How to Make an Iced Long Black with Cold Brew
Brew espresso-roast coffee as a strong cold brew for 24 hours. Fill a glass with ice, add 1 oz of clear sugar syrup and 2 oz of plain water, stir, then pour the cold brew on top. Garnish with mint and strawberry.
An iced long black built on a 24-hour cold brew concentrate made from espresso-roast beans. The cold brew pours over ice and a small measure of sugar syrup and water, delivering a bold, refreshing coffee with optional layered variations.
Total time
24 hours (cold brew steep) plus a few minutes to assemble
The 24-hour steep is passive; active assembly takes only a few minutes
What you need
- Cold brew vessel or jar
- Serving glass
- Coffee scoop (for pouring to create layers)
- Stirring spoon
Method
- 24 hours ahead
Prepare a strong cold brew using espresso-roast coffee beans steeped for 24 hours
The creator specifies using espresso-roast beans and a steep time of exactly 24 hours to produce a very strong, concentrated cold brew
Expert tipEspresso-roast beans are used deliberately here to produce a concentrate bold enough to stand up to ice and mixers
Fill your serving glass to the top with ice
Pack ice generously so the cold brew stays chilled and dilution is controlled
Add 1 oz of clear sugar syrup to the glass
The creator opts for a clear (plain) sugar syrup rather than flavoured varieties
Add 2 oz of plain water to the glass
Stir the contents briefly to combine the syrup and water
Pour the cold brew concentrate on top of the ice and water mixture
To achieve a two-tone layered effect, use the back of a coffee scoop to slow and regulate the flow of the cold brew as you pour, letting it settle gently on top
Expert tipUsing the back of a spoon or scoop controls the pour speed and keeps the cold brew visually separated from the lighter liquid beneath
Garnish with a few sprigs of fresh mint and a strawberry, then serve immediately
Watch it done
The source videos we studied to build this method.
▸ Trimmed to the recipe steps (0:58–1:57)
Demonstrates how to make three cold-brew iced long black variations — classic, orange layered, and coconut — with tasting notes from a guest.
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Why this works
Cold brewing from espresso-roast beans for a full 24 hours extracts a deeply concentrated coffee that is inherently lower in bitterness than a hot-extracted equivalent, making it well-suited to long, iced drinks. The small measures of water and sugar syrup extend the liquid volume and add sweetness without diluting the coffee character. Pouring the cold brew over the back of a spoon slows the flow and exploits density differences to produce visible layers in the glass.
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Where beginners go wrong
- 1
Layers collapse immediately on pouring
Use the back of a coffee scoop to slow and regulate the pour. Letting the cold brew flow gently down the side of the scoop rather than dropping straight into the glass preserves the density gradient that creates the layered effect.
- 2
Drink tastes too bitter
Cold brew reduces bitterness compared to hot espresso, but if it is still too sharp, increase the sugar syrup slightly or adjust the strength of your cold brew concentrate.
- 3
Cold brew is too weak
The creator emphasises making the cold brew very strong. Ensure you are using espresso-roast beans and steeping for the full 24 hours before using it as the base for this drink.
- 4
Coconut variation tastes flat or bitter
The creator notes that coconut juice can vary in sweetness and may even carry its own bitterness. Taste your coconut juice before assembling and add coconut syrup or plain sugar syrup if it is not sweet enough.
What you should taste
Strong and refreshing with a smooth, low-bitterness coffee character from the cold brew. The light sweetness of the sugar syrup rounds out the intensity without masking it. A guest taster in the video notes feeling more coffee presence with this preparation compared to the fruit-based variations.
FAQ
What coffee roast should I use for the cold brew base?
The creator uses an espresso-roast coffee, described as very strong, and steeps it for exactly 24 hours. The goal is a deeply concentrated brew that holds up well over ice and alongside any added sweetener or juice.
Are there other flavour variations I can make with the same cold brew?
Yes. The same video demonstrates a layered orange variation called Top of the Morning, using freshly squeezed orange juice at the base and 3 oz of cold brew poured on top, finished with a fresh orange slice. A second variation called Sundowner uses half a cup of coconut juice with coconut meat and 3 oz of cold brew, also poured in layers.
Do I have to add sweetener?
The creator adds 1 oz of sugar syrup to the classic version for personal preference, but notes for the orange variation that those who do not want any sweetener can skip it entirely, depending on how sweet or sour their fruit is.
Method adapted from @rizasri's video.
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