Have you ever thought about combining cold brew coffee and lemon juice? What about cold brew coffee and fresh mint leaves? I know these sound like odd combos, but you’re going to want to give them a try.
One reason cold brew coffee is so incredible is that it’s so versatile. It works in so many ways: hot, iced, cut with milk, mixed into mocktails.
Cold brew coffee mocktails are a fun way to mix it up. They’re energizing, fun to explore, and provide a creative way to get your daily dose of caffeine.
Here are five cold brew coffee mocktails you can make at home.
Read: Iced Coffee VS Cold Brew: What's The Difference?
A Note About The Cold Brew Coffee You Use
Before we get into the actual recipes, there are a few things you need to kind in mind.
Firstly, the natural flavors in different coffees are great, but they cause some coffees to thrive in these mocktail recipes and others to taste really weird. Some coffees are light and fruity and others are deep and chocolatey. If the first coffee you use doesn’t jive with one of these recipes, try a different coffee with a different flavor profile and see how it goes.
Remember that your unique taste preferences are different than everyone else’s. Don’t be afraid to experiment and explore with different coffees to find your personal favorite combos.
Secondly, to make sure you mocktails taste as close as possible ours, make your cold brew coffee using our Ultimate Guide to Cold Brew Coffee. If you use a different recipe than we use, your cold brew coffee’s strength will be different and you’ll need to use more or less of your concentrate to achieve the same result.
When in doubt, adjust your drinks to fit your own tastes. There’s no pressure to make things exactly like they are described in this list. Craft to please your own palate - not anyone else’s.
Most of all, enjoy the process. Crafting cold brew coffee mocktails is supposed to be fun, so appreciate the journey and don’t worry about getting them perfect on your first try.
1. Cold Brew Sour
This spin off the classic whiskey sour is a bright, refreshing beverage. It has a tartness to it - the word ‘sour’ is in the name for a reason - but it’s nothing like biting straight into a lemon. It’s a tartness that’s balanced out by a smooth sweetness and a gentle coffee flavor.
Simply stir together the ingredients in a small rocks glass and top with a lemon wedge garnish. For best results, use a deep, well-rounded coffee rather than a lighter and brighter one.
- 2oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- Juice of ½ Lemon
- 1oz simple syrup
- Ice
- Lemon wedge garnish
Read: How To Taste Coffee: Acidity
2. Cold Brew Tonic
This simple soda-like mocktail is a variation of the classic gin and tonic cocktails. This mocktail, along with the more intense and tart espresso tonic, is rising in popularity in specialty coffee shops across the United States. It’s extremely easy to make and delightfully refreshing.
To craft this one, just pour tonic water to taste into your concentrate and top with ice (or store in a mini soda bottle). Just about any coffee flavor profile will work with this one, but I suggest trying a few to find your favorite.
- 2oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- 8oz tonic water
- Ice
Want more mocktails like this one? Here are some other soda-esque cold brew coffee drinks.
3. High Plains Tonic
This one’s an original. The High Plains Tonic combines cold brew coffee concentrate, a bit of dark chocolate, grape juice, and a touch of tonic water - all over ice.
Yeah - I realize it sounds quite odd. But trust me, it’s like drinking a coffee-infused, chocolate covered grape that’s covered in tangy bubbles. It’s delicious. Make it. Love it.
Just stir together all the ingredients and top with ice. A low-noted chocolatey coffee will really thrive in this cocktail.
- 2oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- 2oz grape juice
- 2oz tonic water
- Ice
- Dark chocolate square
4. Coffee Mint Julep
Mint juleps are excellent for hot Summer afternoons and this caffeinated variation is worth trying out when you need a refreshing drink and a boost. The fresh mint (fresh is always best!) paired with the rich coffee and hint of sweetness is rounded, delicious, and hits the spot perfectly when you need to cool off.
For this one, muddle your mint leaves in the bottom of your glass, but be careful not to tear them. Then mix in your cold brew concentrate, simple syrup, and fill with ice. For best results, use a coffee with a deeper, more chocolatey flavor profile.
- 3oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- 4 fresh mint leaves (+1 for garnish)
- 1oz simple syrup
- Crushed ice
Read: 8 Vessels You Can Use As Your Cold Brew Coffee Maker
5. Cold Fashioned
A caffeinated take on the quintessential Old Fashioned cocktail, the Cold Fashioned is a strong, rich, and classy beverage. This is a mocktail for a peaceful and warm afternoon when you want to enjoy a simple, refreshing drink with a punch of flavor.
To make this once, just stir the ingredients together with ice and top with the fruity garnish.
Most flavor profiles will pair well in the Cold Fashioned, but since this one’s quite a bit more intense than the others, you may not personally enjoy every coffee in this mocktail. Try a few out and find the flavor profile you enjoy the most in this mocktail.
- 2oz cold brew coffee concentrate
- 1/2oz simple syrup
- Orange bitters
- Ice
- Orange/Cherry garnish
---
Cold brew coffee is incredible as basic iced coffee, but there’s so much more to do with it - like making fun, refreshing, creative mocktails. These recipes are just the beginning. If you come up with your own cold brew coffee mocktails, let me know!
If you want to make these yourself, you’re going to need a cold brew coffee maker. The easiest, most reliable way to do this is to use a french press coffee maker.
Happy cold brewing!