How to make Starbucks Cold Coffee

Prepare Starbucks Cold Brew at Home: Save Money and Out-Beat the Heat

Summer is here, and that craving for iced coffee. Of course, it would be easy to shell out the cash to pick up a Venti Iced Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks, but why not make it yourself—just how you like it and a fraction of the price?

This is how to make your very own cold coffee, inspired by Starbucks:

Base: Bold Brew

A very strong coffee base is truly what defines Starbucks style iced coffee. There are 2 ways to accomplish this:

Double Brew: To make a strong flavor, double the grounds you typically use for brewing hot coffee. This concentrated coffee holds its own when poured over ice.

COLD BREW: For smoothness, think cold brew: soak coarse coffee grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours. The result? A low-acid, naturally sweet coffee concentrate ready for an iced drink.

Chill Out

After you brew your robust cup of coffee, let it cool. If you're in a hurry, you can put the carafe in a cold water bath with ice.

Time to Assemble!

Now for the fun part, putting it all together with your iced coffee. Here's what you'll need:

• A tall glass filled with ice
• Chilled coffee

Milk of your choice, dairy or non-dairy

Sweetener to taste - simple syrup, vanilla extract or flavored syrups

Fun Extras (if you want): Whipped cream, caramel drizzle, chocolate shavings

An Ideal Ratio

Thus, there's not going to be one magic number here; you're just going to have to experiment. Generally, this falls at a 1:1 coffee-to-milk ratio for most people. From there, you can increase or decrease the amount of coffee according to how strong or mild flavor you would like.

Sweeten It Up (Optional)

If you prefer your iced coffee on the sweet side, add a splash of simple syrup, vanilla extract, or your favorite flavored syrup as desired. Do it slowly, and taste as you go. Sweeten to the point where you like how it tastes best.

Pro Tip: Feeling fancy? Add a dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel, or some chocolate shavings for extra indulgence! And there you have it! Put a bit of planning and these few easy steps into place, and you could be enjoying a most refreshing and flavorful Starbucks-inspiration iced coffee in your very own home. Play with your favorite flavors and ratios to make a perfect cup!