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How to Make Cold Brew Iced Coffee, as Told by a Starbucks Barista

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at FAU chapter.

Let’s face it. As college students, most of us wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the power of a good (and strong) cup of coffee. Hot or iced, black or with cream, many of us have turned to coffee at least a few times in our collegiate careers to write those last few paragraphs or memorize those last few elements.

cold brewed iced coffee

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While there are plenty of great and effective ways to brew that neat little bean, none are as unique as the elusive cold brew. Once limited to small hipster coffee shops because it takes 12+ hours to brew in small batches, this tasty sensation is catching our eye and finally getting the attention it deserves. As Starbucks stores across the country are launching cold brew as a new beverage option, it’s easy (and cheap) to make and customize your own version at home.

cold brewed iced coffee

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The mechanics of making coffee are pretty simple. Grind the beans and add hot water, where the hot water then soaks into the grinds and extracts the caffeine and flavors of the bean. The grinds are then filtered out, and we can drink our coffee and go about our merry, caffeinated ways. With cold brew, the idea is that the heat is replaced with time- instead of brewing with hot water and achieving (nearly) instant gratification, cold brew uses cold or room temperature water, so the process takes longer.

cold brewed iced coffee

GIF Courtesy of giphy.com

Here’s the kick- because the bitterness of coffee comes entirely from the heat of the water, the cold brewing process can remove most if not all of the bitter taste and acidity of the coffee (depending on the acidity of the particular blend or roast being used). As a result, you get a much smoother and generally better tasting cup of iced coffee than if you had brewed it with a more traditional method. Because nobody likes a bitter cup of coffee.

cold brewed iced coffee

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In fact, cold brewing inhibits so much of the acidity of coffee so much so that people with sensitive stomachs can generally stomach cold brew much better than a more standard cuppa joe.  Which also means that you don’t necessarily have to pile in milk and sugar into it, and many people find that they can drink it black. So it tastes better, doesn’t kill your stomach, and it won’t kill your diet either? That’s right.

At this point, you’ve probably pulled up your search engine of choice to find out how to DIY the crap out of this whole thing. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Below you’ll find a full recipe for some seriously yummy iced coffee, without any fancy equipment. Happy sipping!

cold brewed iced coffee

Graphic by Spoon University

Easy Cold Brewed Iced Coffee

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: minutesCook time: 20 minutesTotal time: 20 minutesServings: servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. STEP 1

    Measure out your ground beans and pour them into the bottom of the brewing vessel. While a large mason jar or drink pitcher with a lid and a metal filter will suffice, a French Press is ideal because the filter and everything is built right in. I really like this one, but any large model will do.

  2. Photo by Morgan Nielsen

    Pour the cold water over the grinds, making sure to make sure that all of the grinds are covered. It’s definitely not a bad idea to use a spoon to make sure all of the grounds are wet.

  3. Photo by Morgan Nielsen.

    Leave the whole thing on the counter for 12-24 hours (the longer the better).

  4. Photo by Morgan Nielsen

    After letting the coffee sit, either press your beans (if you used a french press) or use a filter or strainer to strain out out the grinds.

  5. Photo by Morgan Nielsen

    Ta da! You now have cold brewed iced coffee! Depending on the roast of the beans you used, the coffee may be concentrated. In my experience lighter roasts don’t need added water, but I imagine if you used a dark roasted coffee you may need to dilute it with some additional water to taste. After adding the water (if needed) you’re ready to add whatever syrups/sweeteners or milks you usually take with your coffee. Enjoy your new ultra-hip and delicious coffee, and brag to your friends!

Morgan is a recent graduate at Florida Atlantic University, with a degree in Biological Sciences. As a barista/shift supervisor and certified “Coffee Master” at Starbucks Coffee Company, she’s definitely got the inside scoop on all things caffeine. When she’s not busy impulse buying sushi mats and fondue sets on Amazon, you can usually find her testing out a new recipe in the kitchen (and crossing her fingers that the smoke alarm doesn’t go off). She makes a point to try to make dinner every single night, and rarely makes the same thing twice. Her dream kitchen includes an ice cream machine and an island with a built-in hibachi stove. Even though her degree is in biology, Spoon has helped her discover her passion for writing and editing, and hopes to land a job that allows her to use the social media and writing/editing skills that Spoon has taught her.