Cold brew coffee is all the rage—but what exactly is it and how the heck do you make it? In short, cold brew is not the same as iced coffee. While iced coffee is just hot-brewed coffee on ice, cold brew requires zero heat. Rather than pour hot water over coffee grounds, cold brew coffee involves steeping coffee beans in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. Though cold brew is very strong on its own because of an increased coffee to water ratio and extended steep time, most people dilute it with water before they drink it. Beyond the fact that cold brew won't taste super watery if you add ice to it on a hot day, there are some other notable benefits to this brewing style. For starters, cold brew is less acidic, which makes it smoother, naturally sweeter, and less bitter. It also lasts longer than coffee brewed with hot water. Ready to try cold brew at home? We've illustrated two easy ways to whip up a batch of cold brew without a dedicated cold brew setup.
