How to make the best cold coffee right at home

When it comes to summer, nothing starts the day better than a nice cold coffee. Whether you like it iced, blended, or simply chilled, there’s a better way to enjoy it than spending money at the coffee shop.

How to make the best cold coffee right at home
  • What’s the best type of coffee? It really depends on your preferences. You have the option of hot or cold plus a choice of brewing method which can affect the acidity and flavor.
  • What’s a popular coffee trend I can try? Nitro coffee seems to be a fun favorite. It combines coffee with nitrogen gas and is served like beer (and even complete with a creamy head!).
  • Where can I find even more coffee accessories? From coffee makers to mugs to accessories and everything in between, check out our entire coffee category.

A nice cold coffee is possibly the best way to start the day in the summer. Combining the necessary caffeine to jumpstart your day with the refreshingly cold temperature is the ultimate morning routine.

While you could schlep over to your local coffee shop and overpay for a cold coffee, you can also make it right at home. From iced coffee to cold brew, there are plenty of ways to create delicious cold coffee without the $4 per cup price tag. So, go on, channel your inner barista and get brewing.

Best types of cold coffee

If you’ve ever stepped foot in a modern coffee shop, you’ll know there are plenty of types of cold coffee. Not all types are created equal and your preference depends on the amount of caffeine, how cold it is, and the flavor.

    • Iced Coffee: As the name suggests, it’s any hot brewed coffee that is poured over ice. Essentially, you could have any type of coffee as iced coffee including a latte, mocha, Americano, and more.
    • Cold Brew: Taking the world by storm, this is a unique method of coffee that involves brewing it with only cold water. This method takes more time than traditional hot coffee. As a result, cold brew is known for its smooth and less acidic taste.
    • Blended: Popularized by the Frappuccino from Starbucks, a blended (or frozen) coffee is similar in texture (and sometimes taste) to a milkshake. You can create just about any blended coffee; just add plenty of ice and blend.
    • Nitro Coffee: Taking things to all new levels, this method combines cold brew coffee and nitrogen gas for a frothy and bubbly blend complete with a creamy head.

How to make cold brew coffee at home

There’s a reason cold brew coffee is so popular: its longer brewing process removes some acidity and the unique cold water minimizes the degradation and oxidation of the grounds. It’s recommended to use course grounds and be sure to let it steep for at least 12 hours for maximum extraction and flavor. Some also suggest using filtered water for even better taste. Totally worth the wait, cold brew coffee has become exceptionally popular.

And, there’s no single way to enjoy cold brew coffee. You can pour it over ice, enjoy it as-is, add in some cream and sugar, or just about anything you want. Here’s how you can make it at home:

KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker
As a staple for any cold brew coffee lover, the KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker has it all. Featuring a built-in spout, a large 28-ounce capacity, and a handle for carrying, this coffee maker is complete with a built-in steeper for cold brew. It has a square design to make it fit with most refrigerators and the exterior has five level markings for measuring the right amount. With the easy to use spout, cold brew coffee can always be on tap at your house.


Coffee Panda Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Impressively affordable, the Coffee Panda is also impressively easy to use. Just add water to the 1300mL carafe to get brewing. It’s larger than most units, delivering more great tasting java than its competitors. This coffee maker also comes with a recipe guide for the perfect blend along with plenty of other beverage options. Featuring borosilicate glass, the Coffee Panda is also extremely durable.


Osaka Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Another affordable option, the Osaka Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker is simple yet it gets the job done. All you have to do is add your grounds and water and set it in the fridge. It takes 12to 24 hours for optimal flavor and extraction, but your cold brew coffee will last up to a week in the fridge. The all-glass design comes with a built-in steeper and it’s also easy to clean.


Willow & Everett Cold Brew Mason Jar Tap
Combining style and functionality, the Cold Brew Mason Jar Tap from Willow & Everett ticks all the boxes. This massive cold brew system holds a full gallon of your favorite coffee. With 20 servings, that’s more than enough for the entire family for the week. The mason jar design is beautiful enough to set on your counter yet the shape is ideal for your fridge. Armed with a built-in tap, you can top up your cold brew coffee whenever you want.

Soulhand Cold Brew Coffee Dripper
Slowly extracting maximum flavor, the Souldhand Cold Brew Coffee Dripper uses ice cold water for brewing. Seeping through the coffee grounds, this method achieves a brilliantly smooth flavor for the best taste. It also doesn’t require additional filtering as this brewing method reduces acidity all on its own. The Soulhand also features a beautiful transparent design. With this, you can watch as every drop of ice water lands on the grounds and then fills the carafe below.


Asobu Coldbrew Insulated Portable Brewer
No fridge? No problem. Just use the Asobu Coldbrew Insulated Portable Brewer to get your fix of cold brew. Unbreakable and easy to clean, this brewing system has a stainless steel mesh to help produce a pure and smooth cold brew blend. Holding a whopping 40 ounces, it can also keep the cold brew nice and cold for hours and hours. This makes it perfect for all your outdoor adventures from camping to sitting poolside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXrLO2qlKcs

Best cold coffee accessories

How many times have you had a hot cup of coffee go cold as it sits on your desk? Probably too many to count. The great thing about cold coffee is that you never have to worry about losing temperature. In fact, if you feel yourself getting too busy, you can just pop it in the fridge to keep it nice and cold.

Here are the best accessories for cold coffee so you can enjoy it just how you like it.

DRIPO Portable Iced Coffee Maker
For a tasty iced coffee anywhere, DRIPO is the answer. This coffee maker delivers an impressively smooth flavor of iced coffee in just two hours. Plus, you have two methods to choose from. You can either use it as a cold brew method which takes a little longer or use it for traditional iced coffee with cold water. No matter which you choose, DRIPO transforms from a maker into a tumbler once your coffee is ready so you can drink up anywhere you are.

HyperChiller Instant Iced Coffee Maker
Perfect for those who own a traditional coffee machine, the HyperChiller can take your coffee from piping hot to iced in a matter of seconds. Incredibly, it can reduce the temperature of your coffee by 130 degrees in just one minute. It works with technology rather than ice so you never have to worry about diluted flavors. Of course, you can also use it with any other hot beverage to keep all your drinks cold and refreshing.


Swig Spill-Proof Reusable Coffee Cup
Many of us have to enjoy our coffee on the go which is totally fine when you have the Swig Spill-Proof Coffee Cup. The double leak-proof seal means you can toss it into your bag without worry. Even though it’s more secure than any other mug, your coffee is just as accessible. The ergonomic spout offers a steady flow of coffee while the thermal insulated sleeve keeps it nice and cold.

Levoop Adjustable Level Measuring Scoop
Creating great coffee takes a little bit of chemistry. Knowing just how much water and what amount of grounds can be the difference between a good cup of coffee and a fantastic cup of coffee. With Levoop, you can get it right every single time. The adjustable cup lets you choose the measurement you need while the leveling featuring removes any excess grounds. It takes just a single movement, speeding up your time on prep work for the best coffee.

Heatworks DUO Water-Heating Carafe
Do you share a home with someone who drinks hot coffee year ’round? The DUO Carafe is perfect for you. This clever carafe lets you pour both hot and cold water out of the same container, meaning you can both have your coffee just the way you like it. Keep it in the fridge and pour out of one side for cold water or set the desired temperature and pour out of the other for hot.

Twist Press Portable Coffee Maker
How fast can you make a cup of coffee? What if we told you the Twist Press takes just 30 seconds? Relying on just a little elbow grease, this portable coffee maker delivers fresh coffee with low acidity and no bitterness. The manual method of extraction adds pressure to the grounds and water, pushing out a delicious blend. Just add ice for the tastiest instant iced coffee around.


Otterbox Elevation 20 Stainless Steel Tumbler
Keep your cold coffee the coldest with the Elevation 20 Tumbler from Otterbox. Featuring a double-walled design, it’ll keep your cold coffee the right temperature as long as you take to drink it. Plus, the tumbler has an innovative top that can work with a variety of lids including a French press, a shaker, a flavor infuser, and more. Coming from Otterbox, the tumbler is all about high quality and durability without compromising on style.


Breville Bambino Plus Compact Espresso Machine
All great coffees have one thing in common: superior coffee beans and a proper brewing system. If you’re all about flavor, the Bambino is the ultimate machine. It serves up your coffee any way you can imagine and has all the parts for every finishing touch. Just pour it over ice or blend it for better coffee no matter how you like it.

Nanopresso Yellow Tattoo Handheld Portable Espresso Machine
Achieving great coffee on the go is a total cinch with the Nanopresso Machine. The handheld design produces delicious espresso instantly no matter where you are. Add in your finely ground beans and press the button. Enjoy it over ice for the perfect on the go cold coffee. Not to mention, the limited edition yellow tattoo design is one you’ll be more than happy to whip out in public.


KRUVE Sifter Coffee Sieve System
They say cold brew coffee should use coarse grounds while other methods prefer fine grounds. To always have the best grounds available, use the KRUVE Sifter. With multiple layers of swappable sieves, the grounds take just a few shakes and will separate into the different layers on their own. From there, you can collect just the grounds you want and totally organize the remaining grounds for other coffee blends.

IKAWA Home Coffee Roaster
If you’re going to make your coffee at home, why not roast your own coffee, too? With IKAKA, you can. This roaster delivers exceptional taste and aroma whether you want dark espresso or a light filter roast. Just choose the roast level in the app, add your beans, and press go. Along with achieving the exact flavor you want every time, roasting your own coffee can also save you money, too.


Zoku Iced Coffee Maker Travel Mug
This cleverly crafted travel mug can transform your regular coffee into iced coffee in just a few short minutes. Thanks to the internal cooling core (which you keep in the freezer), Zoku works with any hot beverage. Just pour and wait. Unlike adding ice, the cooling core won’t dilute your coffee so you can rest assured you’re still getting your intended flavors.

Do you have a favorite way to enjoy your coffee? Let us know in the comments!

Ashley Timms is an editor at Gadget Flow where she gets to write about the most incredible products in the world. When she’s not writing, she’s producing fine art dog photography.
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