Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe

By
Morgan Baker
Morgan Walker
Morgan Baker
Morgan is a recipe developer and photographer. She is also a gardener and exceptional hugger.
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Updated on 01/19/23
Tested by
Kayla Hoang
Photo of Kayla Hoang
Tested by Kayla Hoang
Kayla Hoang is a freelance recipe developer, writer, and baker whose Bangladeshi and Vietnamese roots influence all she does. Her life revolves around food and she can almost always be found waiting by the oven for a fresh batch of cookies.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Cold Brew Concentrate in a glass with ice and in a jar

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Brew and Strain: 13 hrs
Total: 13 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 2 cups concentrate
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
0 Calories
0g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 9mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 22mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Cold brew is the refreshing, invigorating, easy summer coffee you need. The process includes overnight standing time, so the hardest part will be waiting to sip your new favorite drink. While you can purchase cold brew concentrate in most grocery stores, making it at home ensures its freshness and taste. It also tends to be more economical.

Try making a weekly batch of concentrate, so you have it on hand for whenever you need a pick-me-up. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator and prepare as you like. Try adding milk or milk alternatives, simple syrup of any desired flavor, and even a dash of cinnamon. This concentrate is also great for adding to desserts. Try it in chocolate cakes, over ice cream, or mixed with sweetened condensed milk and frozen into popsicle molds.

"I love having cold brew concentrate available when I need an extra pick-me-up. This recipe yields a strong, smooth concentrate that couldn’t be easier to make. My favorite way to make a cup is to mix one-part cold brew with one part water, pour it over ice, and then top it with cold milk foam." —Kayla Hoang

Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces coarsely ground coffee beans

  • 3 1/2 cups cold water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Cold Brew Concentrate ingredients, water in a measuring cup and coffee in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Place ground coffee in a large pitcher or jar. Add the water.

    Coffee and water in a jar

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Stir gently, making sure all the coffee grounds are saturated.  Cover with a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and let stand at room temperature for 12 hours or up to overnight.

    Coffee and water in a jar, covered with a cheesecloth

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Line a fine-mesh sieve with cheesecloth, and set over a large pitcher or jar. Pour the coffee through the sieve into the pitcher. Do not stir the mixture, this will keep the concentrate from going cloudy. Once the mixture is done straining, discard the cheesecloth with coffee grounds.

    Coffee strained through a cheesecloth and a colander into a measuring cup

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Wash the sieve and line with a large coffee filter. Place it over a large measuring cup or jar. Pour the coffee through the filter-lined sieve and allow it to naturally drip into the jar, do not stir. This may take up to an hour.

    Coffee strained into a measuring cup

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to three weeks. To make a cup of coffee, mix 1 part cold brew concentrate with 1 part water or milk of choice.

    Cold Brew Concentrate in a jar

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

How to Store

Store cold brew concentrate in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for three weeks but is consume within 10 days for optimal taste.

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