Making Cold Brew Coffee With Almond Milk

Quick Answer

• Use a coarse grind for cold brew to prevent bitterness and over-extraction.
• Combine coffee grounds and cold, filtered water in a 1:4 to 1:8 ratio, depending on desired strength.
• Steep for 12-24 hours at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
• Strain the concentrate thoroughly using a fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or specialized cold brew filter.
• Dilute the concentrate with water or almond milk to taste.
• Chill thoroughly before serving over ice.

Who This Is For

• Home coffee enthusiasts looking for a smoother, less acidic coffee alternative.
• Individuals who prefer dairy-free or plant-based milk options in their coffee.
• Anyone seeking to make a large batch of coffee concentrate ahead of time for quick morning drinks.

What to Check First

• Brewer Type and Filter Type: Ensure your brewing vessel (jar, pitcher, French press, or dedicated cold brew maker) is clean and suitable for steeping. If using a French press, the built-in filter will work, but you may want to strain again with finer material. For other methods, have a fine-mesh sieve, cheesecloth, or a paper filter ready for straining.
• Water Quality and Temperature: Start with cold, filtered water. Tap water can contain minerals or chlorine that affect the taste. For cold brew, the water should remain cold throughout the steeping process; no heating is involved.
• Grind Size and Coffee Freshness: Use a coarse grind, similar to breadcrumbs or sea salt. A fine grind will result in over-extraction, leading to a bitter taste, and can clog your filter. Freshly roasted and ground beans will yield the best flavor, but pre-ground coarse coffee can also work.
• Coffee-to-Water Ratio: A common starting point for cold brew concentrate is a 1:4 ratio (1 part coffee to 4 parts water by weight or volume). For a less concentrated brew, you might use 1:6 or 1:8. Experiment to find your preferred strength.
• Cleanliness/Descale Status: Ensure all your brewing equipment, including jars, filters, and any French press components, are thoroughly cleaned. Residue from previous brews can impart off-flavors. If you use a machine, check its descaling status according to the manufacturer’s instructions, though this is less critical for simple immersion cold brew methods.

For a smooth, sediment-free cold brew, consider using specialized cold brew filter bags. They make straining incredibly easy and ensure a clean final product.

150 Pcs Cold Brew Bags 4x6 inch, No Mess Disposable Cold Brew Coffee Filter Pouches with Drawstring Large Empty Tea Bag for Loose Leaf Tea, Iced Coffee, Herbs, Spice, Home brewing, Hot pot

• Cold brew bags bulk: You will receive 150 pieces disposable cold brew coffee filter bags with drawstring. Enough quantity can meet your daily needs and share them with your family or friend
• Filter bags size: Each cold brew coffee pouches measures 4x6 inches/ 10x15 cm, can hold a cup of coffee grind and suitable for 32 oz jars. After brewing, put it in the refrigerator and enjoy the delicious cold brew coffee after 12-24 hours
• Material: These disposable coffee filter bags are made of degradable non-woven fabric, safe and odorless. The drawstring is designed to be easy to use, and the top drawstring prevents internal particles from escaping
• Fine mesh design: These cold brew pouches have sturdy double thread stitching and fine mesh design that allows the water to fully soak the coffee powders, whether coarse, medium and fine. No flavor is affected and no particles remain
• Multi-purpose: These large tea bags can be used for hot and cold brew coffee, and are also suitable for loose leaf tea, herbs, soup stocks, spices, hot pots, seasonings, foot baths, etc

Buy on Amazon

Step-by-Step: How to Make Cold Brew Coffee With Almond Milk

1. Measure Your Coffee: Weigh or measure your coarsely ground coffee. A good starting point is 1 cup of coffee grounds for every 4 cups of water.

• What “good” looks like: The grounds are evenly distributed and ready to be saturated.
• Common mistake: Using too little coffee, which results in a weak brew. Avoid this by sticking to your chosen ratio.

2. Add Coffee to Brewer: Place the measured coffee grounds into your chosen brewing vessel (e.g., a large jar, pitcher, or French press).

• What “good” looks like: All grounds are contained within the brewing vessel.
• Common mistake: Not having a suitable vessel. Ensure it’s large enough to accommodate both coffee and water without overflowing.

A large glass pitcher is ideal for brewing your cold brew concentrate. It’s easy to clean and allows you to see the steeping process.

No products found.

3. Add Cold Water: Pour cold, filtered water over the coffee grounds. Ensure all grounds are saturated.

• What “good” looks like: A slurry of coffee and water, with no dry pockets of grounds.
• Common mistake: Using hot or lukewarm water. This is cold brew; the water must be cold to prevent bitterness.

4. Stir Gently: Stir the mixture gently to ensure all coffee grounds are fully submerged and evenly hydrated.

• What “good” looks like: A uniform mixture of coffee and water.
• Common mistake: Over-stirring, which can agitate fine particles and lead to a cloudier, potentially more bitter brew. Stir just enough to saturate.

5. Cover and Steep: Cover the brewing vessel tightly.

• What “good” looks like: The vessel is sealed to prevent contaminants and evaporation.
• Common mistake: Leaving the brew uncovered. This can allow dust or other particles into your coffee and affect the flavor.

6. Steep for 12-24 Hours: Let the coffee steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Longer steeping times (closer to 24 hours) generally yield a stronger concentrate.

• What “good” looks like: The liquid is darkening and developing its characteristic cold brew aroma.
• Common mistake: Steeping for too short a time (less than 12 hours), which results in a weak, underdeveloped flavor.

7. Prepare for Straining: Set up your straining apparatus. This might involve lining a sieve with cheesecloth, preparing a paper filter in a funnel, or having your French press ready.

• What “good” looks like: Your straining setup is secure and ready to catch grounds.
• Common mistake: Using a filter that’s too coarse, allowing sediment into your final brew.

8. Strain the Concentrate: Slowly pour the steeped coffee through your chosen filter into another clean container. You may need to strain it multiple times to achieve clarity.

• What “good” looks like: A clear or mostly clear coffee concentrate.
• Common mistake: Rushing the straining process. This can lead to sediment in your brew. Be patient.

9. Discard Grounds: Properly dispose of the used coffee grounds.

• What “good” looks like: Grounds are removed from your brewing area.
• Common mistake: Leaving wet grounds to fester, which can attract pests or create odors.

10. Dilute with Almond Milk (or Water): The strained liquid is a concentrate. Dilute it with cold water or your preferred almond milk. A 1:1 ratio of concentrate to almond milk is a common starting point, but adjust to your taste.

• What “good” looks like: A perfectly balanced coffee drink, not too strong or too weak.
• Common mistake: Drinking the concentrate straight. It’s very strong and can be unpleasantly intense.

11. Add Ice and Serve: Pour the diluted coffee over ice.

• What “good” looks like: A cold, refreshing beverage.
• Common mistake: Not chilling the brew enough, resulting in a lukewarm drink that melts ice too quickly.

12. Store Remaining Concentrate: Store any leftover concentrate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks.

• What “good” looks like: The concentrate remains fresh and ready for future use.
• Common mistake: Leaving the concentrate unrefrigerated or in an unsealed container, which degrades quality and safety.

Common Mistakes (and What Happens If You Ignore Them)

Decision Rules for Cold Brew Coffee With Almond Milk

• If your cold brew tastes bitter, then your grind size was likely too fine, or you steeped it for too long.
• If your cold brew tastes weak or sour, then you may have under-steeped it or used too little coffee.
• If you prefer a less intense coffee flavor, then use a higher water-to-coffee ratio (e.g., 1:8 instead of 1:4).
• If you want a stronger coffee concentrate, then use a lower water-to-coffee ratio (e.g., 1:4 or even 1:3).
• If you find sediment in your final brew, then you need to strain it more thoroughly with a finer filter.
• If you notice off-flavors, then check your water quality; always use filtered water.
• If you are making cold brew for the first time, then start with a 1:4 ratio and 18 hours of steeping to establish a baseline.
• If you want to speed up the brewing process, you can’t significantly, but you can brew a larger batch to have more on hand.
• If you are using a French press, then pour slowly to minimize sediment, and consider a second strain if you want it very clear.
• If your cold brew tastes “flat,” then your coffee beans might be stale or not freshly roasted.
• If you want to avoid over-extraction, then ensure your coffee grind is coarse and avoid prolonged steeping beyond 24 hours.
• If you are sensitive to acidity, then cold brew is a good choice because the brewing process extracts fewer acids than hot brewing.

FAQ

How long does cold brew coffee last?

Stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, cold brew concentrate can last for 1 to 2 weeks. Its flavor will gradually diminish over time.

Can I use pre-ground coffee for cold brew?

Yes, but it’s best to use pre-ground coffee that is specifically labeled as coarse grind. If you only have regular pre-ground coffee, it might lead to a slightly more bitter or muddy result.

What is the best almond milk to use with cold brew?

Any unsweetened almond milk will work well. Sweetened varieties can make your coffee too sweet, so it’s often better to add sweetener separately if desired. Barista blends can sometimes create a creamier texture.

Why is my cold brew bitter?

Bitterness in cold brew is usually caused by using a grind that is too fine, steeping the coffee for too long (over-extraction), or using water that is too hot (which defeats the purpose of cold brew).

How do I make cold brew less acidic?

Cold brew is naturally less acidic than hot coffee due to the brewing method. If you still find it too acidic, try steeping for a shorter period or using a slightly higher coffee-to-water ratio.

Can I reheat cold brew?

While cold brew is designed to be served cold, you can gently reheat it if you prefer hot coffee. Do not boil it, as this can damage the delicate flavors. Gentle warming on the stovetop or in a microwave is best.

What’s the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?

Iced coffee is typically hot-brewed coffee that has been cooled down and served over ice. Cold brew is brewed with cold water over a long period, resulting in a smoother, less acidic concentrate.

How much caffeine is in cold brew?

Cold brew concentrate typically has more caffeine per ounce than regular hot coffee because of its higher coffee-to-water ratio during brewing. However, this is diluted when you add water or almond milk.

What This Page Does Not Cover (and Where to Go Next)

• Specific equipment recommendations for dedicated cold brew makers.
• Advanced techniques like different steeping methods or using nitrogen.
• Detailed comparisons of various almond milk brands for coffee.
• The science behind coffee extraction and acidity levels.

To learn more, you might explore resources on home coffee brewing techniques, explore different coffee bean origins, or delve into the nuances of plant-based milk in beverages.