Citrus works differently without milk

This recipe is intentionally a black coffee drink. Orange juice brings acidity, which can make ordinary milk separate; leaving dairy out keeps the flavour clear and avoids that problem. The small quantity of juice is enough to introduce citrus without turning the whole glass into orange juice with a coffee aftertaste.

Use prepared cold brew, whether homemade or bought, and check whether it is sold as concentrate or ready-to-drink coffee. The proportions here assume a concentrate that needs dilution. If your bottle is already intended for drinking, use 150 ml of it and omit the 50 ml water to begin with.

Peel supplies the aroma

A thin strip of peel adds a different orange note from the juice. The coloured outer layer contains aromatic oils; the thick white pith underneath can make the drink bitter. A vegetable peeler is useful for taking a narrow strip without a large amount of pith, but work carefully and wash the orange first.

Choose a ripe orange that tastes pleasant on its own. A dry or sharply sour fruit will not be improved simply by adding coffee. Straining removes loose pulp, which otherwise settles among the ice and can feel odd in a coffee drink.

Taste before adding sugar. Some oranges are naturally sweet enough for this combination, while a bitter coffee may need a teaspoon of simple syrup. Keep that adjustment small: the appeal is the contrast between chilled coffee and fresh citrus, not a dessert-like finish.

What you'll need

  • 100 ml prepared chilled cold-brew coffee concentrate
  • 50 ml cold drinking water
  • 40 ml freshly squeezed orange juice, strained
  • 1 thin strip washed orange peel, without much white pith
  • 100 g ice cubes

Let's make it

  1. Fill a glass with the ice and pour in the cold water and strained orange juice.
  2. Add the cold-brew concentrate and stir. Taste a small sip; add another tablespoon of water if your concentrate is stronger than expected.
  3. Hold the strip of orange peel over the glass and bend it gently to release its aromatic oils. Place it in the drink and serve immediately, removing it if the flavour becomes too bitter.

Make it your own

A small strip of mandarin peel can replace the orange peel, but remove any seeds from freshly squeezed juice.

Do not add dairy milk to this citrus recipe; choose a different coffee recipe if you want a creamy drink.

Keeping it fresh

Mix only the amount you will drink now. Keep prepared cold brew covered in the fridge and follow its recipe or package storage directions. Refrigerate leftover fresh juice promptly in a clean covered container and use within 24 hours.

Allergen notes

No milk or nut ingredients are required. Check packaged coffee or syrup for added ingredients if using flavoured products.