The 3 Common Kitchen Items You Need to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home

In the coffee drinking world, there are two camps: there are the cold-brew-all-year people and there are those who observe strict seasonal coffee preferences (hot coffee in the fall and winter months, cold brew in the spring and summer months). I’m not here to judge. I’m here to tell you that if you’ve been relying on your nearest coffee shop for your cold brew fix, there’s a better way. Rather than spend upwards of $5 for cold brew from your barista, you can make a chilled glass of smoothly flavored, caffeinated goodness in the comfort of your own home with three common kitchen tools.

Over the years of making it in my own kitchen, I’ve perfected the alchemy required for cold brew and my technique needs three things: a French press, a mesh strainer and a pitcher. The French press is for actually brewing your cold brew — and if only want one tool, this is the one you need. The mesh strainer makes sure your cold brew, once you’ve brewed it and pressed it, has a smooth texture for easy and delicious sipping. The pitcher allows you to store large batches of cold brew in your refrigerator. It’s a three-step process that I lather, rinse, repeat until the seasons change.

Cold Brew Coffee

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coffee grounds (I’m a fan of Folgers Classic Roast)
• 1 liter of water
• Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine coffee grounds, dash of cinnamon (I add this for a hint of flavor, but it is definitely optional) and 1 liter of water in a french press and stir. Place the lid on the French press, but do not press. Leave sitting at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
2. Remove the lid from the French press and stir the coffee-cinnamon-water mixture again. Replace the lid and press.
3. Strain the liquid through a mesh strainer before collecting it in the pitcher to be refrigerated. The mesh strainer I use fits neatly in the opening of my pitcher, so I can simply strain the liquid as I pour it into my pitcher. Refrigerate and serve over ice.

If you still aren’t convinced to make your own, we love these ready-to-drink cold brew coffees for your morning cup. And if you’re feeling super fancy, you can give the trendy Dalgona coffee a try. We promise it’s actually a lot easier to make than it looks.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.