There’s something special about that first sip of a perfectly balanced cold brew coffee. It’s smooth, strong, and incredibly refreshing. When you add a layer of sweet, homemade salted caramel cream that slowly cascades down into the dark roast, it becomes a true coffeehouse experience. The good news is that you don’t need to wait in a long drive-thru line to enjoy this modern classic. With a few simple ingredients and a little know-how, you can create a barista-level drink in your own kitchen.
This guide is all about demystifying the process and showing you how accessible a great homemade cold brew can be. We will walk through every step of the Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew Recipe: Starbucks at Home Made Easy, from steeping the coffee concentrate to creating that signature fluffy, sweet-and-salty foam. You might find that your homemade version becomes your new favorite, saving you both time and money.
Why Making Your Own Cold Brew is a Game Changer
Before we get to the recipe, let’s talk about why this is worth the small amount of effort. Homemade cold brew concentrate is significantly more affordable than buying individual drinks. A single batch can provide you with a week’s worth of coffee. More importantly, you have complete control. You can choose your favorite coffee beans, adjust the sweetness to your preference, and decide just how much salted caramel flavor you want. The result is a drink that is tailored perfectly to your taste, without any preservatives or unknown ingredients.
Gathering Your Ingredients for Success
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You don’t need any fancy equipment, just a few key components. For the cold brew itself, you’ll need coarsely ground coffee beans—a dark or medium roast works wonderfully—and cold, filtered water. The star of the show, the salted caramel cream, requires just four items: heavy whipping cream, your favorite caramel sauce, a little vanilla extract, and sea salt. Using a good quality caramel sauce will make a noticeable difference in the final flavor.
Your Step-by-Step Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew Recipe: Starbucks at Home Made Easy
This process is best broken into two parts: making the cold brew concentrate and then preparing the salted caramel cream. The cold brew needs to steep for at least 12 hours, so planning ahead is key.
Part 1: The Perfect Cold Brew Concentrate
Start by combining one cup of coarsely ground coffee with four cups of cold water in a large jar or pitcher. Stir gently to ensure all the grounds are saturated. Cover the container and let it sit at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. The longer it steeps, the stronger the concentrate will be. Once the time is up, strain the coffee through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or a nut milk bag. This will give you a smooth, grit-free concentrate that can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Part 2: Crafting the Salted Caramel Cream
This is where the magic happens. In a chilled bowl, combine one cup of heavy whipping cream, two tablespoons of caramel sauce, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a quarter teaspoon of flaky sea salt. Using a hand mixer or a vigorously wielded whisk, beat the mixture until it becomes thick and frothy. You’re looking for soft peaks—that means when you lift the whisk, the cream forms a peak that gently folds over on itself. It should be pourable but luxuriously thick.
Assembling Your Masterpiece
Now for the fun part: bringing it all together. Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the cold brew concentrate over the ice, filling the glass about two-thirds of the way full. If you prefer a less strong coffee, you can dilute the concentrate with a splash of water or milk at this stage. Next, gently pour your homemade salted caramel cream over the back of a spoon held just above the coffee surface. This technique helps the cream float on top, creating that beautiful layered effect. For a final touch, drizzle a little extra caramel sauce over the foam.
Tips for the Best Homemade Experience
A few small details can take your drink from good to exceptional. First, always use coarsely ground coffee for cold brew. Finely ground coffee can make the concentrate bitter and cloudy. Second, make sure your heavy cream is very cold before whipping; it will whip up faster and hold its structure better. Finally, don’t be shy with the salt! The balance of sweet and salty is what makes this drink so memorable. Taste your cream foam and add another pinch of salt if needed.
Customizing Your Creation
One of the best parts about making coffee at home is the ability to make it exactly how you like it. If you love vanilla, add an extra splash to the cream. If you have a sweet tooth, stir a bit of caramel sauce directly into the coffee before adding the cream. For a dairy-free version, you can use chilled canned coconut cream in place of the heavy whipping cream. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to create a new signature drink every time.
Creating this coffee shop favorite at home is a simple and rewarding process. By steeping your own cold brew and whipping up a quick salted caramel cream, you can enjoy a sophisticated and refreshing coffee drink any day of the week. You have the power to adjust every element to suit your mood, all while enjoying the comfort of your own home. So, gather your ingredients and give it a try—your new go-to coffee ritual is waiting.