How to Make Cold Brew at Home [Immersion Cold Brew Recipe]

We know your love for that aromatic, energy-boosting beverage knows no bounds. But have you ever tried a cold brew? If you haven’t, then I must recommend it for the smooth, rich, and refreshing taste of your favorite drink. You’re in for a treat. You will drop your iced coffee routine for a cold brew iced coffee.

In this article, you will learn how to make cold brew at home. It’s very easy, requires minimal equipment, and I have to say this a second time, is absolutely delicious!

Mason Jar and Filter Bag Cold Brew Recipe

Let’s get started on your journey to becoming a DIY cold brew barista. We’ll be using a simple immersion cold brew method, and all you’ll need is a mason jar and a coffee filter bag. This is may favorite method, and I have been using it for a while now, since I read an article touting it as the easiest and most convenient method to make cold brew at home.

Ingredients and Equipment

Before we get started, make sure you have the following items:

1. A mason jar (1 quart or 32 ounces)
2. Your favorite coffee beans (3/4 cup),
3. A coffee grinder
4. A coffee filter bag
5. Cold, filtered water (3 cups)
6. A refrigerator

Step-by-Step Recipe

• Step 1: Choosing and Grinding Your Coffee Beans

The first step is choosing the perfect coffee beans. It all comes down to personal preference, but for a cold brew, I prefer a medium-dark roast Brazilian coffee. Once you’ve chosen your beans, it’s time to grind them. The common recommendation suggests a coarse grind – similar to raw sugar. People will recommend this coarse grind size in order to avoid bitterness. However, folks at That’s Cold Brew, recommend a finer grind size, which I tested and I agree works great with a shorter steeping time. So grind a medium-coarse, or maybe even finer.

• Step 2: Combining Coffee and Water

Take your coffee filter bag and fill it with the ground coffee and tie the drawstring. Place the bag in the mason jar and add great quality water to fill up the jar.

• Step 3: Stir to Soak

You can screw on the lid firmly, and ensure that there is no leaking. Give your mason jar a vigorous shake to make sure all the grounds in the bag are wet. Now, it’s time to let it soak. This is the secret to the rich, smooth taste of cold brew coffee. The coffee needs to steep in the water for a long period to extract all its flavorful goodness.

• Step 4: Steeping

Patience is key here! Place your mason jar in the refrigerator and let it steep for about 12-18 hours. The article I mentioned a little earlier in the article describes an experiment where the author looked for the optimal steeping time for cold brew. I tested that on a smaller scale, and confirmed their results.

• Step 5: Time to Filter

After the steeping process, it’s time to filter out the grounds. Since you used a coffee filter bag, you will simply remove the bag with the spent coffee grounds, and dump it. The bag will retain all the grounds and silt, leaving you with a clean, smooth cold brew.

• Step 6: Enjoy!

Pour it over ice, add a splash of milk or cream if you like, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You should dilute this coffee concentrate at a 1:1 ratio with ice and milk.

Remember, the beauty of a cold brew is that you can store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. So, you can make a big batch and have a chilled, refreshing coffee waiting for you anytime you want.

Making your own cold brew at home is not just about the delicious end product. It’s about the joy of experimenting with different coffee types, the anticipation as you wait for your brew to steep, and the satisfaction of sipping a drink you’ve made entirely by yourself. So go ahead, try this recipe, and revel in the pure, refreshing taste of your homemade cold brew. Happy brewing!