by Max Bredow

Salted Caramel Cold Brew

Updated July 7, 2026

5.0 from 1 rating

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DrinksPrep 5 minMakes 1 drink (16 oz)

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Salted Caramel Cold Brew

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Iced salted caramel cold brew with a cream swirl and a Saltivate stick packet among coffee beans

Salted caramel cold brew is the rare coffee shop drink that comes out better at home: smooth cold brew, real caramel sauce, a splash of milk, and a deliberate dose of salt. The salt is the whole point, since sodium tames coffee's bitterness and sharpens caramel's toasted-sugar notes. One stick of Saltivate Raw Unflavored does the salting, adding 800mg of sodium, 240mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium to a 16 oz glass while it makes the caramel taste more like caramel.

Ingredients

Makes 1 drink (about 16 oz).

  • 1 stick pack Saltivate Raw Unflavored
  • 12 oz (350 ml) cold brew coffee, chilled
  • 2 tbsp caramel sauce, plus a little extra for the glass
  • 2 oz (60 ml) half and half or milk of choice
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Pour 2 oz (60 ml) of the cold brew into a small glass or jar. Add the caramel sauce and the Saltivate Raw Unflavored stick, then stir for 20 to 30 seconds until both are fully dissolved.
  2. Drizzle a thin ribbon of caramel around the inside of a 16 oz glass, then fill it with ice.
  3. Pour in the remaining 10 oz (300 ml) of cold brew, add the caramel mixture, and stir to combine.
  4. Float the half and half on top and give it one slow stir before drinking.

Serving suggestions and variations

  • Use plain caramel sauce, not salted caramel. The Saltivate stick is the salt in this recipe, and doubling up will tip the drink past pleasantly salty.
  • Brew a batch of cold brew ahead of time. It keeps about a week in the fridge, so the drink takes three minutes on busy mornings.
  • Dairy-free works fine: oat milk is the closest swap for the creamy top layer.

Per serving: about 130 kcal (estimate).

Ratings and reviews

5.0 from 1 rating

★★★★★

Max ·

Rated 5 out of 5.

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