There’s iced coffee, and then there’s cold brew — smoother, less bitter, and dangerously easy to sip on a warm afternoon. This infused cold brew coffee takes that mellow, chocolatey base and adds a gentle, precisely dosed lift using a cannabis tincture, so it stirs in clean with no oily slick on top. It’s a lazy-weekend project: five minutes of prep tonight, and tomorrow you’re pouring café-quality infused cold brew over ice.
Key takeaways
- Cold brew’s low acidity makes it the smoothest coffee base for infusion.
- A water-friendly cannabis tincture mixes in evenly — no separated oil layer.
- Dose per glass (about 2.5–5 mg THC), not per pitcher, for easy control.
- Caffeine can mask the first signs of THC — start low and wait before refilling.
- Steep 12–18 hours in the fridge; concentrate keeps up to a week.
Ingredients
Makes about 4 servings (8 oz each, diluted)
- 1 cup coarsely ground coffee (a medium or dark roast works beautifully)
- 4 cups cold, filtered water
- Cannabis tincture, 10–20 mg THC total (water-soluble tinctures blend best; an MCT-oil tincture works if you stir well)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or vanilla simple syrup (optional)
- Milk, oat milk, or sweet cream cold foam, to taste
- Plenty of ice
Instructions
- Steep the cold brew. Combine the ground coffee and cold water in a large jar or French press. Stir so every ground is wet, cover, and refrigerate for 12–18 hours.
- Strain. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth (or press, if using a French press). You’ll have a smooth cold brew concentrate.
- Dilute. For each serving, mix equal parts concentrate and cold water (or milk) over ice — about 4 oz of each.
- Dose each glass. Add 2.5–5 mg THC worth of tincture to each individual glass and stir well for 10–15 seconds. Dosing per glass (rather than the whole pitcher) keeps every pour predictable.
- Finish. Sweeten to taste, top with milk or cold foam, and give it one last stir. Sip slowly — it’s a treat, not a chug.
Dosing & safety notes
Start low and go slow: 2.5–5 mg THC per serving is a sensible starting point, and edibles and drinks can take 30–90 minutes to kick in — don’t pour a second infused glass because you “don’t feel it yet.” Caffeine can mask the early signs of THC, so wait it out. Label anything infused clearly, store it in the fridge away from kids and pets, and keep un-infused cold brew in a separate, clearly marked jar. Don’t drive after enjoying one, and always follow your local cannabis laws. Nothing here is medical advice — it’s just a good glass of coffee.
FAQ
Why use a tincture instead of cannabutter or canna-oil in cold brew?
Fat-based infusions like cannabutter don’t blend into a cold drink — they solidify and float. A tincture (especially a water-soluble one) stirs in evenly so each sip carries the same gentle dose.
How much THC should I put in infused cold brew?
Dose each glass individually with 2.5–5 mg THC to start. Per-glass dosing is more predictable than infusing a whole pitcher, and you can always have a second (un-infused) glass.
How long does cold brew concentrate keep?
Un-infused concentrate keeps about a week refrigerated in a sealed jar. Since you dose per glass, the concentrate itself stays un-infused and flexible.
Does caffeine change how the THC feels?
Everyone’s different, but caffeine’s alertness can mask the first signs of THC, making it tempting to re-dose too soon. Keep doses low, wait 30–90 minutes, and see how the combination sits with you.
One more perk: every dispensary run you make for tinctures and flower can earn you points toward Amazon, Starbucks, and other gift cards. Download the HighRewards app and get rewarded for shopping you’re already doing. ☕
