Coconut Cold Brew: How to Make Coconut Cold Brew 3 Ways
Share
Cold brew is smooth, chocolatey and low in bitterness, and coconut brings natural sweetness and a gentle tropical note. Put them together and you get one of the easiest summer coffees you can make at home. If you want to know how to make coconut cold brew, start with cold brew concentrate, then choose your coconut: creamy coconut milk for a latte-style drink, coconut water for a light and refreshing one, or a whipped coconut cream cold foam on top for a café-style finish.
All three versions use the same base, so once you have a jar of concentrate in the fridge, each glass takes about a minute.
Key takeaways
- Make a cold brew concentrate first (about 1 part coffee to 5 parts water by weight, 12–18 hours in the fridge).
- Coconut milk gives a creamy drink; coconut water gives a light, slightly sweet one.
- Use carton coconut milk for drinking, and canned coconut cream only for foam.
- Shake or stir well: coconut fat separates in very cold liquid.
In this article
- Step 1: the cold brew base
- How to make coconut cold brew: 3 ways
- Which coconut product to use
- Homemade toasted coconut syrup
- Troubleshooting
- FAQ
Step 1: Make the cold brew base
You can use store-bought cold brew, but homemade concentrate is cheaper and stronger, which matters because coconut dilutes coffee flavor.
| Batch | Coarse coffee | Cold water | Yields (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small jar | 3½ oz (100 g) | 2 cups + 2 tbsp (500 ml) | about 1½ cups (350 ml) concentrate |
| Large pitcher | 7 oz (200 g) | 4¼ cups (1 l) | about 3 cups (700 ml) concentrate |
- Stir the coarse coffee and cold, filtered water together until all the grounds are wet.
- Cover and refrigerate for 12–18 hours.
- Strain through a fine sieve lined with a paper filter or cloth.
- Keep the concentrate sealed in the fridge and use it within about a week for the best flavor.
Our full guide on how to make cold brew covers equipment and ratios in depth, and how long cold brew lasts explains storage.
How to make coconut cold brew: 3 ways
1. Creamy coconut milk cold brew
The most popular version: smooth, lightly sweet and dairy-free.
- ½ cup (120 ml) cold brew concentrate
- ½ cup (120 ml) coconut milk beverage (carton)
- 1–2 tsp toasted coconut syrup or simple syrup, to taste
- Ice
Fill a 12 oz glass with ice. Add the concentrate and syrup, stir, then pour in the coconut milk. Stir again before drinking. For an extra-rich drink, replace 2 tablespoons of the coconut milk with canned coconut milk, shaken well.
2. Light coconut water cold brew
Coconut water is thin, a little salty-sweet and very refreshing. It makes a black-coffee-style drink with a soft fruity edge, similar in spirit to espresso tonic.
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) cold brew concentrate
- ⅔ cup (160 ml) chilled coconut water
- Ice and a lime wedge (optional)
Fill a glass with ice, pour in the coconut water, then slowly pour the concentrate over it for a layered look. Squeeze in a little lime if you like. Unsweetened coconut water is usually sweet enough on its own.
3. Cold brew with coconut cream cold foam
A café-style finish that turns plain cold brew into a treat.
- ¾ cup (180 ml) cold brew, diluted to taste
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) canned coconut cream, chilled
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) coconut milk beverage
- 1–2 tsp maple syrup or coconut syrup
- Pinch of salt
Froth the coconut cream, coconut milk, syrup and salt with a handheld frother for 20–30 seconds, until thick and pourable. Pour the cold brew over ice and spoon the foam on top. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. The technique is the same as our sweet cream cold foam, made dairy-free.
Which coconut product to use
| Product | Texture | Best use | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut milk beverage (carton) | Like milk | Everyday coconut cold brew | Sweetened versions add sugar |
| Canned coconut milk | Rich, can separate | Small splash for richness | Solid fat clumps in cold drinks; shake well |
| Canned coconut cream | Very thick | Cold foam | Too heavy to drink in large amounts |
| Coconut water | Thin, refreshing | Light, black-style drink | Flavor varies a lot between brands |
| Coconut syrup | Syrup | Adding coconut flavor to any milk | Easy to oversweeten |
Homemade toasted coconut syrup
- Toast ½ cup (40 g) unsweetened shredded coconut in a dry pan over medium-low heat, stirring, until golden, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add ½ cup (100 g) sugar and ½ cup (120 ml) water. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Take off the heat, steep 20 minutes, then strain, pressing the coconut.
- Refrigerate in a clean jar and use within about 2 weeks.
More flavors are in our guide to homemade coffee syrups.
Which coffee to use
Coconut loves chocolate and nut flavors, and cold brew already emphasizes them. Feel Espresso’s Cold Brew Coffee is a dark French roast blend, coarse ground specifically for cold brew, with dark chocolate notes and a smooth, low-acid, naturally sweet profile. For a nuttier glass, brew Vanilla Hazelnut as cold brew (ask for Coarse grind): its roasted hazelnut and creamy vanilla notes pair beautifully with coconut. Brazil Santos, with cocoa and roasted nuts, is a great unflavored option. Every bag is roasted 1–5 days before delivery.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| White flecks floating in the glass | Canned coconut fat solidifying in the cold | Use carton coconut milk, or blend the canned milk first |
| Watery, weak coffee | Diluted cold brew plus coconut | Use concentrate, not ready-to-drink cold brew |
| Tastes salty or odd | Strongly flavored coconut water | Try another brand, or use half coconut water, half filtered water |
| Too little coconut flavor | Coconut milk beverage is mild | Add toasted coconut syrup or a splash of canned coconut milk |
| Foam collapses | Coconut cream too warm or too thin | Chill the can overnight and use the thick top part |
Coconut cold brew FAQ
Is coconut milk good in cold brew?
Yes. Its natural sweetness and mild nuttiness suit the chocolatey, low-acid profile of cold brew, and it makes an easy dairy-free iced coffee.
Can I brew coffee directly in coconut water?
You can steep coarse coffee in coconut water in the fridge, but the result varies with the coconut water and can taste flat or overly sweet. Mixing concentrate with coconut water gives more control.
How long does coconut cold brew keep?
Mix it fresh. Keep the concentrate and the coconut milk separately in the fridge and combine just before drinking.
Does coconut cold brew have a lot of caffeine?
Cold brew concentrate is strong, so caffeine depends on how much you use. Half a cup of concentrate is roughly a full coffee serving or more. See our article on cold brew caffeine.
Is coconut cold brew the same as Vietnamese coconut coffee?
No. Vietnamese coconut coffee is a frozen slush of coconut cream and condensed milk with strong coffee. Coconut cold brew is a simple iced drink of cold brew and coconut milk or water.
Last updated October 2026.
Keep reading: Cold brew vs iced coffee · Salted caramel cold brew · Flavored coffees