Cold Brew Coffee Guide
Smooth, sweet, and incredibly refreshing. The easiest way to make delicious coffee concentrate at home.
What is Cold Brew?
Cold brew is coffee brewed with cold or room temperature water over an extended period (12-24 hours). Unlike iced coffee, which is hot-brewed and then cooled, cold brew never touches heat.
The result is a smooth, naturally sweet concentrate with about 67% less acidity than hot-brewed coffee. This makes it gentle on sensitive stomachs and incredibly refreshing when served over ice.
Cold brew concentrate can be diluted with water or milk, used in cocktails, or even added to baking recipes.
Quick Reference
Grind Size: Coarse
Ratio: 1:8 for concentrate
Water Temp: Cold or room temp
Steep Time: 12-24 hours
Best Roasts: Medium Med-Dark Dark
Step-by-Step Guide
Simple cold brew you can make in any container
1. Grind Your Coffee
Grind 100g of coffee coarsely (like raw sugar or coarse sea salt). Too fine will over-extract and become bitter.
2. Combine with Water
Add grounds to a container (mason jar, pitcher, or cold brew maker). Pour 800g (about 3.5 cups) of cold or room temperature water over the grounds.
3. Stir Gently
Give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure all grounds are saturated. Cover the container.
4. Steep
Place in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Longer steep = stronger, more extracted coffee. Start with 16-18 hours.
5. Filter
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a paper filter or cheesecloth. This removes grounds and sediment.
6. Dilute & Serve
The concentrate is strong! Dilute 1:1 with water or milk. Serve over ice. Store concentrate in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Roast Recommendations
Cold brew works with any roast but excels with medium to dark
Medium Roast
Smooth and balanced with natural sweetness. Chocolate and caramel notes shine through without bitterness.
Learn MoreMedium-Dark
Rich and bold without the harsh bitterness of hot-brewed dark roast. Great body and complexity.
Learn MoreDark Roast
The cold extraction mellows bitterness beautifully. Smoky, chocolatey, and surprisingly smooth.
Learn MoreRecommended Equipment
Dedicated cold brew makers simplify the process
Toddy Cold Brew System
The original cold brew maker. Large capacity with felt filter for super smooth concentrate.
View on AmazonTakeya Cold Brew Maker
Compact, affordable, and easy to use. Built-in fine mesh filter for convenient brewing.
View on AmazonOXO Good Grips Cold Brew
Rainmaker top for even saturation and convenient perforated stopper for draining.
View on AmazonHario Mizudashi
Japanese cold brew pitcher with fine mesh strainer. Elegant design for refrigerator storage.
View on AmazonCold Brew Tips
Adjust Strength to Taste
The 1:8 ratio makes a concentrate. For ready-to-drink, try 1:15. Experiment to find your preference.
Use Filtered Water
Since you're not boiling, water quality matters even more. Filtered water produces cleaner, better-tasting cold brew.
Try Room Temperature
Steeping at room temperature extracts slightly faster and differently than refrigerated. Some prefer the flavor - try both!
Make it Nitro
For a creamy, stout-like texture, infuse cold brew with nitrogen using a whipping dispenser.