There’s nothing quite like the smooth and rich flavor of cold brew. But like anything, too much of a good thing can allow it to lose its appeal. So let’s take the classic and make it a little funky!
If you’re a cold brew fanatic like we are, you love the original cold brew classic—but you may also have a taste for some novel and unique cold brew coffee recipes as well.
How can you change up and revitalize your cold brew consumption? Here are some easy and creative cold brew coffee recipes to try out for a new experience and taste!
What Is Cold Brew?
Just a quick note about cold brew. There is a difference between cold brew coffee and iced coffee.
Iced coffee is made with hot coffee. So you brew coffee as you normally would, and then you chill it in the fridge and add some ice cubes. It usually only takes about 15 minutes to make and it has the same process as hot coffee. Because it’s originally made hot, it tends to be more bitter and acidic than cold brew.
Cold brew coffee is a much slower steep at a colder temperature. The coffee beans are extracted in cold water for 16-24 hours. This creates a lower acidity, so it’s a smoother and richer flavor.
People who don’t traditionally like coffee because of its bitterness may still enjoy cold brew because it has a mellower and fuller taste. But people who love iced coffee may also love cold brew! it’s a unique and rich flavor that’s hard to pass up.
Get more in-depth info about cold brew coffee here.
Let’s get brewing some new cold brew coffee recipes!
Creamy Non-Dairy Cold Brew
If you can’t take dairy in your coffee, you may have become accustomed to the black or black-and-sugar cup. A lot of non-dairy drinkers choose cold brew because of its bold flavor.
However, the beauty of cold brew is that you can actually froth it up without any dairy at all. Throw your cold brew in a cold cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes and start shaking. This will actually froth up the cold brew, so you have a latte-like iced drink without the extras.
If you take non-dairy milk in your cold brew, like almond or soy milk, add this to your coffee before shaking for an extra frothy and creamy indulgence.
Cinnamon Honey Cold Brew
This recipe tastes like something you might find in a café in a foreign destination—but you can make it right in your own home! Plus, cinnamon and honey are both healthy and nutritious, so you’ll get a boost of delicious flavor and healthy wellness in one.
You’ll start by making your own simple syrup (don’t worry, it’s easy).
- You’ll need: 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup honey, 3 cinnamon sticks, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Add the water, honey, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. The honey will dissolve in the water.
- Let the mixture come to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for five minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Allow the mixture to cool.
- Remove the cinnamon sticks (and discard).
- You can store the syrup in the fridge until use.
Now, all you need to do is put some of the syrup in your cold brew cup, add your favorite milk or cream, and stir to combine. Oo, so yummy!
Tip: Sprinkle with cinnamon on top for extra scrumptiousness.
Shirley Temple Cold Brew
This is one of the most unique recipes we’ve tried out… and we can’t get enough of it. Shirley temples on their own are delicious, and when combined with the smooth, rich taste of cold brew, they only get better.
You’ll want one cup of cold brew. Add 3/4 cup of regular tonic water and 1 teaspoon of cherry juice. You can sweeten with simple syrup, or let the cherry juice speak for itself. We also love to add a few Maraschino cherries for sweetness and style.
You get a smooth taste from the cold brew mixed with the sweetness from the cherry with a little bubbly from the tonic—this drink will be gone in no time!
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Vietnamese coffee is popping up in more and more coffee shops because of its absolutely irresistible taste. You simply put some sweetened condensed milk in a cup of cold brew, which creates a luscious flavor of sugariness and boldness. This is great at a dessert or if you’re craving something a little sweet with your caffeine.
We recommend no more than 1/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk per 2 cups of cold brew. Sweetened condensed milk is pretty heavy and saccharine, so add it slowly and taste test to see what you prefer.
If you’re vegan, you can still enjoy Vietnamese cold brew. Here’s how to create your own condensed milk:
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Put the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a low boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer for 1.5-2 hours. Once the milk thickens up, remove it from the stove and let cool. You can store it in a glass jar in the fridge for up to two weeks (if it lasts that long!).
Chocolate Mint Cold Brew
There’s a reason chocolate and mint are often together—they’re the perfect dessert combo! Add coffee to it and it’s a dream come true. This drink will taste like an indulgent treat, no matter what time of day you sip on it.
You’ll need to create a mint simple syrup first. In a small saucepan, add 1 cup water, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 bunch of fresh mint (about 1 cup). Heat over medium-high heat, stirring constantly at a simmer. When the sugar dissolves, turn off heat and let it sit in saucepan for 5 minutes. This helps steep the mint in the syrup. Now you can strain the syrup and store in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
You can add a bit of this syrup to your coffee (start with a tablespoon and work your way up to taste). Then add some chocolate syrup to your cold brew as desired to get a decadent indulgence!
If you want to take your chocolate mint cold brew to the next level, you can substitute the chocolate syrup for a homemade chocolate ganache. Put 1/2 cup of full-fat coconut milk in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds in the microwave. Then add 5 ounces of chopped dark chocolate and stir until it melts in. This will create a healthier version of chocolate syrup that is lusciously delicious in coffee!
(Don’t like mint? Just add the chocolate ganache in your cold brew for a mocha!)
Sea Salt Coffee
Don’t leave at the mention of salted coffee… We promise it’s better than it sounds. The first time we heard one of our staffers say he puts salt in his coffee, we couldn’t believe it! Eldorado is so delicious on its own, why (and how) could you salt it?
But, in some ways, he was right. Salt actually brings out more of the undertones in the coffee.
Sea salt iced coffee is salty and sweet, creamy and rich. You may never go back to regular cold brew again!
Add 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt directly into your favorite milk or cream (we recommend whipping cream). You may also want to add a pinch of sugar for sweetness to offset the salt. Pour in your cold brew and taste test!
Share Your Creative Cold Brew Coffee Recipes
These cold brew recipes are too scrumptious not to try… So get to it! Take a picture of your creations and tag us on Facebook or Instagram. We can’t wait to see what you come up with for your cold brew coffee recipes!