Sweet Jesus, it’s hot. Hotter than it’s been in a loooong time, and it’s only the beginning of summer here. How does one stay cool and keep their inner thighs from sticking together? I rely on cold beverages and sunscreen. The sunscreen doesn’t really help with the heat, but my fair skin needs it. By now everyone is making cold brew coffee. And with the heat like it’s been lately, how could I resist it? I developed this recipe for small-batch cold brew just for me (and for you.) 

But it’s so messy to make, and I really don’t want to make a large batch at once because I don’t have a lot of room in my fridge. I’d rather just make a manageable batch that I can use within the next day or two. 

There is a magic ratio that exists for cold brew. Did you know this? Now, thanks to Huff Post and Serious Eats, now you can use that ratio to make small-batch cold brew coffee anytime you want. 

For small-batch cold brew coffee, all you need to remember is 4:1. Four parts water to one part coffee. Mix together and leave it on your kitchen counter for 12 hours. It makes a deliciously strong cold brew that you can drink as is, or dilute down with water or milk if you want. I used 28 ounces of water to 7 ounces of coffee (by volume, not by weight) Which is a strange ratio, but it fit in my jar. Then you can strain it through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth. 

Perfect when poured over ice and a splash of cream.