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    Home » Coffee Drinks

    Cold Brew Concentrate

    Published: Jun 17, 2022 · Modified: Jun 17, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    Your wallet can take a serious hit from iced coffee drinks at a cafe. Thankfully, it’s super easy to make your own Iced Coffee at home when you make cold brew concentrate. All you need is coarsely ground coffee and cold water!

    With a jar of coffee cold brew in the fridge, you can make your afternoon Iced Mocha extra strong without paying for an add shot. Be sure to serve it over ice, or even Coffee Cubes for extra pizzaz and flavor.

    pouring cold brew concentrate into milk bottle from a long necked bottle. this …

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    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Fun Coffee Drinks
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Cold Brew Concentrate

    I love iced coffee, especially in the summer months when I’m running kids to their activities. In the old days I would drive through Starbucks, but I can no longer stomach the prices. Yikes!

    Instead I keep my own coffee concentrate on hand so that it’s simple and easy to whip up an iced mocha or iced coffee anytime. It’s also great for that hot morning cup of joe; just add hot water!

    Why Make This

    It’s easy. You’ll be pleasantly amazed how easy it is to cold brew coffee concentrate. It takes two ingredients and about five minutes of active time. You don’t even need electricity!

    It’s super cheap. I’ve done the math and can assure you that making your own is much more affordable than buying Starbucks cold brew or the Trader Joe kind.

    It’s delicious! You can mix up a refreshing, coffee drink that tastes amazing when you have a stash of cold brew on hand.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need to make this:

    bag of decaf Peets coffee on counter next to quart of water.

    coffee grounds – I buy Peets or Starbucks coffee from the grocery store already ground. If you prefer whole bean, be sure to grind it coarsely. You can use decaf or regular.

    water – I like using cold, filtered water. You can use room temperature water as well.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    coffee grounds in glass jar with red wide mouth funnel.
    pouring water into grounds in the jar.
    stirring the cold brew and coffee grounds in the jar.
    straining the coffee grounds out of the cold brew concentrate.
    1. Place 1 cup coffee grounds in a quart size mason jar. Add 3 to 4 cups cold water. Stir gently. Cover the jar and allow it to sit on the counter at room temperature for 12 hours.
    2. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or pour over coffee filter. Discard the coffee grounds.
    3. Store the cold brew in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

    Note: If you want to make more or less, keep in mind the ratio of 1 part ground coffee to 3.5 to 4 parts water.

    Uses

    This can be used as a substitute for espresso in recipes.

    To serve: dilute to taste with cold or hot water, starting with 1 part concentrate and 2 parts water. Add milk, almond milk, cream, or sugar according to your preferences.

    Leftover evaporated milk is a great addition as are frozen milk cubes or frozen almond milk cubes if you want an iced coffee.

    FAQs

    What is the ratio of how much cold brew concentrate to water?

    It can be diluted to taste, but the standard ratio is 1 part concentrate and 2 parts water.

    Does cold brew concentrate go bad?

    Coffee will go bad eventually. Store your homemade cold brew in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

    Is cold brew concentrate the same as espresso?

    Cold brew is concentrated coffee that steeps in cold water overnight, but it’s not the same as espresso which is steamed coffee. Both have a strong flavor and unless you’re a purist, they can be used interchangeably in recipes.

    two glasses of cold brew concentrate with coffee cubes.

    Fun Coffee Drinks

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    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    overhead shot of cold brew in glass coffee cups.

    Cold Brew Concentrate

    Save money and time when you make your own coffee drinks at home with homemade cold brew concentrate. It's easy and quick to make!
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Brewing Time: 12 hours hours
    Total Time: 12 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 cups
    Calories: 1kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $0.50

    Equipment

    • quart-sized mason jar

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup coffee grounds
    • 3 ½ cups cold water
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Place the coffee grounds in a quart-size mason jar. Fill the jar with cold water and stir. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 12 hours.
      1 cup coffee grounds, 3 ½ cups cold water
    • Strain the mixture and discard the grounds. Serve the cold brewed coffee, diluted to taste with hot or cold water or over ice, if desired.
    • Store the cold brew in the fridge for a week or two.

    Notes

    Note: If you want to make more or less, keep in mind the ratio of 1 part ground coffee to 3.5 to 4 parts water.
    This concentrate can be used as a substitute for espresso in recipes.
    To serve: dilute to taste with cold or hot water, starting with 1 part concentrate and 2 parts water. Add milk, almond milk, cream, or sugar according to your preferences.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1kcal | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kgr

      December 30, 2022 at 7:32 pm

      So, do you mean ground coffee, or grounds left over from brewing?

      Reply

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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