How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brew extracts coffee slowly with cold water, producing a smooth, naturally sweet concentrate with up to 67% less acidity than hot-brewed coffee. No special equipment required -- just patience.
Why Cold Brew?
Heat is what draws out the sharp, bitter acids in coffee. By removing heat from the equation entirely, cold brew produces a concentrate that is naturally smooth, sweet, and easy on the stomach. The long steep time extracts sugars and chocolate notes while leaving behind the harsh compounds that make hot coffee acidic. It is also incredibly convenient -- make a batch on Sunday and you have coffee for the whole week.
Concentrate Ratio
1:8
Grind
Very Coarse
Water Temp
Cold
Steep Time
12-24 hrs
What You Need
Cold brew is the most low-tech brewing method. A jar, some coffee, water, and something to strain with -- that is the whole setup.
Large Jar or Pitcher
Mason jar, French press, or a dedicated cold brew maker with built-in filter
Burr Grinder
Set to the coarsest setting -- coarser than French press
Fine Mesh Strainer
A fine sieve, cheesecloth, or nut milk bag for filtering the grounds
Digital Scale
Weigh your coffee and water for a consistent concentrate every batch
Storage Container
Glass jar or pitcher with a lid for storing concentrate in the fridge
Filtered Water
Cold or room-temperature filtered water -- no boiling needed
Step by Step
Six steps to smooth, concentrated cold brew you can enjoy all week.
- 1
Grind Very Coarse
Weigh 100g of coffee for a concentrate batch. Grind to the coarsest setting your grinder allows -- the particles should look like raw sugar or coarse cornmeal. Too fine a grind will make the cold brew cloudy, gritty, and overly bitter.
- 2
Combine Coffee and Water
Add the grounds to your jar or pitcher. Pour in 800g (800ml) of cold or room-temperature filtered water for a 1:8 concentrate ratio. If you prefer ready-to-drink strength, use 1500g of water for a 1:15 ratio. Stir gently to make sure all the grounds are fully saturated.
- 3
Cover and Refrigerate
Cover the container with a lid or plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator and let it steep for 12 to 24 hours. Shorter steep times (12-16 hours) produce a lighter, brighter brew. Longer times (18-24 hours) pull more body and sweetness. Steeping beyond 24 hours risks over-extraction and bitterness.
- 4
Strain the Grounds
After steeping, pour the brew through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a paper filter into a clean container. Strain slowly and do not press or squeeze the grounds -- this pushes fine sediment through and muddies the finished product. Discard the spent grounds.
- 5
Dilute to Taste
If you brewed at a 1:8 concentrate ratio, dilute with equal parts water, milk, or your preferred liquid before drinking. Start with a 1:1 dilution and adjust from there. Concentrate is meant to be cut -- drinking it straight will be intensely strong.
- 6
Serve Over Ice
Fill a glass with ice and pour your diluted cold brew over the top. Cold brew is best served cold, but it also works heated in a microwave or on the stove if you want a smooth, low-acid hot cup.
Variations to Try
Cold brew concentrate is a blank canvas. Here are four ways to use it.
Cold Brew Latte
Pour cold brew concentrate over ice, then top with cold milk or oat milk. The concentrate-to-milk ratio is typically 1:2. Add simple syrup or vanilla if you like it sweet.
Cold Brew Tonic
Fill a glass with ice and tonic water, then slowly pour cold brew concentrate on top. The quinine in the tonic adds a dry, slightly bitter edge that pairs surprisingly well with coffee.
Flavored Cold Brew
Add vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks, or cocoa nibs to the grounds before steeping. The long extraction time infuses the flavor naturally without the need for artificial syrups.
Cold Brew Smoothie
Blend cold brew concentrate with a frozen banana, a spoonful of peanut butter, and milk for a caffeinated breakfast smoothie with natural sweetness.
Pro Tips
Get the most out of every batch with these pointers.
Do Not Rush the Steep
Cold water extracts slowly. Under 12 hours and you will get a thin, sour brew. Give it the full time.
Keep It Cold
Steeping at room temperature speeds extraction but increases the risk of bitterness and bacterial growth. Refrigerator steeping is safer and more forgiving.
Store Properly
Strained cold brew concentrate keeps in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. After that, flavor degrades noticeably. Make only as much as you will drink in a week.
Use Good Ice
Tap water ice can add off flavors. Use filtered water ice or large cubes that melt slowly and dilute less.
Do Not Over-Extract
More than 24 hours of steeping does not mean more flavor. It means more bitterness and astringency. Set a reminder and strain on time.
Best Beans for Cold Brew
Cold brew smooths out acidity, so choose medium roast beans with naturally sweet, chocolatey, or caramel-forward profiles. These origins shine when steeped low and slow.
Brazil Cerrado
Smooth, low acidity, and loaded with caramel and milk chocolate notes. Brazil is the go-to cold brew bean for good reason -- it is sweet, clean, and endlessly drinkable.
Colombia Huila
Nutty, sweet, with a subtle brown sugar finish. Colombia brings a balanced complexity to cold brew that keeps the cup interesting without overpowering the smoothness.
Cold brew goes through a lot of beans. Buy a bag roasted for body and sweetness -- we ship with a roast date so you steep at peak freshness.
Shop Medium RoastsReady to Brew?
Grab a bag of fresh-roasted beans and start your first batch tonight. You will have smooth cold brew waiting by morning.