Beverages

Serving

Cold Brew Coffee

Name: Cold Brew Coffee
Total time: 720 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Beverages
Ingredients: 1 cup coarsely ground coffee; 4 cups cold water; ice cubes, for serving; 1/4 cup milk or cream, optional

Smooth, low-acid cold brew coffee concentrate steeped slowly overnight and served over ice.

720 minutes

Serves 4

Breakfast

252 min prep

396 min cook

Contains common allergens

Dairy

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Instructions

4 steps

1
Combine ground coffee and cold water in a large jar or pitcher and stir well.
2
Cover and steep in the refrigerator for 12 to 18 hours.
3
Strain through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth.
4
Serve over ice, diluted with water if desired, and add milk or cream to taste.

Cold Brew Coffee — plated and served — Serving moment. How Cold Brew Coffee looks plated and ready to eat — a representative photo, not a step in the recipe.

Listahan Family Score™

70/100

Good fit for most families

Allergen-friendly 90

Kid-friendly 55

Weeknight-easy 54

Budget-friendly 72

Great leftovers 87

Pantry-friendly 58

Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.

Nutrition

per serving

Calories

0 g

Protein

1 g

Carbs

1 g

Fat

Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.

Listahan cooking guide

Chef notes & practical guide

Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.

Cultural context

Cold brewing coffee with room-temperature or cold water instead of hot has roots in Japanese and Dutch trading-era brewing methods, prized for producing a smoother, less acidic cup. It became a mainstream café staple in North America in the 2010s as an alternative to iced hot-brewed coffee, which tends to taste watered down and bitter once diluted by melting ice.

Listahan note

This version steeps a full 12 to 18 hours, which is longer than many quick recipes suggest, because that extra time is what actually gives cold brew its smooth, low-acid character.

Technique cues

Coarsely ground coffee is essential; fine grounds over-extract during the long steep and turn bitter.
Stir well right after combining coffee and water so all the grounds get saturated evenly.
The concentrate is strong by design; dilute it with water or milk to taste rather than drinking it straight.

Kitchen flow

Parallel prep: Combine coffee and water the night before so it's ready to strain first thing in the morning.
Make-ahead: This recipe is built around make-ahead steeping; there's no quick version that gives the same flavor.
Leftover move: Freeze extra cold brew into ice cubes so future glasses don't get watered down as they melt.
Cleanup rhythm: Rinse the cheesecloth or filter right after straining so coffee grounds don't dry and stick.

Ingredient brief

Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.

Coarsely ground coffee

Base

Purpose: A coarse grind extracts slowly and evenly over the long steep, which is what gives cold brew its smooth flavor.

Handling: Grind just before steeping if possible, or buy pre-ground coffee labeled specifically for cold brew or French press.

Adaptation: Any coffee bean works; darker roasts tend to give a richer, more chocolatey cold brew.

Cold water

Extraction medium

Purpose: Cold water extracts coffee's flavor more slowly than hot water, pulling out fewer bitter compounds.

Handling: Filtered water gives the cleanest flavor, though tap water works fine too.

Adaptation: No real substitute; the cold-water steep is what defines this method.

Milk or cream, optional

Finishing touch

Purpose: A splash of milk softens the concentrate's strength and adds creaminess.

Handling: Add to taste once the cold brew is diluted with water or served over ice.

Adaptation: Any milk, dairy or plant-based, works; oat milk is a popular pairing for its natural sweetness.

Technique notes

Steep in the refrigerator, not on the counter, for both food safety and a cleaner flavor over the long steep time.
Strain twice, once through a mesh strainer and once through cheesecloth or a paper filter, for the clearest concentrate.
The concentrate keeps its smooth flavor best when diluted just before drinking rather than pre-mixed and stored.

Ingredient swaps

Dairy-free direction: Use oat, almond, or coconut milk; oat milk in particular complements cold brew's flavor well.
Sweetened direction: Stir in simple syrup, since granulated sugar doesn't dissolve well in cold liquid.
Decaf direction: Use decaf coffee grounds for the same smooth flavor without the caffeine.

Serve alongside

A buttered croissant
Overnight oats
Banana bread
A breakfast sandwich
Iced latte for a creamier alternative
Sparkling water on the side to cleanse the palate
Orange juice for a classic breakfast pairing

Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.

Storage & reheating

Refrigerate the strained concentrate in a sealed jar for up to 2 weeks.
Dilute individual servings with water or milk rather than diluting the whole batch, so it stays strong for later use.
Freeze extra concentrate into ice cubes for a longer shelf life and less dilution when served.

Equipment

Large jar or pitcher
Fine mesh strainer
Cheesecloth or paper coffee filter

Make this household-aware

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