How to Make the Best Cold Brew Coffee (Ever)

Ah, delicious iced coffee. We’ve tried them all (butter coffee, anyone?) but nothing gives you the one-two punch of caffeine and smoothness like a good cold brew coffee. There’s a good reason for this, too — and you can thank science. The brewing method decreases the acidity of your coffee, creating a less bitter beverage. In other words, cold brew coffee has a smooth complexity that brings out the best in your beans. At most cafes, cold brew is a rare specialty (and it can cost a pretty penny). But you might be surprised to find out that it’s easy to DIY. In fact, you can make it at home with just four tools: a grinder, coffee beans, a jar and a filter device.

First up: the grinder. If you’re a coffee aficionado, we suggest using a Burr grinder. It has the most consistent grind and great versatility — especially if you like to mix it up with drip coffee or espresso. If you don’t own a grinder, a coarse pre-ground bag of coffee works as well.

For a pitcher of iced coffee, scoop 2 cups of your ground coffee in a jar. Pour 4 cups of room temperature filtered water over it, stir to combine and let it rest for 8-12 hours — depending on the intensity desired.

Once you’ve let it sit, you’ll then need to pour your coffee through a filter to create the final cold brew concentration. For this, you can use a Chemex with a paper coffee filter or a French press (positioned with the plunger out until you’re ready to filter).

Voilà! Your cold brew concentrate is complete. Keep in mind that this concentrate needs to be diluted before serving it. You can enjoy it with cold water or milk and ice. And, of course, sugar is always a sweet treat.

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