Skip to main content
Epicurious

Cold-Brew Coffee

By Sam Worley

3.8

(18)

Photo of cold brew coffee with pastries and a bowl of sugar.
Photo by Christopher Simpson, Prop and Food Styling by Ali Nardi

If you're using a commercial cold-brew maker like a Toddy, follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing and filtering. Feel free to play around with how you dilute this—you might prefer a stronger or weaker coffee than the one suggested here. And coffee-heads the world over agree: cold-brew is only as good as the beans it's made with.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    24 hours

  • Yield

    Makes about 3 cups coffee concentrate

Ingredients

12 ounces high-quality coffee beans (about 4 cups), coarsely ground
Milk (optional; for serving)

Special Equipment

A 12-cup (or larger) resealable container or stockpot with lid; a coffee filter or cheesecloth

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place ground coffee in 12-cup container. Slowly pour 6 cups cool water over grounds. Stir very gently just until grounds are moistened. Seal container and chill 24 hours.

    Step 2

    Strain coffee grounds through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or bowl. Strain again through coffee filter into a large bowl or 3-cup (or larger) resealable container. (Alternately, skip the straining and use a thick filter, like for a Chemex.) To serve, pour over ice and dilute 1:1 with water or milk.

TagsCold DrinkBeveragesIced CoffeeCoffeeBreakfastBrunchNonalcoholicEasy5 Ingredients or FewerMake AheadEpicurious

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Kimchi Bloody Mary
The kimchi brine is the secret hero here; just a splash of it brightens the cocktail while deepening it with a little funky je ne sais quoi.
Homemade Whipped Cream
Fluffier, fresher, and fancier than anything from a tub or can.
Bicycle Bandit
A riff on the Bicycle Thief cocktail, a citrusy, low ABV riff on a Negroni, this three-ingredient, party-ready twist features grapefruit soda.
Sea Breeze
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
Yes, it's a shortcut in a microwave. It's also a gooey, fudgy, wildly good chocolate cake.
Fufu
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.
Not-So-Secret Burger Sauce
Every sauce needs a few secrets. Ours is smoky, sweet, and savory—use it for burgers, fries, tenders, and more.
Luscious Banana Pudding
Layer homemade custard, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafers under clouds of whipped cream for this iconic dessert.