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 101: How 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.
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.
NOTE: If you’re not interested in coffee concentrate, I also have a post for regular cold brew coffee.
How Customize 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 meaning 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water.
Further customize your coffee by swapping milk in place of water. Any milk or non-dairy milk alternative works. Add a splash of cream or half and half to make the drink rich and creamy.
Add sweetness by mixing in sugar, simple syrup, or flavored syrups. Maple syrup and agave syrup are also great sweetener options.
More Coffee Drinks
Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
Ingredients
Coffee Concentrate:
- 1 ½ cups dark roast coffee beans,, roughly ground
- 3 cups filtered water
Iced Coffee:
- ½ cup coffee concentrate
- ½ cup milk, or water
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.
- estimated nutritional information refers to one prepared iced coffee.
- Coffee concentrate will keep in the fridge for one week.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
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!
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!
I need my coffee to function — the stronger, the better, so this sounds perfect to me!
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.
Mmm cold brew coffee sounds delicious!
This is awesome. It must taste amazing!
Ohhh this would be so perfect in the mornings! #coffeeaddict
I always love having a cup of cold brew coffee, but I never knew it was this easy to make!
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
I love cold brew, and this looks like such an easy drink to make in the mornings!
Lauren
http://www.basicbabelauren.com