How to make perfect cold brew coffee at home — and it all starts with this one crucial component (2024)

Coffee is 98% water, something that should be obvious to anyone who’s ever made themselves a morning cup.

And while it’s always a good idea to aim higher when shopping for coffee beans, java drinkers too often lose sight of that one obvious fact —the water you use matters. It matters a lot.

And it matters even more when you’re making cold brew.

According to the experts at The Daily Meal, cold brew should be made with good tap water or filtered water, depending on the quality of the former where you live.

Either way, the minerals in both go to work to pull more flavor from the grinds during the brewing process. Distilled water, popular with some coffee drinkers, lacks those minerals which then leaves flavor behind in the cold brew process, trapped in the beans.

To make your cold brew, take room temperature water and coarse-ground coffee beans and combine, allowing to steep anywhere from 12 hours to a full day.

There are plenty of cold brew pitchers and makers out there, but ultimately, you just need a fine sieve or filter in the end; pour the results over ice and serve.

You can try brewing with cold water, the experts say, but beginning with room temperature water, which effortlessly coaxes out the flavor from the coffee, works best; try both ways and note the difference in the flavor.

Starting with hot water lends an acidic note to the brew that brings you closer to a regular cup of coffee than cold brew’s smooth taste —don’t use hot water.

Optimally, your cold brew will be beautifully drinkable as is, but once it’s ready, you should feel free to play around with milk, cream and any flavors you like.

Just remember, sugar won’t dissolve as easily in cold coffee, so stick to simple syrup you can make yourself at home, or flavored syrups like you see in your favorite cafe, available at places like Walmart, Costco or Amazon.