24-Hour Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Recipe: Easy & Smooth
This smooth 24-hour cold brew coffee concentrate is a simple, forgiving recipe that yields a silky, rich concentrate perfect for busy mornings. It’s a small act of self-care that delivers a week’s worth of perfect coffee.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups concentrate (about 8 servings) 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (85 grams) whole coffee beans, coarsely ground
- 4 cups (950 milliliters) cold filtered water
- Optional: a pinch of salt
- Optional: 1 cinnamon stick or 1 vanilla bean
Instructions
- Grind the coffee beans on the coarsest setting until they resemble coarse sea salt.
- Add the coarsely ground coffee to a large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups of cold filtered water over the grounds. Stir gently until all grounds are saturated.
- Seal the jar with a lid and place it in the refrigerator. Let it steep for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, remove the jar from the fridge. Place a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter over a clean bowl or jar. Slowly pour the coffee mixture through the strainer. Do not press on the grounds or squeeze the cheesecloth.
- Discard the coffee grounds.
- Pour the strained concentrate into a clean bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- To serve, fill a glass with ice. Pour 1 part cold brew concentrate to 1 part water or milk. Stir and enjoy.
Notes
Grind size is crucial: use a coarse grind like breadcrumbs. Do not rush the steep; 24 hours is ideal for smooth flavor. Use filtered water for best taste. Store concentrate in the fridge for up to two weeks. For a hot drink, dilute with hot water instead of cold.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup diluted (1/2 c
- Calories: 5
Keywords: cold brew, coffee concentrate, 24-hour cold brew, smooth coffee, homemade cold brew, easy cold brew