fixings.

• Classic. A splash of milk or cream and a little simple syrup, which dissolves much better than sugar in cold drinks.
• Vanilla. Stir a little vanilla extract into your simple syrup for a homemade vanilla iced coffee.
• Mocha. Add a spoonful of chocolate syrup and top with whipped cream.
• Spiced. Add a cinnamon stick to the pitcher while it brews for a gentle warm spice flavor.
• Dairy free. Almond, oat or coconut milk all work beautifully.

To make simple syrup, heat equal parts sugar and water in a small pot until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool. It keeps in a jar in the refrigerator for about a month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

This ratio makes a bold coffee, which is why I suggest tasting it and adding water if it is too strong for you. Ice will also mellow it a bit.

What kind of coffee should I use?

Any coffee you enjoy drinking hot will work. Medium and dark roasts give that classic chocolatey cold brew flavor.

Can I drink it hot?

Yes. Just heat a cup gently on the stove or in the microwave. It makes a smooth, low acid tasting hot coffee.

Can I make a bigger batch?

Yes. Just keep the same ratio of 1 cup of coffee to 4 cups of water and use a bigger pitcher or a large jar. Since it keeps so well in the refrigerator, a big batch means iced coffee is ready whenever you want it all summer.

Mandy

Summertime Cold Brew Iced Coffee

Smooth, refreshing cold brew coffee made with just ground coffee and water steeped in the refrigerator overnight. Add your favorite fixings and enjoy.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 12 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings: 4 cups

Course: Drink

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup ground coffee coarsely ground
• 4 cups cold water preferably filtered

Method

 

1. Add the ground coffee and water to a large pitcher and give it a quick stir.
2. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours.
3. Pour the coffee through a strainer or cheesecloth into a bowl to remove the grounds.
4. Repeat the straining a few times until all the gritty grounds are removed.
5. Pour the strained coffee into a clean pitcher.
6. Taste and add more water if it is too strong.
7. Serve over ice with your favorite fixings.

Notes

Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. Total time includes the 12 hour steep.