Make a homemade Decaf Cold Brew Iced Coffee that tastes just as good as Starbucks. Easy to make, caffeine-free, & delicious - this will be your new favorite drink to sip on all day!
Nothing is quite as refreshing as a delicious cold brew iced coffee - and this decaf version is no exception! And it is so easy to make your own DIY homemade version of this popular coffee shop order.
All you will need are a few simple ingredients that you can customize to your exact preferences. You won't need any fancy equipment to make this Decaf Cold Brew Iced Coffee taste just like Starbucks!
Decaf Cold Brew Iced Coffees
Cold brew coffee is so delicious that it is tempting to drink it all day long. But all that caffeine can cause havoc on your health! Experts say that drinking even just one mug of regular coffee after 3 pm can disrupt your sleep.
Cold brew coffee naturally contains more caffeine than regular coffee. But decaf coffee has a reputation for being bitter, harsh, and nothing like regular coffee.
That doesn't have to be the case though! Read on to learn how to make delicious decaf cold brew coffee at home that is tasty and silky smooth.
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So can you use decaf coffee to make cold brew?
Yes, you can make cold brew coffee using decaf coffee. Decaffeinated coffee beans are roasted coffee beans from which the caffeine has been removed. So therefore you can use these caffeine-free coffee beans to make a decaffeinated cold brew.
I love using cold-brew coffee to make my iced coffees as cold brew has a smoother and sweeter taste than regular coffee. It is also convenient and versatile!
Like regular cold brew, decaf cold brew is made using an infusion method. This is where coarsely ground decaf coffee is mixed with water and steeped for 12 to 24 hours. Once it’s finished steeping, the mixture is strained. This creates the delicious decaf cold brew concentrate.
Because cold brew coffee isn't exposed to high temperatures, the coffee has less acidity and is therefore less bitter. So using decaf coffee to make your cold brew will also mean that your cold brew is low in caffeine, but still just as delicious!
If you love iced coffee recipes, check out my Iced Honey Almond Milk Cold Brew and Caramel Mocha Iced Latte! Both are easy and delicious!
Why You'll Love Decaf Cold Brew
- Quick and easy. You can make this decaf iced coffee in under 5 minutes with just a few simple ingredients.
- Cheaper than Starbucks. Making your own homemade cold brew coffee is much cheaper than ordering it at Starbucks. Plus, you can make a glass whenever you feel like it in under five minutes without leaving your house.
- Versatile. This easy homemade cold brew recipe can be made with any dairy or non-dairy milk and can be sweetened according to personal preference. You can also top it with cold foam or whipped cream if you feel like a real treat!
- Decaf but tasty. This cold brew is low in caffeine but still tastes just as good as regular cold brew coffee!
You can use this recipe to make an iced coffee or an iced latte! You can learn all about the differences in our ICED COFFEE VS ICED LATTE post!
Ingredients Needed & Notes
- Decaf cold-brew coffee. For this recipe, you can use your favorite store-bought decaf cold-brew coffee or you can make your own. See below for an easy recipe!*
- Milk. You can use any dairy or non-dairy milk for this recipe. My favorite non-dairy milk options for this coffee are almond milk or oat milk.
- Sweetener (optional). If you would like to add some sweetness to your coffee you can use any sweetener that you like best, such as coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup.
- Ice cubes. They keep this drink deliciously cold and refreshing!
NON-DAIRY MILK OPTIONS FOR COLD BREW COFFEE
- Oat milk - For a sweet, creamy non-dairy milk option, try using oat milk. My oat milk lattes are a favorite on the blog.
- Soy milk - Slightly more bitter, but still creamy and delicious. Add an extra touch of sweetness for balance.
- Coconut milk - Use coconut milk for a deliciously sweet, coconut-flavored iced coffee.
- Almond milk - Almond milk pairs perfectly with cold brew coffee and the sweetness from almond milk combines well with the lower acidity of cold brew coffee.
- Macadamia milk - One of my ultimate favorites. This sweet and creamy nut milk is the perfect milk substitution for cold brew coffees.
How to make Decaf Cold Brew Coffee
To make homemade decaf cold brew you will need: 1 cup of ground decaf coffee (use your favorite kind) and 4 cups of filtered water. Then just follow these three easy steps to make your own cold brew:
Step-By-Step Instructions
STEP ONE
Place the decaf coffee grounds in a large jar and gently pour the water over the coffee grounds. Stir the mixture carefully to ensure all the coffee grounds are wet.
STEP TWO
Close the jar and place it on a countertop overnight. Ideally, you want it to sit for about 14-24 hours. The longer you leave it to infuse, the stronger the coffee will be. So it depends on your personal preference how long you leave it for depending on how strong you prefer your coffee.
STEP THREE
Use a fine-meshed bag, paper coffee filter, or nut milk bag to strain the brewed coffee. You can strain the mixture more than once to ensure that there are no granules left if you like. Then pour the strained coffee mixture back into the jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Use as desired.
DECAF COLD BREW COFFEE VARIATIONS
Vanilla decaf cold brew - Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the cold brew coffee for a subtle vanilla flavor.
Spiced decaf cold brew - For a spiced version of this coffee, add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, about ¼ teaspoon.
Caramel cold brew coffee - When making your coffee, use caramel syrup to sweeten the drink and add a delicious caramel flavor to it.
Chocolate cold brew coffee - Coffee and chocolate are the perfect pair! So try adding a sprinkle of cocoa powder to your next cold brew iced coffee.
How to make an iced coffee with decaf cold brew
Cold brew coffee is strong in flavor and therefore needs some water or milk added to it. The ratio is usually two or three parts water or milk to one part cold brew.
So to make a decaf cold brew iced coffee, simply fill a serving glass with ice. Then fill it ⅓ of the way with decaf cold brew concentrate and top it with milk and/or water.
You can then add any additional toppings or flavoring you desire such as sweeteners, flavored syrups, foams, or whipped cream toppings.
Find the full recipe at the bottom of this post!
Recipe FAQs
Starbucks decaf coffee ranges from 3-15 mg of caffeine per shot. Whereas a single shot of Starbucks blonde roast has about 85 mg of caffeine and their dark roast has 75 mg per shot.
Yes, but in very small amounts. Decaf coffee beans are never fully caffeine-free, so decaf cold brew does contain some trace caffeine. There are different ways of removing caffeine from coffee beans and as a general rule, decaf must have at least 7% of its caffeine content removed for it to be considered decaf coffee.
More recipes for coffee lovers:
- Chocolate Coffee Smoothie
- Iced Dirty Chai Latte
- Almond Iced Coffee
- Oat Milk Latte
- Honey Oat Milk Latte
- Espresso Brownies
Decaf Cold Brew Iced Coffee
Make a homemade Decaf Cold Brew Iced Coffee that tastes just as good as Starbucks. Easy to make, decaf, & delicious - this will be your new favorite drink to sip on all day!
Ingredients
- 1 cup decaf cold brew coffee (see notes for recipe)
- ½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 tablespoon sugar/maple syrup/honey/agave syrup (optional)
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Fill a serving glass with ice cubes and add the cold brew.
- Add any sweetener if desired and then top with milk of choice.
- Gently stir and taste and make any desired adjustments.
- Enjoy immediately as is or add your favorite coffee topping!
Notes
How to make Decaf Cold Brew Coffee
To make homemade decaf cold brew you will need:
1 cup of finely ground decaf coffee (use your favorite kind, the better the quality the better the end result)
4 cups of filtered water
Then just follow these three easy steps to make your own cold brew:
STEP ONE - Place the coffee grounds in a large jar and gently pour the water over the coffee grounds. Stir the mixture carefully to ensure all the coffee grounds are wet.
STEP TWO - Close the jar and place it on a countertop overnight. Ideally, you want it to sit for about 14-24 hours. The longer you leave it, the stronger the coffee will be so it depends on your own taste.
STEP THREE - Use a fine-meshed bag, paper coffee filter, or nut milk bag to strain the brewed coffee. You can do it more than once to ensure that there aren't any granules left. Pour the mixture back into the jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
I hope you love this Homemade Decaf Cold Brew Iced Coffee (Starbucks Copycat) recipe as much as I do! And if you want to see more of my delicious food adventures, follow me on Instagram or Facebook.
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