🍓 Iced Coffee
Strawberry Cold Brew Recipe (3 Ingredients, 2 Minutes)
Cold brew, strawberry syrup, and a splash of lemonade over ice. This strawberry cold brew recipe is the summer drink that requires exactly zero barista training and about two minutes of your morning. Store-bought syrup is completely acceptable. We said what we said.
The Summer Drink You've Been Putting Off Making
- Three ingredients — cold brew, strawberry syrup, lemonade. That's genuinely it.
- The lemonade brightens the whole drink without overpowering the coffee — it's the detail that makes it taste like something you ordered rather than something you threw together
- Store-bought strawberry syrup works perfectly well. Homemade works too. This is not a situation that requires a decision.
- The layering happens naturally — strawberry and lemonade sink, cold brew floats — no technique required
The Java Momma Twist: Stand Tall Cold Brew Pods steeped overnight give you a smooth, low-acid cold brew base that doesn't fight the strawberry — it actually lets it shine. Drop a pod in water the night before and the hard part is done before you wake up.
What You'll Need
For the Cold Brew Base:
- 1 Stand Tall Cold Brew Pod, steeped in 8–12 oz cold water for 12–24 hours
To Build the Drink:
- 2–3 Tbsp strawberry syrup — store-bought or homemade (see notes)
- 2–3 oz lemonade — store-bought or fresh squeezed, either works
- 8 oz cold brew
- Ice — lots of it
How To Make It
- Steep the cold brew. Drop a Stand Tall Cold Brew Pod into 8–12 oz of cold water. Refrigerate for 12–24 hours. Remove the pod and you're ready to go — or do this the night before so the cold brew is waiting for you in the morning.
- Build the base. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the strawberry syrup and lemonade directly over the ice.
- Pour the cold brew. Pour the cold brew slowly over the back of a spoon or directly over the ice — it will float naturally over the strawberry and lemonade, creating the layered effect you can see through the glass.
- Stir and drink. Give it a gentle stir to combine or drink it layered — both are correct. Add a glass straw and take a photo because this drink earns it.
On the strawberry syrup:
Store-bought strawberry syrup from the coffee aisle or grocery store works perfectly here — Torani, Monin, Jordan's Skinny Syrups or any flavored syrup brand is fine. If you want to make your own, simmer equal parts sugar and water with fresh or frozen strawberries until reduced, strain, and cool. Keeps in the fridge for a week. But honestly — store-bought is fine.
Swaps & Permission Slips
- No cold brew pods? Strong brewed coffee chilled overnight works as a substitute — just brew at double strength so it holds up over ice.
- Want it sweeter? Add more strawberry syrup — the lemonade brings tartness so the ratio is adjustable based on your preference.
- Want it lighter? Swap the lemonade for sparkling water for a strawberry cold brew spritz — less sweet, still excellent.
- Want a cream top? Add a splash of heavy cream or oat milk poured over last — it floats over the cold brew and looks like something from a coffee shop.
- Low carb version? Use a sugar-free strawberry syrup and skip the lemonade or use a low-sugar lemonade — the cold brew itself is zero carb.
This strawberry cold brew recipe is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you have your life together even when you definitely don't. Three ingredients, two minutes, one genuinely good glass of cold coffee. Make it once and you'll be making it every week until the weather turns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is strawberry cold brew coffee?
Strawberry cold brew is an iced coffee drink made with cold brew coffee, strawberry syrup, and often a citrus element like lemonade. The strawberry syrup adds sweetness and fruit flavor while the lemonade adds brightness that balances the bitterness of the coffee. It's a popular summer coffee drink that's easy to make at home with store-bought or homemade strawberry syrup.
Can I use store-bought strawberry syrup for cold brew?
Yes — store-bought coffee syrup works perfectly for strawberry cold brew. Brands like Torani and Monin make strawberry syrups designed for coffee drinks that dissolve cleanly in cold liquid without graininess. Homemade strawberry syrup gives you more control over sweetness and uses fresh or frozen fruit, but store-bought is a completely valid choice for a weekday morning drink.
How do you make cold brew at home with pods?
Drop one cold brew pod into 8–12 oz of cold water in a jar or pitcher. Refrigerate for 12–24 hours — longer steeping produces a stronger concentrate. Remove the pod and your cold brew is ready. No special equipment, no mess, no straining required. Java Momma's Stand Tall Cold Brew Pods are designed specifically for this method and produce a smooth, low-acid cold brew.
Why add lemonade to cold brew coffee?
The lemonade adds a tartness and brightness that lifts the whole drink — it stops it from tasting like just sweetened cold coffee and adds a summery quality that makes it feel like something you ordered at a coffee shop. The acidity in the lemonade also complements the fruit notes in the strawberry syrup. Start with a small splash and adjust to taste — a little goes a long way.
