When I made this Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe, my grocery bill went down exponentially. I was buying about four pre-made cold brews from the store a week… making it at home is not only simple but much more economical. Plus, there are no additives or preservatives, which makes me feel better.
Love coffee like I do? Check out some of my coffee recipes: Keto Coffee Recipe (Bulletproof Coffee), Low Carb Iced Latte or my Pumpkin Spice Latte. So good.
This recipe is: Low Carb, Keto, Vegetarian AND Vegan, Paleo and Dairy Free (if you just don’t add the cream!)
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love my At Home Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe:
- Super simple to make with just a few ingredients.
- Foolproof recipe that requires absolutely no cooking.
- Choose the flavor of the coffee you like the most and use it in this recipe!
- Saves a ton of money over using store bought cold brewed coffee.
- Completely keto, low carb and delicious.
Is this Homemade Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe Low Carb?
Ingredients for Cold Brewed Coffee at Home:
- Coffee: you can either grind your own beans in a food processor (as I show in this recipe) or use coarse ground coffee from the store. Your choice.
- Water: I choose to use filtered or spring water for this recipe. I have used tap water when traveling before and found that the flavor from the tap water amplifies the longer the coffee is cold brewed.
Ingredient Substitution Ideas:
- None. It’s just coffee and water. Must have ingredients for cold brewed coffee.
Equipment Needed for my Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe:
- Measuring Cups
- Large pitcher or 4 liter Container (these are my Cambro containers- I love them!)
- Superfine mesh strainer or fine mesh strainer with cheesecloth or a funnel with superfine straining cloth.
How to make the Recipe for Cold Brewed Coffee:
Check out the step-by-step photos below to guide you through the process at home. If you're looking for the full printable recipe and ingredient list, you'll find them in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Add whole coffee beans to a food processor or coffee grinder. Pulse until you achieve a coarse grind.
Step 2: Check the consistency of the grind. It should resemble coarse sea salt, ideal for cold brewing.
Step 3: In a large container, add the filtered water and gently pour in the ground coffee.
Step 4: Stir the coffee and water mixture gently to ensure all grounds are evenly saturated.
Step 5: Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator to steep for 18 to 24 hours.
Step 6: After steeping, remove the container from the refrigerator. The coffee is now fully brewed.
Step 7: Pour the coffee through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth to remove most of the grounds.
Step 8: Allow the liquid to drain completely, pressing gently on the grounds to extract more coffee.
Step 9: Discard the used coffee grounds or repurpose them for composting or gardening. Store the strained cold brew in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
💡 Scott's Pro Tips:
- Get the right equipment: The investment is small for the 4 quart Cambro Container with a lid and the superfine mesh strainer. Having the right equipment allows for this recipe to be super easy and enjoyable to make.
- Water makes a difference: If you are using tap water that has a higher chlorine content (meaning you can either taste it or smell it from the tap) you will want to brew your coffee for LESS time (12-15 hours). Tap water makes the coffee taste a bit strange if it brews over 18 hours. For spring water or filtered water, 18-24 hours is good.
- Reduced Steeping Time: if you like a smoother cold brewed coffee, reduce the steeping time from 18-24 hours to 12-16 hours. I like the stronger flavor, which is why I steep mine longer. Experiment for what works for you.
📋 Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe Variations:
- Increased Intensity: want to make some concentrated cold brew? Cut the water to 6 cups from 8. This is great for people with limited refrigerator space. You can always dilute the cold brew if it is too strong.
- Flavored Cold Brewed Coffee: because you are making your cold brewed coffee recipe at home, you can make it taste however you like. Add in 1 cinnamon stick or a portion of a vanilla bean (or ¼ teaspoon vanilla bean powder). If you like subtle baking spice flavor to your coffee, add in ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice before brewing. So good.
- Fresh Roasted Coffee: if you have a local coffee roaster near your house, talk with them about the flavor you like in coffee. They will get you a bag of fresh roasted coffee that takes the flavor of your home cold brewed coffee from good to great. Get the coffee coarse ground (French Press Grind) to make it even easier.
Storing your Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe:
To store cold brew coffee: be sure that you keep the coffee covered and cold. It will last for about a week in the fridge. When it starts appearing thick (you will know the difference when you see it), it’s time to pour it down the drain. To reheat: it’s a cold beverage… otherwise it would just be coffee. No need to reheat. To freeze: Yes! Cold brewed coffee does freeze really well. I add mine to a freezer safe zip-top bag and lay it flat on a small baking sheet. Once frozen, it stays good for over a year. To use again, just place it in the fridge overnight to thaw and you have some really cold brewed coffee ready to go by morning.
What to Serve with your Homemade Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe:
This coffee recipe loves to be paired with desserts… or sweet breakfast items! Check out some of my low carb and keto options to choose from:
Final Thoughts:
FAQs
The key to making coffee with only cold water is to steep the ground coffee for at least 12 hours (and up to 24 hours) in the cold water. This extracts the coffee flavor into the water for a delicious cup of cold brewed coffee. Before drinking the coffee, the coffee grounds must be strained and discarded.
No. You most likely have everything you need to make a cold brewed coffee recipe in your own kitchen. You need some measuring cups, a large bowl or pitcher and a mesh strainer. If you have this equipment, just add coffee and water.
For a more concentrated cold brewed coffee, the ratio is 1:4 (1 cup coffee to 4 cups water). For a more mild coffee, the ration is either 1:6 or 1:8. Ultimately, it is up to your taste preference.
Easy Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Coffee coarse ground
- 8 Cups Water Preferably filtered
Instructions
- Place the beans into a food processor or coffee bean grinder. We want the beans to be coarse ground. You can also buy them very coarse ground if you prefer (French Press grind).
- In a large container that will fit into your refrigerator, add the water.
- Add in the ground coffee beans and stir gently.
- Cover the container and place in the refrigerator for 18 to 24 hours. Stir around 12 hours if you would like.
- Using a superfine strainer or a fine strainer lined with cheesecloth, strain the cold brewed coffee into a pitcher.
- Discard the spent coffee grounds and refrigerate the cold brewed coffee until ready to consume.
Notes
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
3 Responses
Very good recipe.
Hi-
Thanks so much. I keep this in the fridge now... not only does it save time during my mornings but it is also there at lunch if I need a quick "pick me up." Easy.
Have a great day in the kitchen-
Scott
Just finished my most recent batch of this coffee when a friend just popped in yesterday afternoon. I asked if he wanted an iced latte and he was so surprised. I had 2 delicious lattes ready in under 2 minutes. I love it when a plan comes together.