It's much easier (and cheaper) than you think to make your own cold brew.

*Originally published on October 28, 2018:

Cold brew coffee is all the rage, but buying it at the store will set you back almost as much as a trip to the coffee shop. Fortunately, it's super simple to make at home. Unlike iced coffee, cold brew uses time instead of heat, which reduces acidity so your coffee will taste less bitter. You'll also get the cold temperature without watering your coffee down with ice. 

Depending on how caffeinated you want to get, you can adjust the concentration of your cold brew by changing the water-to-grounds ratio. Start with one part beans and four parts water, which will make a nicely concentrated brew that's perfect for adding to milk or cream. 

1. Grind your beans

Start with whole-bean coffee so you can achieve a coarse grind, which is essential for this recipe. Use a coffee grinder to grind your beans. 

2. Mix with water

Add your preferred amount of water, depending on the strength you're looking for, and stir. You can combine your ingredients in a pitcher or use a French press for easy straining the next day. 

3. Let steep overnight

Let your coffee mixture steep for at least 12 hours. The brewing process will extract the flavor, sugars, and much-needed caffeine from your coffee beans. 

4. Strain and enjoy

Using a French press or strainer, remove the grounds from your brew. Pour it over your favorite milk or cream, add ice, or flavor your coffee with caramel or chocolate syrup.

Now that you know how to make cold brew coffee at home, you might actually save time as well. Once you strain your coffee, you can store a big batch of cold brew in the refrigerator for the rest of the week. Prepare your cold brew coffee on the weekend, and you'll have a jolt of caffeine ready to go every morning.