Tim Hortons Double Double Coffee Copycat Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Calibrated to the classic “double double” ratio: two creams and two sugars per cup.
• Strong, smooth medium-roast brew that stays bold after cream.
• Exact weights and volumes for repeatable, coffee-shop consistency at home.
• Works with pour-over, drip machine, or French press.

Grocery List

• Produce: None
• Dairy: 18% table cream (or heavy cream + whole milk; see Variations)
• Pantry: Whole coffee beans (medium roast), granulated sugar, filtered water

Full Ingredients

Coffee Base

• 20 g medium-roast coffee beans (or 3 level Tbsp pre-ground)
• 300 g (300 mL / 10 fl oz) hot water at 200°F (93°C)

Cream and Sweetener

• 30 mL (2 Tbsp) 18% table cream
• 8 g (2 tsp) granulated sugar

Optional Adjustments

• Small pinch of fine salt to round bitterness (optional)
• Simple syrup (1:1 sugar:water) if you prefer faster dissolving in iced versions

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Heat the water

Bring filtered water just to a boil, then let it stand 30 seconds to reach about 200°F (93°C). This temperature range (195–205°F / 90–96°C) extracts balanced flavor without harsh bitterness.

Step 2: Weigh and grind the coffee

Measure 20 g coffee. Grind medium for drip or pour-over (about table salt), or coarse for French press. Freshly grinding with a burr grinder will noticeably improve sweetness and clarity.

Step 3: Prep your brewer and mug

If using a paper filter, place it in the dripper and rinse thoroughly with hot water to remove papery taste and preheat equipment. Discard the rinse water. Warm your mug with hot water so the finished coffee stays hot and the sugar dissolves easily.

Step 4: Brew a strong, smooth cup

Pour-over: Add grounds to the rinsed filter. Pour 40 g hot water to bloom, wait 30–45 seconds. Continue pouring in slow circles to reach 300 g total water by 2:30–3:00 minutes. Total brew time should finish around 3:00–3:30.

Auto-drip: Use 20 g grounds and 300 mL water if your machine allows precise dosing; otherwise brew slightly stronger than usual and measure 10 fl oz into your mug.

French press: Add grounds and 300 g water. Stir gently, cover, and steep 4 minutes. Press slowly and pour immediately.

Step 5: Sweeten the mug

Put 8 g (2 tsp) granulated sugar into your preheated mug. Pour in the hot coffee (about 10 fl oz / 300 mL) and stir well until the sugar dissolves completely. This mimics the shop method where sugar is fully integrated before adding cream.

Step 6: Finish with two creams

Add 30 mL (2 Tbsp) 18% table cream and stir. The ideal color is a warm caramel-beige and the taste should be sweet, creamy, and balanced while still clearly coffee-forward. If desired, a tiny pinch of fine salt can subtly round bitterness. Serve immediately.

Pro Tips

• Use a coffee-to-water ratio near 1:15 (20 g coffee to 300 g water) so the flavor remains bold after adding cream.
• Rinse paper filters to improve clarity and temperature stability.
• “Two creams” equals about 30 mL total; “two sugars” equals about 8 g granulated sugar.
• No 18% cream available? Mix 1 Tbsp heavy cream (36%) + 1 Tbsp whole milk (3.25%) to approximate table cream.
• Preheat the mug to help sugar dissolve and keep the final drink hot.

Variations

• Iced Double Double (Shaken): Brew 20 g coffee with 200 g hot water directly over 100 g ice (or brew 300 g hot, then chill). Add 2 tsp simple syrup and 2 Tbsp 18% cream, then shake with ice for 10–15 seconds. Strain over fresh ice.
• Big-Batch for a Thermos: For 1 L coffee, use 67 g medium-roast and 1,000 g water. Per 300 mL serving, add 30 mL cream and 2 tsp sugar. For the whole liter (about 3⅓ servings), that is roughly 100 mL cream and 6–7 tsp (32 g) sugar.
• Decaf or Half-Caf: Swap in decaf or blend half regular, half decaf beans to keep the signature flavor with less caffeine.

Storage & Make-Ahead

Best served immediately after brewing. Keep plain brewed coffee in a preheated thermal carafe up to 2 hours for best flavor. Do not store coffee with cream added, as texture and flavor degrade. For easy morning assembly, keep a bottle of 1:1 simple syrup in the fridge (lasts 1 month) and pre-portion cream in small jars for quick “two creams” adds.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate for one 12 fl oz mug prepared as written: 90–100 kcal; Fat 6 g (Sat 4 g); Carbohydrates 8 g; Sugars 8 g; Protein 1 g; Sodium 20 mg. Values will vary with brand of cream and exact brew strength.