Mom's Best Recipes
Recipe

Savory Cold Brew Coffee

A creamy, lightly salted cold brew with vanilla and a whisper of olive oil for café-level smoothness at home.

Author By Matt Campbell
4.8
A glass of creamy cold brew coffee with a silky foam cap on a kitchen counter, with a small bowl of flaky salt and a bottle of olive oil in the background
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Cold brew already has that mellow, chocolatey thing going on, so it is basically begging to be treated like food, not dessert. This savory cold brew is the kind of drink that makes you pause mid sip because it tastes rounder, smoother, and weirdly more coffee-forward, even though we add cream.

The secret is not a bunch of syrups. It is salt (tiny amount), vanilla (also tiny), and a micro splash of good olive oil blended in so it turns plush instead of greasy. Think of it like seasoning a sauce. You are not trying to taste salt. You are trying to make the coffee taste more like itself.

A hand pouring cold brew concentrate into a glass over ice in a bright home kitchen

Why It Works

  • Silky texture without fuss: A quick blend emulsifies a few drops of olive oil into the drink, giving you that velvety café mouthfeel.
  • Less bitterness, more flavor: A pinch of salt softens harsh edges and boosts the natural cocoa and caramel notes in cold brew.
  • Customizable strength: Works with concentrate or ready-to-drink cold brew, so you can dial in bold or mellow.
  • Savory, not salty: The goal is balanced and smooth, not “broth coffee.”

Pairs Well With

  • A toasted everything bagel with cream cheese on a plate next to sliced tomatoes

    Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese and Tomato

  • A golden breakfast sandwich with egg and cheddar on an English muffin

    Egg and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich

  • A bowl of creamy oatmeal topped with almonds and a drizzle of honey

    Creamy Oatmeal with Toasted Nuts

  • A slice of toasted sourdough topped with avocado, lemon, and flaky salt

    Avocado Toast with Lemon and Flaky Salt

Storage Tips

This drink is best fresh, but you can absolutely set yourself up for low drama mornings.

If you already mixed the drink

  • Fridge: Store in a sealed jar for up to 24 hours. The foam will settle and the emulsion can loosen.
  • Fix: Shake hard for 10 seconds, or re-blend for 5 seconds to bring back the silky texture.

Make-ahead components (recommended)

  • Cold brew concentrate: Keep refrigerated and use within 7 to 10 days.
  • Salted vanilla “base”: Stir the salt and vanilla into 2 tablespoons of water, keep in a small jar for 1 week, and add by the teaspoon to taste.

Common Questions

Will the coffee taste salty?

Not if you keep it small. Start with 1 tiny pinch (or 1/16 teaspoon) and taste. You should notice smoother flavor, not salt.

Why olive oil in coffee?

A few drops emulsified into cold brew add body and a silky finish, similar to how fat rounds out a sauce. Use a mild extra virgin olive oil. If yours is peppery or super grassy, use less.

Do I need a blender?

A small blender or milk frother makes it easiest, but a jar with a tight lid works too. Shake like you mean it for 15 to 20 seconds.

Can I make it dairy-free?

Yes. Oat milk is the most “creamy café” option. Coconut milk works too, but it will taste more coconut-forward.

Can I use hot coffee and chill it?

You can, but the flavor will be sharper and more bitter. Cold brew is naturally smoother because of how it is extracted.

What if I only have ready-to-drink cold brew, not concentrate?

Totally fine. Skip the water in the recipe and treat the ready-to-drink cold brew as your base. If it tastes weak once you add milk, reduce the milk a bit.

I started making savory cold brew after one too many sweet iced coffees that tasted like melted candy by noon. I wanted something that still felt like a treat, but more like the kind of treat you would pair with breakfast, not chase with a toothbrush. The first time I added a pinch of salt, it clicked instantly. The coffee tasted smoother and somehow more expensive. The olive oil part came later, during a late night “I wonder if…” moment, and yeah, it sounds chaotic. But blended in, it turns the whole drink plush and creamy in a way that makes you want to cook breakfast just to have an excuse to drink it.