How to Make Iced Coffee and Delicious Cold Brew at Home (2020)

I love coffee. I cannot survive a morning without it to be honest. But there are definitely times when I don't want a hot beverage to start my morning. Those are the times when I love having a good iced coffee or cold brew recipe at hand.

You might be wondering how to make iced coffee. These coffee styles are so easy but also incredibly delicious, whether you're looking for a cool summer beverage, or just want to make coffee that will last you for days.

Let's take a look at the secrets to the best cold coffees: you will not regret these cold brews. They'll give you the pep in your step you need any day, and you can keep sipping them no matter what the weather.

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Making iced coffee is incredibly easy.

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We'll start with the simpler recipe: make coffee. Pour it over ice. Enjoy. If you want to spice it up a little bit, you can add in some cream or sugar to your taste. Make sure you stir well to ensure the coffee gets nice and cool.

Cold brew

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If you want a fancier version of a cold coffee, then you might be interested in trying a cold brew. Cold brews actually allow the beans to steep in cold water rather than running hot water through them quickly. That's one of the reasons that I like to use a coffee grinder to grind my own beans for cold brew. It helps me get exactly the right grind (coarse for a cold brew), and ensures that my coffee is always fresh. This Shardor grinder is inexpensive but will last you: it's a great addition if you're planning to add cold brews to your rotation.

Once you've ground up your beans, you'll want to add them to water.

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The ideal ratio is 1:4 of beans to water. Using filtered water will make your coffee turn out the best, but it's not a requirement. Combine water and beans in a container you can close and leave in the fridge.

Let it steep.

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This is my favorite part of cold brew: once you've combined water and beans, all you have to do is put it in the fridge overnight. The longer you leave it, the stronger your coffee will be, so don't forget about it. But this lets me prep my coffee in the evening and have it ready to go in the morning.

Filter it out

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This next step is the most difficult one, which is also a way of saying that it's incredibly easy to make cold brew. Once your coffee has finished steeping, you want to filter out the grounds. There are a few ways to do this. One is by buying a mason jar or other container that comes with a filter, like this amazing one here. Pop the beans in the filter and pour the water over it. When you're ready, just remove the filter and your coffee is ready to drink.

Other options

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If you don't want to commit to using the same container every time you make your cold brew, you can also use these filter bags. Fill them up the same way you would with a tea bag, and pop it in your container of choice. When it's ready, just grab the string to pull it out and your coffee is good to go!

Keep it for a day or two

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Now that you've filtered your coffee, it's ready to drink! One of my favorite things about cold brew is that it keeps for up to two weeks (although it's best in the first week). I like to use the tea bag style of filter to make a huge batch and then keep it in my fridge in an easy to use pitcher for the rest of the week. I only have to make coffee once and it's a gift that keeps on giving.

Of course if you're like me you don't drink your coffee black.

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Cold-brew tends to be stronger than typical coffee, so many people drink it with some cream, sugar, simple syrup, or another flavoring. Don't be afraid to add in anything that sounds good to you: experiment!

But make sure it gets stirred

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When I first started drinking cold brew, it took me a bit too long to realize that a typical spoon wasn't reaching the bottom of the taller water glasses I used. Since you're adding in ice, you're likely to want a taller glass as well. To help make sure you get a smooth and even cup of coffee, iced tea spoons are the secret weapon for stirring. They're longer than normal spoons. Plus these ones are so pretty!

Don't forget the most important part.

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Sit back and enjoy your coffee! This is obviously the best part of any coffee recipe.