Learn how to make cold brew coffee concentrate in a simple mason jar for the perfect iced coffee at home.

Are you a fellow coffee lover? Coffee is always a great idea to me, whether it’s a hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning, a large iced, cold coffee on a hot summer day, or an espresso with dessert. There’s never a time it’s not a good idea!

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What is Cold Brew?

Cold brew steeps ground coffee in cold water for an extended period of time before straining. The result? Smooth coffee that’s less acidic and bitter than regular coffee.

This is a great option to try for those who may not like the bitter notes of traditionally brewed coffee or who have a sensitive stomach.

It’s the easiest method to learn, requiring just a bit of extra time and effort. While a French press or cold brew maker quickens the process, not everyone has one. This is a perfect method using basic kitchen equipment.

cold brew concentrate steeping in a half gallon mason jar

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No fancy equipment – This cold brew mason jar recipe is perfect for those who don’t have the space or the desire to buy extra equipment that only serves one purpose. Mason jars are multifunctional and useful for any kitchen.
Economical – Learning how to make your own homemade cold brew will save you so much money compared to buying it already made! You get that same great coffee shop taste for a fraction of the cost.
Saves Time – No more driving to your local coffee shop for a glass of cold brew! With just a little forethought, you can have your cup of cold brew in just a minute or two.
Customizable – This is where it gets really fun! First, coffee shops are limited in their offerings. For example, I have yet to find a decaf cold brew at a store. When I make cold brew at home, it’s easily customizable to how I want it. Organic, fair-trade, decaf, or light, medium, and dark roast…you can have it any way you can source the beans. Second, easily customize the flavors of your cold brew coffee beverage. With different syrups, extracts, and types of milk, the possibilities are endless! Have fun with this part. Once you find what you love, you can recreate and enjoy it anytime!

Equipment to Make Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate

Half-gallon mason jar with two piece mason jar lid
Cheese cloth or paper filter
Fine mesh strainer
Funnel

Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Ingredients

Coffee beans – Use coarse ground coffee beans to avoid over-extraction and help reduce sediment. I recommend a dark roast as the flavors will hold up well to the long steep.
Water – Great-tasting water makes great-tasting coffee. I like to use filtered water for the cleanest coffee flavor, but tap water works too.

Coarse ground coffee beans in white dish

Tips for Success

Grind the beans coarsely before brewing to have the freshest flavor and best brew. Whole roasted coffee beans contain carbon dioxide, which prevents oxidation and the flavor from becoming stale. Once ground, more of the surface area is exposed to oxygen, causing loss of flavor.
Steep for at least 12 hours for the best flavor. Because heat isn’t used to extract the flavor from the beans, it needs enough time to fully infuse the water.
Don’t let ice dilute the bold coffee flavor. Freeze cold brew concentrate into ice cubes to chill your coffee drink.
Don’t throw the grounds away! Add to your compost pile or use for acidic-loving plants.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Instructions

Combine Coffee and Water

Grind the beans on the coarsest setting on your coffee grinder. The grounds should look like coarse cornmeal, and not a fine powder.

Add the beans and water to a half-gallon mason jar or large container. Use a large spoon to stir and incorporate the coffee grounds into the water, making sure they’re fully saturated.

Steep

stirring cold brew concentrate in a glass jar

Cover the mason jar with a 2-part lid. Leave the jar on the counter at room temperature to brew or move it to the refrigerator.

Steep the coffee for 12-18 hours. I recommend trying at the 12-hour mark. I personally think 16-18 hours is best. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor will be. Be aware that steeping too long will result in a bitter flavor.

Since this is a cold brew coffee concentrate, it will be very strong. It’s better to err on the side of a strong coffee concentrate and be able to dilute it than to have it too weak. At that point, there’s not much you can do about it.

Strain

The next day, remove the mason jar from the refrigerator. Do your best to not jostle the jar too much. It will make this next step easier.

Using a large spoon, scoop out as many of the coffee grounds that have floated to the top as you can.

Place a funnel on top of a clean mason jar. Add a cheesecloth-lined mesh stainer over the funnel.

Pour the cold brew over the cheesecloth to separate the grounds from the cold brew. There will be roughly a quart of cold brew concentrate. Another option is to use a French press to separate the grounds from the brew.

Cold brew coffee strained through cheese cloth over fine mesh strainer

Serve

Fill a tall glass full of ice cubes. Pour 1 part concentrate and 3 part water over the ice. These are the ratios that I use, but feel free to use more or less water for your personal preferences.

Add a touch of cream, homemade Italian sweet cream coffee creamer, almond milk, or coconut milk for a creamy coffee drink.

Store

Pour the concentrate into a container with an airtight lid. Use a container that will leave as little headspace as possible to reduce the amount of air exposure.

Cold brew will have the best flavor if used within the first week, but can be stored for up to two weeks.

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment and rate the recipe. Tag photos #Lockremhomestead over on Instagram to share pictures of your Cold Brew!