French Press Cold Brew Topped With Cold Foam is so delicious. Caffeinated, cold, perfect for hot summer days.
Once you make this at home, you will wonder why you have been spending so much at the coffee shops. The best part is you don’t need any fancy equipment to make this iced coffee recipe.
With the help of a large French Press and some good quality coffee beans, you can easily make a flavourful coffee concentrate. Once you master it (and it is so easy), you will be saving money making your own DIY cold brew coffee.
Are you a coffee fanatic? WE ARE! No, I really mean it. I think I have tried just about ALL the gourmet coffee drinks out there.
Once I tried Starbucks cold brew, I had to figure out how to make this at home.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this cold coffee concentrate are at the bottom of this post.
I am glad we have figured out a way to enjoy these delicious coffee drinks at home. We have lots of great coffee recipes. Boozy Bourbon Iced Coffee, (I think I just might try it with this cold brew concentrate) is a summer favourite. Of course, no fall season is complete without the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte.
And if you have never tried making a Chocolate Milk Latte, you don’t know what you are missing.
If you have never made coffee concentrate at home, you are in for a surprise. It is so easy.
Ingredients You Will Need
- good quality coffee beans
- water
- french press
After reading several articles on the best way to make cold brew coffee, I decided on the *(affiliate) French press method.
As for the coffee beans, the freshest beans are best. If you cannot grind them at home, make sure they are coarsely ground.
How To Make Cold Brew In Your French Press
Honestly, in just a few simple steps, you are on your way to the best cold brew concentrate made right at home.
- Place your coarsely ground coffee beans in the French press
- Add cold water (leaving room for the lid)
- Gently stir to moisten the coffee grounds
- Put on the lid (DO NOT PLUNGE)
- Let sit on the counter for 24 hours (if you can’t wait that long, at least wait 12)
- Slowly press the plunger down
- Pour cold brew concentrate into a glass bottle
- Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (ours never lasts that long)
Recipe Tips
Don’t rush the brew time. Let stand at room temperature a minimum of 12 hours. It takes time for the proper extraction to happen. Delicious things take time (and patience), but it is so worth it.
Once the brewing process is complete, it is time to strain the grinds. SLOWLY plunge. If you do it too quickly, the concentrate will become cloudy.
Glass bottled cold brew coffee concentrate can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (like that is going to happen).
What is the coffee to water ratio?
This is is where it certainly comes down to personal preference. Weigh your beans BEFORE you grind them.
A good place to start is 1 cup beans to 4 cups of water. Depending on the coffee beans you choose, how long you steep, and how strong you like your finished coffee drink, there is lots of room to experiment here.
Don’t worry, there is no WRONG way. Let your taste buds guide you to making it just the way you like.
We have an 8 cup french press. We used 6 cups of water, along with the grinds of 120 grams of coffee beans (measured before grinding). This produces about 1 liter of cold brew concentrate. It really is surprising the amount of water the grinds absorb!
You will quickly find the water to coffee ratio that works best for you. The type of coffee you choose will make a difference in the strength of the concentrate. So will the amount of coffee you use.
What is the best coffee for cold brew?
It is really important to use good quality coffee beans to produce the best cold brew concentrate possible. Be sure to use freshly ground WHOLE BEANS.
We used a nice dark espresso. You can experiment and find which coffee variety works best for you. Some people prefer a milder flavour so they don’t have to water it down as much.
The darker the coffee, the stronger the coffee concentrate. You don’t have to use the MOST expensive beans (because you need a lot), but don’t use the cheapest either.
If you prefer, you can always use flavoured coffee beans as well.
What is the best grind for cold brew?
The grind of the coffee is VERY important, you don’t want the coffee to be bitter. Large, coarse grinds (similar to raw sugar) is what you are looking for.
Depending on your grinder, you may need to grind in batches until you get the amount you need. If your grinds are too fine, you will end up with cloudy coffee concentrate.
You can buy a *(affiliate) coffee grinder to easily grind the beans at home.
How To Make Iced Coffee At Home
It’s as simple as 1-2-3.
- Pour some cold brew concentrate into a glass
- Add ice (and additional cold water if you want a milder tasting brew).
- Sweeten with your choice of sweetener (honey, agave, raw sugar or flavourings)
- Add milk or cream if desired (cold foam is amazing)
- ENJOY!
Cold Foam
This is the BEST part, like the icing on a cake. You know that wonderful steamy froth you get on hot lattes? This is a cold version.
Once I had at Starbucks cold foam, I was on a mission to make it a home. All you need is non-fat milk and a *(affiliate) handheld frother.
Starbucks uses a blender (I carefully watched to see how they did it). Not ALL milk is created equal. It took a bit of trial and error to find out which milk worked best.
Nonfat milk produces the strongest foam. It contains more protein than fat. Higher fat milk (1%, 2%, and whole) work best for latte art. You can also flavour the milk before aerating.
This is the best iced coffee recipe. Don’t tell your friends unless you want to become the neighbourhood barista.
Give these recipes with coffee a try:
- Mocha Coffee Yogurt
- Will’s Extra Special Marinade
- Cafe-De-Olla
- Dalgona Coffee
- Espresso Rubbed Steak
- Instant Pot Cafe Mocha Pot Roast
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French Press Cold Brew Topped With Cold Foam
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cold brew concentrate (or your desired quantity)
- ice
- 2 ounces water
- 2 ounces skim milk (made into cold foam)
- sweetener (if desired)
Instructions
- Place the coffee concentrate into a glass.
- Add ice.
- Add additional water (if desired).
- Sweeten (if desired) and mix.
- Top with cold foam.
- ENJOY!
Sandra Shaffer
I have everything to make this cold brew, even the milk frother. We’re also coffee fanatics and I’ve made my own coffee concentrate but not using a French press. This is going to be my go-to recipe for now on. Thank you!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This is our go to way…..the longer I can’t visit the coffee shops, the more I realize I can make all the drinks at home.
Patty at Spoonabilities
I never thought of making cold brew coffee myself! This is going to be my new favorite as well! Thanks for the great idea and instructions! 🙂
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
You are so welcome….this is super easy.
Toni
I seriously loved it! As a coffee lover, this is my new favorite!!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
I am so looking forward to the warm weather. This is perfect for hot summer days.
Haley D Williams
This is perfect! I needed something new to give me that midday boost! Cannot wait to try this!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
Yup this will do it for sure. ENJOY!
Abigail Raines
I was actually thinking of making one when I saw a concentrate at the grocery store and reminded me it would be time for cold coffee soon! This recipe is perfect for these upcoming hot days!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
No need to buy the concentrate in the store. This is easy and delicious.
Suzy
The best kind of cold brew! Love adding the foam on the top! So much better than what I get from the local coffee shop!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
This will save you so much money over the coffee shop. ENJOY!
Jenn
I love using your method for making coffee – it make such a lovely and robust cup!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
It sure does. This is the perfect way to make delicious iced coffee at home.
LR
I couldn’t find what brand of milk you used for the cold foam. I’ve been struggling to make cold foam after numerous tries! Would love to know 🙁
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy
For the cold foam in this recipe, I just used regular skim milk. Brands of milk vary, so you might have to experiment which one works best.
Sara
I have never used a french press but I think I need to get one to make my own cold brew. I spend way too much money on iced coffees!
Homemade & Yummy
This is the easiest way to make it for sure. You won’t believe it till you try it.
Michelle
I’m not familiar with cold brew coffee but with your detailed instructions even a novice like myself can learn, thank you.
Homemade & Yummy
It is super easy, the hardest part is waiting the 24 hours while it sits on the counter LOL!!
Kelsey
What a greatt way to get that midday boost we all need! I love that cold foam on top!
Homemade & Yummy
The foam is so much fun!!
Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
I’m obsessed with cold brew coffee and finally learned how to brew my own last summer in mason jars. The hubs and I are heading on a road trip in a few weeks and we need to have plenty of coffee for the long car drive and this sounds easy enough to make once we get there!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes I have seen the mason jar version too. Whatever works…ENJOY!!
Julie
I feel so left out of a major part of our culture because I can’t drink coffee (it’s one of my migraine triggers). This whole post goes right over my head, but I’m going to pass it on to some cold brew loving friends!
Homemade & Yummy
Oh dear….well I know all about migraines….so steer clear. Your friends however would LOVE this.
Kitty
This is my favorite way to make cold brew. But must admit I rarely grind beans anymore, I just use the regular drip grind and it works well enough. I add so much cream you’d never know if it was cloudy hahaha!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…well whatever works for you is the way it should be!! ENJOY!
Sam
Wow this looks soo refreshing! So perfect for summer! Can’t wait to try it with that foam, yum!
Homemade & Yummy
This recipe is SOOOO easy…hope you give it a try.