The first time I tried Starbucks Cold Brew was on a sweltering summer afternoon when my regular iced coffee wasn’t cutting it. I was immediately hooked by one sip of that smooth, rich, cold brew. The problem? My new coffee habit was costing me nearly $5 a day! After some experimentation in my kitchen, I discovered that making this luxurious coffee at home is surprisingly simple and saves a small fortune over time.

copycat Starbucks cold brew coffee with ice in a mason jar.

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Table of Contents

What Makes Starbucks Cold Brew Special?

Unlike regular iced coffee (which is hot coffee poured over ice), cold brew is never heated during preparation
This slow-brewing method extracts rich coffee flavors while leaving behind much of the acidity and bitterness
Cold brew has significantly less acidity than hot-brewed coffee, making it gentler on sensitive stomachs
The result is an incredibly smooth, full-bodied coffee concentrate that’s perfect over ice

Cold Brew Starbucks Style Ingredients

For Starbucks Cold Brew, you’ll need:

Coarse ground coffee – The foundation of your cold brew that provides the rich flavor and caffeine. Coarsely ground beans ensure proper extraction without creating sediment.
Filtered water – The solvent that extracts the coffee compounds. Using filtered water ensures no unwanted minerals or chlorine flavors affect your brew.

Ingredient Notes

With only two ingredients, you must be very selective about what to use.

Choose a medium or dark-roasted coffee. Don’t be afraid if you are ordinarily wary of using darker roasts because you don’t like the acidity. Cold-brewing releases only a fraction of the coffee’s acidity compared with other brewing methods.

You can’t purchase the same blend that Starbucks uses for its cold brew coffee (Nariño 70 Cold Brew Coffee), but you can buy the chain’s similar Ethiopian coffee. Use whole beans and grind them right before brewing for the best results.

Don’t brew with water directly from the tap. Starbucks uses filtered water, and so should you. Avoid distilled or boiled water, which can make your coffee taste flat.

Preparing this recipe with a cold brew maker is much less messy. If you don’t have one, you can still make Cold Brew in a pitcher or jar and filter it through cheesecloth or a coffee filter. There are many inexpensive cold brew makers online if you like drinking cold-brewed coffee.

To brew and serve:

Add the coffee grounds to the container.
Pour in the water and stir gently.
Cover the container and put it in the fridge for at least 24 hours.
Strain the coffee through a cheesecloth or a coffee filter and return the strained coffee to the fridge.
Serve cold brew over ice.
To sweeten the drink, add simple syrup, plain or flavored, such as vanilla syrup.
Add half-and-half, cream, or your favorite flavored creamer for a creamy drink.

collage of making Starbucks cold brew coffee.

Homemade Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee

A simple method for making smooth, rich cold brew coffee at home that tastes just like Starbucks but costs a fraction of the price. Perfect for customizing with your favorite flavors!

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cold Brew Coffee, Starbucks Recipes

Prep Time: 5

Chilling: 1

Total Time: 1 5

Servings:

Calories: 40kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

1 cup whole coffee beans freshly ground, fine ground
6 cups cold water
ice for serving
¾ cup creamer optional

Instructions

In a large pitcher, combine coffee grounds with cold water. Mix well until the coffee grounds are fully submersed. They will rise to the top after mixing.
Place the pitcher inside the refrigerator and allow it to chill for at least 24 hours. Chill longer for richer taste.
When ready to serve, stir it again. Most of the coffee grounds should be absorbed into the water. If any other grounds are visible, pour through a strainer before serving.
Pour cold brew over ice and serve with your choice of creamer, if desired.

Notes

Use Starbucks coffee beans or coffee beans of your choice.

The coloring will get slightly darker as your cold brew chills.

Use a coffee grinder for best results when grinding your coffee. You want this very finely ground. You can purchase a coffee grinder or find one in the coffee aisle at your local grocery store.

Nutrition

What To Serve Cold Brew With

Enjoy cold brew coffee in the same way you drink any other coffee. You may want to taste the coffee black before adding any half & half, cream, or sweetener. Since cold-brewed coffee isn’t as bitter as regular coffee, many people find they need less dairy and sugar.

two copycat Starbucks cold brew iced coffee drinks.

How To Store Cold Brew

Always keep Cold Brew in the fridge in a covered container to keep it fresh for longer.

How Long Does Cold Brew Coffee Last

Although you can drink Cold Brew coffee for up to 10 days after making it, it is best within the first two to three days.

Starbucks Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee

Believe it or not, you can also order Iced Coffee at Starbucks. So, what is the difference between Cold Brew and Iced Coffee besides the brewing method? Quite a bit.

While the chain makes its Cold Brew with the Nariño 70 blend, it uses a different blend to brew double-strength coffee for its Iced Coffee. The results are that while Starbucks Cold Brew is full-bodied and smooth, the chain’s Iced Coffee is less intense and has sharper flavors.

pouring cream into copycat Starbucks cold brew coffee with ice.

Delicious Cold Brew Drinks

Favorite Cold and Frozen Coffee Drinks

Check out my easy drink recipes and the best copycat Starbucks coffee recipes on CopyKat!