Cold brew is smooth, mellow and easy to make in big batches. Add honey and you've got a café-quality drink at home for a fraction of the price. The only trick is getting honey to mix into a cold drink. Here's how to do it all.
What is cold brew?
Cold brew is coffee made by steeping coarse grounds in cold or room-temperature water for many hours, rather than brewing with hot water. The slow, cool extraction tends to produce coffee that tastes smoother and less bitter, which is why many people find it easier to drink black.
Cold brew is different from iced coffee, which is hot-brewed coffee poured over ice.
What you need
- Coarsely ground coffee (like the texture of coarse sea salt)
- Cold, filtered water
- A large jar or pitcher
- A fine-mesh strainer plus a paper filter or cheesecloth
Cold brew concentrate recipe
Ratio: about 1 cup of coarse grounds to 4 cups of water.
- Add grounds to your jar.
- Pour in water and stir gently to make sure all the grounds are wet.
- Cover and steep for 12 to 18 hours, either in the fridge or at room temperature. Longer steeping gives a stronger, more intense flavor.
- Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, then strain again through a paper filter or cheesecloth for a cleaner result.
- Store the concentrate in the fridge for up to about a week to 10 days.
To serve: Mix concentrate with water or milk, about 1:1, and adjust to taste.
How to sweeten cold brew with honey
Honey thickens and sinks in cold liquids. Instead of squeezing it straight into your glass, try one of these:
Honey syrup (best option):
- Mix equal parts honey and warm water.
- Stir until fully combined.
- Cool and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Add 1 to 2 tablespoons to your cold brew.
Quick dissolve: Stir honey into a splash of hot water or hot coffee, then add it to your glass before the ice and cold brew.
Shake it: Add cold brew, honey and milk to a jar with a lid and shake hard for 15 seconds.
Flavor ideas
- Vanilla honey cold brew: Add a splash of vanilla extract to your honey syrup.
- Cinnamon honey: Steep a cinnamon stick in your warm honey syrup.
- Mocha cold brew: Whisk raw cacao into the honey syrup.
- Salted honey: A tiny pinch of flaky salt brings out caramel notes.
- Honey oat cold brew: Top with oat milk for a creamy finish.
Caffeine note
Cold brew concentrate can be quite strong, and caffeine varies widely depending on the coffee and ratio used. Diluting it helps keep your intake in check. The FDA notes that up to 400mg of caffeine a day is generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults.
Troubleshooting
- Too bitter? Try a shorter steep or coarser grind.
- Too weak? Use more grounds or steep longer.
- Cloudy or gritty? Double-strain through a paper filter.
- Honey clumping? Use honey syrup instead of straight honey.
The one-packet upgrade
HYVE Mind Focus & Memory makes a great cold brew sweetener. Squeeze a 14g packet into a splash of hot water or espresso, stir, then add your cold brew, milk and ice. Its organic raw cacao and Madagascar vanilla give you an instant vanilla mocha.
Each packet also includes 100% raw, USDA Organic honey, 222mg of organic lion's mane extract (20:1, from 100% fruiting body), 80mg of L-theanine and organic bee pollen. It's 45 calories and adds zero caffeine.
Use WELCOME20 for 20% off your first order.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not for infants under 12 months or anyone with bee or bee-product allergies.
