How To Make Simple Cold Brew Iced Coffee

Now that the temperatures are warmer, my coffee is always iced! Don’t get me wrong, I love my hot coffee in the fall and all winter, but now I’m embracing ways to make my own cold brew.

I’ve been testing a simple brewing method to make cold brew coffee and you may just agree with me that this is the best coffee recipe to make delicious cold brew coffee!

I discovered that cold-brewed coffee can be used in two different ways. The first method is to add some simple syrup to cold-brewed coffee and pour over ice for a quick iced coffee that’s ready in minutes. If you are concerned about diluting your coffee with the ice, you can make ice out of coffee ahead of time, so that the flavor will not be diluted as the ice melts.

I have a second brewing process though that I’m going to show you in detail today. It is a ridiculously easy cold brew recipe that does not require any special cold brewing equipment like a cold brew maker.

Ingredients needed to make homemade cold brew iced coffee:

• 2/3 cups of ground coffee (for a stronger brew, use one cup of coffee.) I always recommend using a coffee grinder with whole beans for the fullest flavor.
• 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar (or more for a sweeter flavor. I like sweet coffee and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons is perfect for me.)
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• About 2-3 cups of water (can be cold water or hot water.)
• quart sized mason jar
• stainless steel fine-mesh strainer

First things first, this cold brew coffee recipe doesn’t make a big batch.

This recipe is perfect if you’re wanting to make a drink you can enjoy on your way to work on hot summer mornings. And yes, this drink is so good, you’ll skip stopping at your favorite local coffee shop.

and choose to make this at home as often as you can.

From one coffee lover to another, this recipe doesn’t get any easier because you simply place 2/3 cups of ground coffee, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a pint-sized mason jar with an airtight lid.

Do you love a sweeter coffee flavor? Feel free to add one or two more tablespoons of brown sugar to your jar.

Instructions of how to make your own cold brew iced coffee:

1.  After the dry contents are in the jar, fill it with room temperature water, shake it up, and place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours. I’m doing this now each morning rather than filling up my hot brew percolating coffee maker.

2.  The next day, after your coffee has time to slowly “cold brew,” pull out your fine mesh strainer (not a paper coffee filter) and place it over your cold coffee cup. This is the easiest filter system I’ve found for an at-home brew.

3.  Open up your large mason jar (it may be a bit sealed and you may need a can opener to pop it off) and slowly strain your coffee into your glass. Then toss the coffee grinds or throw them into your compost pile.

If you don’t have a strainer but do have a french press, another option to strain the coffee grinds is to pour your brew into the fresh press, press it, and then pour your cold brew.

I don’t advise shaking up the jar before pouring. If you do, more coffee grounds will be floating causing your strainer to clog up faster.

I do advise shaking up the jar once or twice while its brewing in that 24 hour time period (if you think of it – not 100% necessary) to be sure all of the flavor gets diffused from the ground coffee beans, but it is best to pour it when the grounds are settled in the bottom of the jar.

Here is my poured coffee. You can see small granules floating at the top. It’s actually not ground coffee, but instead, ground cinnamon that was small enough to fit through the strainer.

If you don’t like cinnamon in your coffee, then leave it out. but I’m telling you, the addition of the cinnamon is what makes this iced coffee so delicious!!

4.  Add some ice cubes and add some cream (or milk or oat milk if or cashew milk) or whatever else you want to meet your personal preference for the perfect cup of coffee. I mentioned above that I’m personally addicted to Coffee Mate French vanilla flavored creamer – so I added just a splash of that as well. This will make 32 oz. of coffee, and I refill my 12 oz. mug almost 3 times throughout the day.

Next on my to-do list is to try this with a bit of chocolate syrup and make this a mocha iced coffee.  😉

Looking for another amazing cold summer drink?  Try this BEST Lemonade Iced Tea recipe!

How To Make Simple Cold Brew Iced Coffee

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How To Make Simple Cold Brew Iced Coffee – 3 ingredients, a strainer, and mason jar is all you need! This is the best summertime iced coffee recipe!

• Author: Maura
• Prep Time: 5 min
• Cook Time: 24 hours
• Total Time: 24 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

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1. 2/3 cups of ground coffee
2. 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
3. 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
4. About 2–3 cups of water (can be cold water or hot water.)
5. quart sized mason jar
6. stainless steel fine-mesh strainer

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Instructions

1. After the dry contents are in the jar, fill it with room temperature water, shake it up, and place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

2.  The next day, after your coffee has time to slowly “cold brew,” pull out your fine mesh strainer (not a paper coffee filter) and place it over your cold coffee cup.

3.  Open up your large mason jar (it may be a bit sealed and you may need a can opener to pop it off) and slowly strain your coffee into your glass. Then toss the coffee grinds or throw them into your compost pile.

4.  Add some ice cubes and add some cream (or milk or oat milk if or cashew milk) or whatever else you want to meet your personal preference for the perfect cup of coffee. I mentioned above that I’m personally addicted to Coffee Mate French vanilla flavored creamer – so I added just a splash of that as well. This will make 32 oz. of coffee, and I refill my 12 oz. mug almost 3 times throughout the day.

5.  I created a recipe card that you can use to pass out to friends or attach to a mason jar and give as a gift! This is perfect for a coffee loving friend who has a birthday in the summer so they can enjoy it on a hot summer day!

Equipment

stainless steel mesh strainer

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quart sized mason jar

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Notes

I don’t advise shaking up the jar before pouring. If you do, more coffee grounds will be floating causing your strainer to clog up faster.

You can also try adding different flavors or chocolate syrup and top with some whip cream to make this an extra special treat!

I do advise shaking up the jar once or twice while its brewing in that 24 hour time period (if you think of it – not 100% necessary) to be sure all of the flavor gets diffused from the ground coffee beans, but it is best to pour it when the grounds are settled in the bottom of the jar.

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