Summer is here and it’s time to perfect your cold brew game. We’ll show you 5 different spins on 1 cold brew recipe, so you can keep things fresh and exciting. These recipes are perfect for brunch get-togethers, lazy poolside afternoons, and paperback binges in the hammock. If you’re craving something a little different from your tried-and-true cold brew, you’ll love these wildly different, simple, and indulgent recipes.
All of these recipes are based on cold brew, so check out our complete cold brew guide to get started. Cold brew coffee is a type of iced coffee that, unlike other forms of iced coffee, is brewed cold instead of hot. The coffee is brewed in cold water for 18-24 hours in the refrigerator, resulting in a smooth, velvety texture. The best part of making cold brew? It’s incredibly easy to make at home, and you probably already have all the tools you need to make it. You can make cold brew with the Hario Mizudashi cold brewer, or alternatively, you can make it in a mason jar or in a French press.
Many iced coffee recipes mask the flavour of the coffee with syrups and excessive amounts of sugar and cream. It leaves you wondering, “where’s the coffee?” In our recipes, coffee is king. If you’re all about highlighting that incredible, rich cold brew flavour, these recipes are for you.
5 easy, delicious twists on Cold Brew Coffee
Cold Brew Tonic
This cold brew drink is the epitome of simplicity and elegance. The ultimate mocktail, it features cold brew coffee with a quality tonic water over ice, and an infusion of lemon oil. Make sure to purchase a quality tonic water–it should contain quinine, a botanical, and it should have a lower sugar content than generic varieties.
What you’ll need:
- 3 ounces of cold brew
- 2 ounces of quality craft tonic water (can be purchased at most health food grocers)
- Crushed ice (enough to fill an 8 ounce rocks glass ¾ full)
- Organic lemon peel
Instructions:
- Wash and dry an organic lemon. With a paring knife, cut a large piece of rind off of the lemon, and set aside.
- Fill an 8 ounce rocks glass ¾ full with crushed iced.
- Pour in 3 ounces of cold brew, followed by 2 ounces of tonic water. Stir gently.
- Squeeze and roll your lemon peel all over the top of the drink to infuse the lemon oil into the drink. Place the lemon peel diagonally against the side of the glass. Enjoy!
Frothy Vietnamese Cold Brew Coffee
A twist on the classic Vietnamese coffee, this recipe is a frothy, indulgent treat that whips up in no time. Shaking the cold brew and the sweetened condensed milk results in an irresistible foam, with just the right amount of sweetness.
What you’ll need:
-1 heaped tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk
– 6 ounces of cold brew
-Crushed ice (enough to fill a cocktail shaker ¾ full
-2 to 3 fresh mint leaves
Instructions:
- Rinse 2 to 3 fresh mint leaves. Lay on a clean kitchen towel, and set aside.
- Fill your cocktail shaker ¾ full of crushed ice, and pour your cold brew and sweetened condensed milk overtop.
- Secure the lid tightly over the shaker, and shake vigorously for 45 seconds. Pour the entire contents into a 12 ounce glass. Gently rub the mint leaves to draw out their flavour, and place on top of the foamy head of the drink. Enjoy with a metal straw.
Blended Cold Brew Frappe
It’s fun to turn cold brew or left over coffee into ice cubes, and even more fun to blend them up with milk or a non-dairy alternative in a blender! If you’re craving an ice-cold coffee in slushie-form in the dead of summer, this one’s for you. Add as much or as little sugar to this to achieve your desired sweetness.
What you’ll need:
– 5 ounces of cold brew
– 6 ounces of milk or non-dairy alternative (oat, macadamia or coconut milk will work best)
-1 level tablespoon of honey or maple syrup
-Light dusting of nutmeg
Instructions:
- Pour the cold brew into an ice cube tray, and leave in the freezer for 4 hours.
- Once frozen, pour all your cold brew ice cubes into a blender, followed by the milk or non-dairy alternative. Pour in the honey or maple syrup.
- Blend on high for 1 minute, or until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add in another splash of milk or non-dairy alternative.
- Pour into a 12 ounce glass. Garnish with nutmeg, and enjoy with a metal straw.
Iced Dirty Chai Cold Brew
Can’t choose between tea and coffee? Why not have them both? The spicy aroma of chai blended with the smooth cold brew make for an irresistible treat. If you can’t find chai concentrate, it’s easy to make it yourself. Just steep 4 bags of chai tea in 500 mL of hot water for 5 minutes. Remove the bags after steeping, and place whatever spices you want into the hot tea. We recommend ground cinnamon, ground ginger, whole peppercorn, and whole cardamom. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar, let sit for an hour, mix well, and strain.
What you’ll need:
- 3 ounces of cold brew
- 2 ounces of sweetened chai concentrate
- 2 ounces of milk or non-dairy alternative (oat, almond or macadamia milk will work best)
- -Crushed ice (enough to fill an 8 ounce rocks glass ¾ full)
- -A pinch of ground nutmeg and cinnamon for dusting
Instructions:
- Fill an 8 ounce rocks glass ¾ full with crushed ice.
- Pour the chai concentrate, followed by the cold brew, followed by the milk or non-dairy alternative, into the rocks glass with ice. Stir gently.
- Garnish with ground nutmeg and cinnamon, and enjoy with a metal straw.
Cold Brew Cocktail (alcoholic)
Once that clock hits 5 p.m., it’s time to unwind. Unlike most coffee-based cocktails, this cocktail is not overly sweet. The complexity and bitter notes of the amaro blend perfectly with the smoothness of the cold brew, and the honey rounds out the edges.
What you’ll need:
-1.5 ounces of vodka
-1 ounce of amaro
-2 ounces of cold brew
-1 level teaspoon of honey
-coffee beans for garnish
-Crushed ice (enough to fill a cocktail shaker ½ full)
- Place a martini or coupe glass in the freezer.
- Fill a cocktail shaker ½ full of ice. Pull your martini or coupe glass out of the freezer. Pour the vodka, cold brew, amaro, and honey into the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds, or until the shaker develops condensation on the outside.
- Strain the mixture into the cold cocktail glass. Garnish with the whole coffee beans, and enjoy.
Need some coffee to get started? Our top picks for cold brew are El Ausol, La Sonrisa, and Firebat Espresso.
Happy brewing!
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Hario Mizudashi Cold Brewer$31.00
