Smooth 67% Less Acidic Cold Brew Coffee Recipe You’ll Love

By:

Christina R. Jones

July 23, 2025

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I’ll never forget my first sip of real cold brew coffee—it was like discovering coffee all over again. I’d been drinking iced coffee for years, thinking I knew what refreshment tasted like, until that first velvety-smooth sip changed everything. Unlike regular iced coffee that can taste bitter or watery, cold brew coffee delivers this incredibly mellow flavor that just glides across your tongue. No acid bite, no weird aftertaste—just pure, coffee bliss.

I stumbled upon this magic during a sweltering summer in New Orleans, where a tiny café served their cold brew over a single perfect ice cube. That’s when I became obsessed with making it at home. After dozens of experiments (some more successful than others), I finally nailed down this foolproof method that gives me café-quality cold brew every single time. The best part? It’s embarrassingly simple to make—just coffee, water, time, and a little patience.

What makes cold brew coffee so special is how the slow steeping process coaxes out all the delicious flavors from the beans without pulling out the harsh acids. The result is a concentrate so smooth you can drink it straight, though I usually add just a splash of milk. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or just someone who wants a better iced coffee experience, this recipe will become your new warm-weather staple.

Why You’ll Love This Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

This cold brew coffee recipe became my summer game-changer for so many reasons. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever settled for regular iced coffee. Here’s what makes it special:

Smooth as silk – The slow steeping means zero bitterness, just rich coffee flavor that’s incredibly easy to drink
Gentle on your stomach – With 67% less acidity than hot-brewed coffee, no more that awful acid reflux
Wake-up ready – Make a big batch Sunday night and your morning caffeine fix is ready all week
Endless customization – Drink it black, sweetened, or with your favorite milk—it’s delicious every way

Trust me, your future self will thank you when you’re sipping this while everyone else is stuck waiting in line at coffee shops!

Cold Brew Coffee Ingredients

You only need two essentials for perfect cold brew coffee, but choosing them carefully makes all the difference:

1 cup coarsely ground coffee beans – Freshly ground is best (I use a dark roast, but medium works great too)
4 cups cold, filtered water – Room temperature is fine; fridge-cold water slows extraction

Optional extras I always have ready:

Ice cubes (one giant cube melts slower!)
Milk, cream, or your favorite dairy alternative
Simple syrup or honey for sweetness

Pro tip: If your grounds look like table salt, they’re perfect. Too fine and you’ll get sludge!

Equipment Needed for Cold Brew Coffee

You don’t need fancy gadgets for perfect cold brew—just a few basic items from your kitchen:

A large jar or pitcher (I use my trusty 1-quart mason jar)
Fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth
Wooden spoon for stirring

That’s it! Though I sometimes grab my French press when feeling extra lazy—it has a built-in filter.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee Step by Step

Making cold brew coffee is so simple, you’ll laugh at how easy it is once you try it. I’ve made this dozens of times, and these steps never fail me. Just follow along, and you’ll be sipping the smoothest coffee of your life in no time!

Combining Coffee and Water

First, grab your coarsely ground coffee and dump it into your jar (no need to be fancy – I use whatever’s clean!). Pour in the cold water slowly while giving it a gentle stir with a wooden spoon. You want all those coffee grounds to get nice and wet, but don’t go crazy stirring – just enough to combine. I like to think of it as tucking the coffee into a watery bed!

Steeping Process

Now comes the hardest part – waiting! Cover your jar with a lid or even just plastic wrap if you’re using a pitcher. Here’s my rule: 12 hours at room temperature for normal strength, or 24 hours in the fridge for super smooth flavor. I usually do room temp because I’m impatient, but fridge-steeping gives you that extra mellow taste if you can wait.

Straining and Storing

When time’s up, place your fine-mesh sieve over another jar or pitcher. Line it with cheesecloth if you want super-clean coffee (I use an old t-shirt sometimes – shh, don’t tell anyone!). Pour slowly and let gravity do the work. The first pour might look scary dark, but that’s your gold right there! Store this concentrate in the fridge for up to 2 weeks – though mine never lasts that long before I drink it all.

Tips for Perfect Cold Brew Coffee

After making gallons of cold brew (and a few failed batches!), I’ve learned these tricks make all the difference:

Grind matters most – Too fine? Bitter sludge. Too coarse? Weak coffee. Aim for breadcrumb texture.
Steeping is flexible – 12 hours for bright flavor, 24 for deeper notes. Fridge slows extraction by 2-3 hours.
Strain twice – First through a sieve, then coffee filters for crystal-clear brew. Your last sip won’t have grit!
Dilute to taste – I do 1:1 with water, but start strong – you can always add more water later.

Bonus tip: Label your jar! I once mistook my cold brew for chocolate milk… not my best morning.

Serving Suggestions for Cold Brew Coffee

One of my favorite things about cold brew is how versatile it is – you can dress it up or keep it simple depending on your mood! Here’s how I love to serve mine:

Classic Iced: Over one giant ice cube with a splash of whole milk
Creamy Dream: Mixed with oat milk and a drizzle of caramel
Sweet Treat: With vanilla syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon
Straight Up: Just the concentrate, no dilution – for serious coffee lovers!

Pro tip: Try freezing coffee in ice cube trays to prevent watery drinks as they melt!

Cold Brew Coffee Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered basic cold brew, the flavor possibilities are endless! My favorite ways to jazz it up:

Vanilla dream: Add 1 tsp vanilla extract to the water before steeping
Spiced delight: Toss in a cinnamon stick and star anise while brewing
Chocolate kick: Stir in 1 tbsp cocoa powder post-straining
Coconut twist: Replace half the water with coconut water

The best part? You can mix and match – my current obsession is vanilla-cinnamon with a splash of almond milk!

Storing Your Cold Brew Coffee

Proper storage makes all the difference with cold brew – trust me, I learned this the hard way after a particularly bitter batch! Your beautiful concentrate will stay fresh in the fridge for about 2 weeks in an airtight container. Just don’t leave it steeping beyond 24 hours, or it turns from smooth to harsh – like that one time I forgot about mine for 3 days (oops!). For best flavor, I always date my jars so I know when to finish them by.

Cold Brew Coffee FAQs

After years of making cold brew and answering friends’ questions, these are the ones I hear most often. Don’t worry – I’ve made all the mistakes so you don’t have to!

How long does cold brew coffee last?

Your precious concentrate will stay fresh in the fridge for about 2 weeks in an airtight container. I always sniff test mine after 10 days – if it smells off, toss it. The diluted version with milk or water? Drink that within 2-3 days max. Pro tip: Freeze some in ice cube trays for iced coffee that never gets watered down!

Can I use fine ground coffee?

Oh honey, don’t do it! Fine grounds make bitter, muddy cold brew that’ll make you pucker. I learned this the hard way with some espresso grind – it was practically undrinkable. Stick with a coarse grind (like breadcrumbs) for smooth results. If that’s all you’ve got, cut the steep time to 8 hours max.

Why is my cold brew bitter?

Three likely culprits: 1) Your grounds were too fine, 2) You steeped too long (more than 24 hours is overkill), or 3) Your water was too warm. Room temp water is perfect – hot water makes it harsh. If it’s already bitter, try diluting it more or adding creamy milk to balance it out.

Nutritional Information for Cold Brew Coffee

Here’s the beautiful thing about plain cold brew coffee – it’s basically guilt-free! A cup of the straight concentrate has just 5 calories and zero sugar. Of course, once you start adding milk, cream, or sweeteners, those numbers change. My vanilla-oat milk version jumps to about 50 calories – still way