Discover 10 Ways to Enjoy Cold Brew Coffee! From learning how to make it at home, to how to use it in energizing iced lattes, refreshing coffee house copycats, and more of the best cold brew recipes.
Rev your engines! Or let these 10 easy cold brew recipes do that for you. As summer comes around, the season for iced coffee is in full swing. But life is too short for watery, bitter iced coffee, which is where cold brew comes in.
Spurred by major coffeehouse chains like Starbucks, cold brew has become something of a phenomenon in recent years. Sure, the name is trendy – but what exactly is cold brew? How is it different from regular coffee? And how easy is it to make at home? Let’s dive in!
What is Cold Brew Coffee?
The key is in its name: coffee that’s brewed cold instead of hot. Hot coffee brewing usually exposes coffee grounds to hot water in order to extract the oils, caffeine, and sugars for drinking.
Instead, the cold brewing process involves steeping coffee grounds in water for hours at a time, usually at cold temperatures. The result is a smoother, refreshingly cold and concentrated coffee.
Why is Cold Brew So Good?
You don’t have to be an avid coffee fan to appreciate the aromatic, sweeter flavor that comes with coffee that’s been brewed cold. So what makes cold brew taste so darn good? The key is in the lack of heat exposure during the brewing process. Heat strips away oxygen, which can lead to bitterness. With cold brewed coffee, the flavor of the coffee grounds remains intact, and deliciously smooth.
Is it Sweet?
The cold extraction process results in a coffee that’s naturally sweeter and less acidic than regular iced coffee. It’s not sugary sweet, but it does have more flavor and less of the sharp bitterness that comes with hot brewed coffee. As a result, many who enjoy sugar or cream in their coffee can often get away with adding less to their cold brew.
Is Cold Brew Stronger Than Regular Coffee?
It can be, or it doesn’t have to be, depending on how you like your coffee! The strength of a coffee drink depends on the coffee-to-water ratio that’s used to brew it, and how it’s served.
Most drip coffees are brewed at 1 part coffee to 15-25 parts water (give or take). By comparison, cold brew is brewed highly concentrated at a 1:4 ratio. This makes cold brew concentrate much higher in caffeine than the same volume of fresh-from-the-pot hot coffee.
If that sounds a bit hair-raising, don’t worry. Not many people drink cold brew concentrate on its own! You’ll often find it diluted 1:1 with milk or water before serving, much like a shot of espresso would be. This dilution should usually bring the caffeine level closer to that of drip coffee.
Is Cold Brew Coffee Stronger than Espresso?
Shot for shot, most cold brew concentrates will have more caffeine than espresso. This is because of the sheer volume of grounds vs. water used in the steeping process. Once diluted with the likes of milk, cream, or water, it will lose the edge but still have some kick. So if you’re looking for an extra pick me up, give one of the recipes below a try!
Chocolate Almond Protein Blended Cold Brew
Mimic all the flavors of a blended Starbucks coffee drink with this cool and creamy recipe. Cold brew is swirled into a nourishing breakfast smoothie complete with bananas, cocoa, almond butter and protein powder.
Cold Brew Latte [+VIDEO]
You’ll be skipping the coffee shop lineups more often once you’ve learned this simple way to make a flavorful homemade cold brew latte. The iced coffee lover’s dream!
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Coffee {Starbucks Copycat}
Every season can be pumpkin spice season when this pumpkin cream cold brew is involved! Made with silky smooth dark iced coffee topped with featherlight pumpkin spice foam.
How to Make Perfect Cold Brew Coffee at Home
Get the run-down on making your own cold brew. Everything you want to know about the process, so you can have your own concentrate waiting in the fridge!
Cold Brew Coffee with Mocha Condensed Milk
Condensed milk infused with the flavors of cocoa and vanilla brings a delicious sweet richness to this homemade cold brew recipe. Like an iced mocha latte, only infinitely creamier!
How to Make Iced Chai Tea Latte
Make the ultimate “dirty” chai latte using cold brew with this quick and easy homemade recipe. Steeped chai tea and coconut milk bring sweet and spiced flavors, while cold brew brings the kick!
Cold Brew Coffee with Vanilla Cream
Craving a sweet sip? Try this cool and creamy coffee idea made with homemade vanilla cream. Full of flavor, like dessert in coffee form!
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home
You don’t need to be a wizard-level barista to make sweet and smooth cold brew at home! This easy step-by-step walks you through it, so you can run with all your favorite cold brew recipes.
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (Starbucks Copycat)
A Starbucks copycat recipe that’s easy to make using ready-made cold brew, sweet cream, and rich pumpkin flavor thanks to pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice.
Cold Brew Coffee (Recipe & Tips!)
With how-to’s like these, you’ll be making your own cold brew in no time! This detailed recipe makes the perfect cup, every time.
Looking for even more easy homemade versions of your favorite coffee shop cravings? Check out the recipe finder!
