You cannot deny cold brew drinks to brighten up your spirit in a hot humid summer. And, of course, you should have been familiar with Starbucks cold brew popularity as it is one of the most customized orders.
Chances are you have always aspired to make it at home, especially the ones served in coffee shops. But are you unsure how to do it?
Let’s learn the basis of Starbucks cold brew coffee and the secrets to making various refreshing recipes.
What Coffee Starbucks Uses To Make Cold Brew Coffee?
Starbucks uses 100% Arabica beans from different countries around the world to make a delicious cup of cold brew coffee.
The beans are typically produced from a medium roast of citrus-flavoured African Arabica and Latin American Arabica beans, creating a chocolaty and sweet fragrance for the drink.
Instead of cooling down the hot brewed coffee, cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee into filtered water for up to 24 hours. The process is meant to expose coffee-rich flavour and natural aroma.
In fact, the brew time can be, more or less, varied based on actual temperature and coarse level of ground coffee. Therefore, these two main factors can eventually affect the final flavour.
How To Make Homemade Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee?
If you’re new to cold brewing, let’s go through the information below. First, there is a list of essential materials you need:
Ingredients And Equipment
- 8 oz of Arabica whole beans
- 8 cups of filtered water
- 12-cup glass pitcher with lid
- Airtight glass container
- Coffee grinder
- Cotton fabric
- Fine mesh strainer
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Grind the beans into coarsely ground coffee
- Place ground coffee in a glass pitcher and fill in the water
- Stir well and let it chill in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- Put the cotton fabric on top of the strainer to filter coffee concentrate (remember not to squeeze it)
- Keep cold brew in an airtight glass container for your desirable consumption. You can reserve it for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Now that you finish brewing Starbucks cold brew coffee style successfully, let’s take the drinks into another new whole world. Check out 7 best Starbucks cold brew coffee alternatives you should know. They are delightful, extraordinary, and thirst-quenching!
1. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
If you are craving a creamy spiced cold foam drink out of a sudden, this Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew comes to fulfil your dream. Even if you make it at home, it still tastes just like the one you buy from Starbucks. The perk of this drink is that you can make it without sugar! Isn’t it amazing? Save some bucks, and enjoy the homemade version by following just a few steps in no time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of cold brew coffee
- 1 tbsp of sugar-free vanilla syrup
- 1 cup of lactose-free, half and half milk
- 1 tsp of monk fruit sweetener
- 1/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
- A splash of pumpkin puree
Instructions
- Combine milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and monk fruit sweetener into a jar
- Stir everything well, cover with the lid, shake for a bit, and let it chill for a moment
- Use the pumpkin cream to froth until it becomes foamy
- Prepare the cup by mixing a cup of cold brew coffee with a tablespoon of vanilla syrup, then add the ice
- Garnish the drink with pumpkin cream foam and serve immediately.
2. Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew
Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew is one of the best cold brewing substitutes you should never miss. It is super quick and easy to make at home, but the result will amaze you. Caramel-flavoured taste buds with a touch of salt, the taste is supremely incredible! You need only a few minutes to prep the drink. So don’t hesitate to try it now!
Ingredients
- 1 cup of cold brew coffee
- 1 tbsp of caramel syrup
- 1/4 cup of cold vanilla sweet cream foam
- 1 cup of ice cube,
- A pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Keep vanilla sweet cream in the freezer for a while
- Prepare a glass, mix cold brew coffee with caramel syrup, ad add ice
- Take out the cream once it gets cold, then froth it until foamy
- Pour the cream over the caramel coffee
- Finish the drink by sprinkling it with sea salt, enjoy the drink at its finest!
3. Honey Almond milk Cold Brew
Grab it at Starbucks; you won’t regret it. Make it at home; you will obsess over it. This coffee blend tastes perfectly fine with a pleasant combination of cold brew coffee, honey, and almond milk. The balanced amount of honey won’t be too sweet, but it does have sufficient sweetness that you can’t resist its tastiness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of cold brew coffee
- A quarter cup of almond milk
- 1 tbsp of honey
- Some Ice cubes
Instructions
- Bring cold brew coffee and honey in a glass
- Give them a good mix, then add the ice
- Pour almond milk into the coffee mixture gently to create a marble effect.
4. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Here comes another tempting cold brew alternative you can’t overlook. It is a so-called Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew. The drink texture is so creamy with a bit of bitterness from caffeine, which is absolutely uplifting. Leave alone its low calories and fat-free. Make it at home won’t be as complex as you imagine. More importantly, it gives the same flavour as the one you pay at Starbucks.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of cold brew coffee
- 2 tbsp of vanilla syrup
- A quarter cup of sweet cream
- Some ice cube
Instructions
- Prepare the glass, and fill a handful of ice into it
- Mix coffee and vanilla syrup and stir well
- Top sweet cream on the drink, serve and enjoy!
5. Sweetened Condensed Milk Cold Brew Iced Latte
Although Lattes are the conventional pair of espresso, a concentrated cup of cold brew coffee would replace the espresso shot finely. The reason is cold brew coffee blends with various iced coffee recipes seamlessly, and it won’t reduce the caffeine sensation for drinkers. Ultimately, this latte is sweet, smooth, and tasty, perfect for a summer vibe.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup of cold brew coffee
- 2 tbsp of sweetened condensed milk
- Some ice
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add sweetened condensed milk to the ice
- Pour cold brew coffee and serve well
6. Fresh Mint Cold Brew Iced coffee
For some reason, coffee and fresh mint might taste unfamiliar. But once there’s a touch of dark chocolate coconut ganache in the drink, it will make you feel like a God-given offering. The taste feels like heaven that one would die for.
This iced cold brew coffee is served with a fresh mint fragrance, making you appreciate both caffeine and spice aroma. Easy to make at home, it is a good-to-go springtime beverage!
Ingredients
- 1 cup of cold brew coffee
- 1 tbsp dark chocolate coconut ganache
- 1 tbsp fresh mint syrup
- 1 tbsp of milk of choice
- Some ice cube
For homemade dark chocolate coconut ganache:
- ½ cup of coconut milk
- 5 oz of chopped dark chocolate
For the homemade fresh mint syrup:
- 1 cup of water
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of fresh mint
Instructions
- Place dark chocolate coconut ganache in a glass, and fill with the ice cube
- Add cold brew in the glass
- Mix milk and fresh mint syrup and pour the mixture into the coffee cup
Here Is How You Make Fresh Mint Syrup:
- Add granulated sugar, fresh mint and water in a medium heating saucepan
- Stir everything continuously; once the sugar mixture melts, turn off the heat.
- Cooldown the syrup, then strain it from the mint. You can store it for up to 14 days in the fridge.
Here Is How You Make Dark Chocolate Coconut Ganache:
- Microwave coconut milk in medium heat for half a minute
- Add chocolate into the warm coconut milk.
- Blend the ingredients until the ganache texture turns smooth.
7. Irish Cream Cold Brew
One thing for sure, you will adore this Irish Cream Cold Brew for the rest of your life once you give it a chance. The iced drink is made with cold brew coffee enhanced by a splash of Irish cream syrup, garnish with vanilla whipped cream, and a dash of cocoa powder on top. This is an undeniable treat for sweet-tooth people! Try it at home with these simple steps; it will become your favourite forever.
Ingredients
- A cup of cold brew coffee
- A quarter cup of heavy cream
- 2 tbsp of powdered sugar
- 2 pumps of Irish Cream Syrup
- Some cocoa powder
- Some ice
For homemade Irish cream syrup
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tsp of vanilla
- 1 tbsp of cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp of almond extract
Instructions
- Blend heavy cream and powdered sugar until they turn out smooth and sticky
- Prepare a tall glass with ice
- Drizzle the Irish Cream syrup
- Pour cold brew over the cup
- Add heavy cream and sprinkle with cocoa powder on top
Here Is How You Make Irish Cream Syrup:
- Add sugar and water in a saucepan until they boil and dissolve
- Allow the syrup to chill and cool down
- Combine cocoa powder, almond extract, vanilla, and whip everything well
- Place it in a glass bottle and stock in the fridge for later use