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Cold Brew Vanilla Iced Coffee

Transform your mornings with smooth, velvety cold brew vanilla iced coffee! Steep once, enjoy all week — naturally sweet, zero bitterness, and costs pennies per cup. Save for your coffee ritual! ☕
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup coarsely ground coffee
  • 4 cups cold filtered water
  • 1/4 cup vanilla simple syrup or to taste
  • 1 cup whole milk or milk of choice
  • 2 cups ice cubes
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar for simple syrup
  • 1/4 cup water for simple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract for simple syrup

Method
 

  1. Make the vanilla simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and vanilla extract. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar fully dissolves, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely, then transfer to a jar and refrigerate.
  2. Prepare the cold brew concentrate: Add coarsely ground coffee to a large jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups of cold filtered water over the grounds and stir gently to ensure all coffee is saturated.
  3. Cover the container and let steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12-16 hours. For a stronger brew, steep closer to 16 hours; for a lighter taste, aim for 12 hours.
  4. Strain the cold brew concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean container. Press gently to extract all liquid. Discard the grounds.
  5. To assemble each serving: Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour 1/2 cup cold brew concentrate over the ice.
  6. Add 1/2 cup water or milk to dilute the concentrate. Adjust the ratio to your strength preference — more concentrate for bolder flavor, more milk for creamier texture.
  7. Stir in 1-2 tablespoons vanilla simple syrup, adjusting sweetness to taste. Give it a quick stir and serve immediately with a straw.