Home · Recipes · Coffee & Tea Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Aug 8, 2017Updated: Oct 5, 2023 View Recipe18 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. Easily make iced coffee at home using this homemade coffee concentrate recipe. Customize to your liking with sweeteners, spices, or milks. Without realizing it, I was spending close to $20 a week to fuel my coffee habit. During the hot summer months, I could easily spent double to cool with iced coffee every afternoon. No need to spend frivolously on on my daily coffee now that I have this concentrate! Homemade Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Coffee concentrates seem to be popping up everywhere. From the rows of bottled concentrates I see at the market to the numerous cold brew concentrate kits I stumble upon online, it is definitely a hot commodity. I’ve purchased my fair share of these products. I love the ease of being able to whip up a batch of iced coffee at a moment’s notice. Simply grab a glass, pour, and enjoy. Obviously, buying these bottles and kits also adds up. This homemade cold brew coffee concentrate solves everything! Easiest way to brew coffee I have found that using a French press is the easiest way brew coffee. It conveniently separates the coffee bean grounds from the liquids. I’ve tried other methods (coffee filter, cheesecloth, etc) but they can get messy. Coffee 101How to Prepare Beans for Brewing Add coffee grounds to French press container. Pour in water and stir vigorously to combine. Cover and allow mixture to steep overnight (8-12 hours) at room temperature. The following morning, slowly press down on the French press plunger to filter out the coffee beans from the liquid. Pour the concentrate into a container and keep it chilled in the fridge until you’re ready for an iced coffee. IT’S THAT EASY. Why steep coffee beans at room temperature? Yes, the beans are steeped at room temperature. It’s not literally “cold brewed.” You can brew it in the fridge but it’ll take longer than 8-12 hours to get the same product. To me, “cold brew” simply encompasses everything that isn’t brewed with hot water. (If you’re not interested in coffee concentrate, I also have a post for regular cold brew coffee.) How customize your iced coffee The recipe for this coffee concentrate uses a 1:2 ratio of beans to water. This makes between 6-8 cups of iced coffee, depending on your desired strength. Since I prefer strong coffee, I make my iced version using a 1:1 ratio of concentrate to water. The standard iced coffee ratio would be 1:2, 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water or milk. Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Easily make iced coffee at home using this homemade coffee concentrate recipe. Customize to your liking with sweeteners, spices, or milks.Yield: 6-8 cups iced coffee depending on your desired strength Prep Time: 5 minutes minutesInactive Steeping Time: 8 hours hoursTotal Time: 8 hours hours 5 minutes minutes Servings: 8 Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe IngredientsCoffee Concentrate:1 ½ cups dark roast coffee beans, roughly ground3 cups filtered waterIced Coffee:½ cup coffee concentrate½ cup water or milk Instructions Add coffee grounds to French press container. Pour in water and stir vigorously to combine. Cover and allow mixture to steep overnight (8-12 hours) at room temperature.Gently press down on French press plunger to separate grounds from liquid. Pour coffee concentrate into another container. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to use.Iced Coffee:For strong coffee (1:1 ratio), pour 1/2 cup coffee concentrate and 1/2 cup water in a serving glass filled with ice. For standard iced coffee (1:2 ratio), combine 1/2 cup coffee concentrate with 1 cup water. Customize with sweeteners, milk, or cream as desired. Notes I use this French Press from Amazon Infuse additional flavors during brewing process. Add vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, and other spices along with ground coffee. Pre-ground coffee can be used in place of freshly ground coffee beans. Storage and Leftovers: Coffee concentrate will keep in the fridge for one week. Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: DrinksCuisine: AmericanKeyword: cold brew coffee, coffee concentrated, iced coffee Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Lauren says: August 9, 2017 I love cold brew, and this looks like such an easy drink to make in the mornings! Lauren http://www.basicbabelauren.com Reply
Taryn says: August 9, 2017 Thanks for sharing your tips! I need to dig out my French press and give it a shot. So much cheaper than continuously buying iced coffee :) Taryn http://www.peplumsandpushups.com Reply
Joanie @ One Dish Kitchen says: August 9, 2017 I always love having a cup of cold brew coffee, but I never knew it was this easy to make! Reply
Denay DeGuzman says: August 9, 2017 I need a cup of this delicious cold-brew coffee right now! I love that it’s quick and easy to make. A great tasty pick-me-up any time of day. Reply
Dee says: August 9, 2017 I need my coffee to function — the stronger, the better, so this sounds perfect to me! Reply
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says: August 9, 2017 I’ve never actually tried cold brew coffee, but I clearly need to because this looks beyond easy and I love coffee! Can’t wait to try it! Reply
Jen says: August 9, 2017 I am not a coffee drinker but my husband is obsessed with cold brew. Looks like I need a french press and need to try this, thanks! Reply
Maggie Unzueta says: August 10, 2017 I’m such a coffee addict… drinking coffee right now. Lol. Must try out your cold brew method. Reply
Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says: August 10, 2017 You made a great recipe! i am going to have to share it with my friends who are coffee lovers! Reply
Cindy Rodriguez says: August 11, 2017 I will admit that I still love going to get coffee in the morning with the hubbie. But this is so great to know when i need to make a nice cold brew for the crew. Reply
Sam says: August 15, 2017 Neat recipe! Also, thank you for sharing your discovery about using a French press to make the whole process of brewing coffee, a little bit convenient. Couldn’t wait to try and whip this recipe up! Reply
Russell Volz says: August 25, 2020 I love my coffee hot; real hot. But then again come August, cold brew rules. It’s cold, refreshing, naturally sweet and smooth as silk. Nothing beats cold brew in August. But when I’m looking out my kitchen window in January at a foot of snow, I start day dreaming about my cold brew. Then it hit me. I should make cold brew tonight, then in the morning just microwave it steaming hot. Man was I surprised. That nuked cold brew coffee was every bit as naturally sweet and smooth as the August cold brew. I’m hooked! Reply
Sophie Carlson says: May 4, 2021 Thank you very much for this recipe. I really love coffee and live in the suburbs. I love experimenting with recipes. Looks very tasty! Reply