Step 1

Combine the coffee and cold water in a large bowl or Mason jar or, preferably, a vessel of some sort with a built-in filter (such as a French press or similar item for brewing). Stir until all the coffee grounds have been saturated with water.

Step 2

Cover the container with a lid and let it sit on the counter at room temperature to steep for 12 to 24 hours. The longer the cold brew coffee steeps, the stronger the flavor.

Step 3

If you’ve infused the coffee in a bowl or jar, strain the cold brew coffee concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve, metal coffee filter, or fine cheesecloth into a bowl. You may want to press on the grounds to remove more coffee. If you’ve infused the coffee in a vessel with a built-in filter, deploy the plunger to press the grounds down or follow the manufacturer’s instructions for filtering. You may want to press on the grounds to remove more coffee.

Step 4

Pour the strained cold brew coffee concentrate into a container with a lid. You should have 2 1/2 to 3 cups. Cover the container and stash it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Step 5

To serve the cold brew coffee, dilute the concentrate with ice and water, milk, or half-and-half to taste. The amount of liquid needed for diluting is up to your discretion. A good place to start is 1 part cold brew coffee concentrate to 1 part water. Taste and tweak if need be. Originally published June 3, 2016.