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If you want to learn How to Make Cold Brew and use it to make a Blended Iced Coffee, you have come to the right place! In this post, I teach you how to easily make cold brew coffee at home, then we turn it into a refreshingly icy blended coffee drink that rivals your favorite coffee shop.
Why You’ll Love This Blended Iced Coffee Recipe
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: Japanese-inspired
- Primary Cooking Method: No-cook
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
Sometimes we gluten free folks have tummies that are sensitive to other things besides just gluten. For me, that includes hot drinks, especially coffee. But I still need my morning pick-me-up, which is why I turned to cold brew coffee. Because the coffee is brewed in cold water, it tends to be less acidic and gentler on the stomach.
However, I’ve found that even some bottled and coffee shop cold brews (I’m looking at you, Starbucks) are too strong for me. So I started making my own. While many cold brew recipes show you how to make cold brew concentrate, I prefer to brew mine at the strength I like to drink it. I also wanted to come up with a method that didn’t require me to buy any special equipment. And I wanted to make a batch that’s enough to last me at least a week! I’m thrilled to report I’ve accomplished all of these requirements.
In this post, I’ve detailed my method for making cold brew at home, plus how to make a wonderful blended iced coffee drink. Here are a few reasons why I love making cold brew at home:
- You can control the strength. When you make your cold brew, you can adjust it to exactly what you need. Want it stronger? Use more coffee. Want it less strong? Use less coffee grounds.
- Adjust! It’s so easy to adjust and adapt this recipe to your taste. You can also use decaffeinated coffee in place of regular coffee if you want to cut down on the amount of caffeine. If you love flavored coffee, you can go ahead and use your preferred flavor. And, you can use your favorite brand and blend of coffee so you get exactly what you want every time (my coffee of choice is Cafe Bustelo).
- Easy. You may never buy cold brew again! It’s so simple to make it at home – you just need about 24 hours and a couple of filters for the best homemade cold brew.
- Batch is best. Forget having to make a pot of coffee every day, or doing a single cup drip coffee. When you make cold brew you’ll have enough to last you for days, meaning that busy mornings are made that much easier when you have a jar of cold brew stashed in the fridge.
- Refreshing. You’ll love the refreshing blended iced coffee recipe I’ve included here that features milk, cold brew, and ice. You’ll whizz it all together in the blender to make a perfect warm-weather drink.
What You’ll Need
I’ve outlined the ingredients needed to make a homemade cold brew as well as a blended iced coffee. Check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
For the Cold Brew
- Espresso-Style Ground Coffee: I recommended Cafe Bustelo brand, but you can use your favorite coffee.
- Cool Water: Cold brew differs from regular coffee because it’s made with cold water.
For the Blended Iced Coffee
- Cold Brew: This recipe will showcase your homemade cold brew! You can also use chilled strong coffee if needed.
- Milk: Use your favorite milk, non-dairy milk, cream, or coffee creamer.
- Ice Cubes: Ice cubes blend into the iced coffee to make it cold and fluffy.
- Sweetener: Use your preferred sweetener to sweeten the coffee, if desired.
How To Make Cold Brew
Here’s a look at how to make the cold brew. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Prepare. Place the coffee in a 4-quart other container.
- Add water. Pour in the water to the 4-quart line, stirring, then let brew for 12-24 hours.
- Pour coffee. Line a mesh sieve and place a bowl under it. Pour through the coffee.
- Let strain. Allow the coffee to strain through fully.
- Strain again. Pour the coffee through a fresh filter again to strain it a second time.
- Place in container. Transfer the cold brew to a container and store it in the fridge.
How To Make Blended Iced Coffee
You’ll use the cold brew to make the iced coffee, so have that ready to go before you begin. Then, blend the coffee, milk or creamer, ice, and sweetener in a high-powered blender until smooth and frothy. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card lower down.
Tips & Variations
A few best practices will help you make your cold brew turn out lusciously smooth and perfectly caffeinated.
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- Buy the cold brew. I’m a big fan of making cold brew yourself, but you can buy it if needed. Pick up a bottle of cold brew or cold brew concentrate at your coffee shop or grocery store. Note that if you use concentrate you’ll want to dilute it as directed.
- Mind the grind. I recommend using a coarser grind to make the cold brew, not quite as coarse as when you make a pot of French press coffee but coarser than when you brew a pot of drip coffee.
- Water is important. It’s best to use filtered water to make cold brew if you can – you’ll be able to taste the difference. If you have a water filter, use that water for the cold brew, or pick up a large bottle of filtered water.
- Steep fully. I try to leave a full 24 hours for the coffee to steep before I strain out the grounds. I do like my coffee strong enough so that I can taste it, which is accomplished by letting it brew long enough!
- Keep it airtight. Because coffee can absorb other aromas in the fridge, you should keep it tightly covered. I like to pour my strained cold brew into a large mason jar and top it with a tight-fitting lid.
- Try flavored coffee. If you aren’t a fan of plain coffee, you can use your favorite, from hazelnut to caramel and everything in between.
- For the blended iced coffee: You can make the recipe as written, or try adding a few flavors. A little vanilla is lovely, or you could stir in a spoonful of chocolate sauce or caramel sauce. You can also sprinkle a little cinnamon or cocoa powder over the top of each glass, or try a dusting of Mexican Chocolate Spice Mix for a little kick.
Can This Be Made In Advance?
Yes! As you’ll see in the recipe instructions, you can make the cold brew in advance (you’ll want to let the coffee steep for up to 24 hours). Once the coffee has fully brewed and you’ve strained it into a container, you can store it in the fridge for up to 1 week so it’s ready to drink anytime or be added to a blended iced coffee. For the blended iced coffee, I don’t recommend making it in advance because it tastes best when it’s frothy and fresh. The ice will melt the longer the coffee sits, watering it down and diluting the flavor, which I don’t care for.
Make it a Meal
I usually just sip on my cold brew with my morning oatmeal and yogurt, but there are so many other ways to enjot a frosty iced coffee. Here are a few serving suggestions:
- Make a smoothie. If you want your breakfast AND caffeine on the go, blend the cold brew into a Coffee Smoothie with delicious mocha flavor.
- Prep overnight oats. You can also kickstart your day with coffee-infused Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats for fall-favorite flavors or Raspberry Mocha Latte Overnight Oats to enjoy summery vibes.
- Pair with pastries. Whether you bake a batch of Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins or dig into flaky Gluten Free Apple Turnovers, a blended iced coffee is the perfect accompaniment.
- Dig into donuts. Nothing goes better with coffee than donuts, so get ready to indulge in Gluten Free Boston Cream Donuts made in the air fryer or lovely Gluten Free Blueberry Donuts baked in the oven.
- Enjoy it with dessert. If it’s too warm outside for a hot cup of coffee, you can always use your cold brew for dipping some Gluten Free Ladyfingers or buttery Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies.
Blended Iced Coffee + How to Make Cold Brew
Ingredients
For the Blended Iced Coffee:
- 1 cup cold brew or chilled very strong coffee, see Note
- 3 tablespoons of your favorite milk, cream, or coffee creamer, sweetened and/or flavored, if desired
- 4 ice cubes
- additional sugar or another sweetener to taste, if needed
How to Make Cold Brew:
- 6 ounces espresso-style ground coffee (recommended: Cafe Bustelo)
- cool water
Instructions
- Combine the coffee, milk or creamer, ice, and sweetener (if using) in a blender (high-powered blender recommended, but not required) and blend for a minute or two until smooth and frothy. Adjust sweetness to taste if needed. Enjoy right away!
How to Make Cold Brew:
- Add the coffee to a 4-quart pitcher or other container and fill with water to the 4-quart line, stirring as you go to fully moisten the coffee. Let sit at room temperature to brew for 12-24 hours.
- Line a mesh sieve with paper towels, a coffee filter, or several layers of cheesecloth and place the sieve over a bowl or another container larger enough to fit all the liquid. Pour the coffee mixture through the filter squeezing out as much liquid as possible. Filter again with a fresh set of paper towels or whatever you are using as a filter.
- Transfer the cold brew to a pitcher and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
Did you make this?
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