Cold-brew coffee is made by steeping grounds in cold water, which avoids the bitterness and acidity of regular coffee, leaving a softer—yet still rich—flavor profile. Replacing time with heat allows for a reduction in bitter oils and fatty acids. That’s why traditional iced coffee—which is brewed hot and then chilled—has the same bitter profile of a hot brew.
To make cold-brew coffee, all you need is a large container, a filter, coarsely ground coffee beans, filtered water and time. Cold-brew coffee typically steeps from 12 to 24 hours.