Cold brew coffee is a smooth, low-acid coffee brewing method that involves steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours. The result is a concentrated coffee that's naturally sweet, smooth, and perfect for iced coffee drinks.
This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about making perfect cold brew coffee at home, from choosing the right equipment to mastering the steeping process and serving techniques.
Cold brew coffee is a brewing method that uses time instead of heat to extract flavors from coffee beans. Unlike traditional hot brewing methods or iced coffee (which is hot coffee poured over ice), cold brew is never heated. Instead, coarse coffee grounds are steeped in cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours.
The result is a smooth, naturally sweet coffee concentrate with low acidity that's perfect for iced coffee drinks, cocktails, and even hot coffee (when heated). Cold brew has become increasingly popular because of its unique flavor profile and convenience.
Many people confuse cold brew with iced coffee, but they're quite different:
Cold brew is smoother, less acidic, and naturally sweeter than iced coffee. It also has a longer shelf life and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Cold brew coffee offers several advantages over traditional hot brewing methods:
You can make cold brew with basic kitchen equipment, but specialized tools make the process easier and produce better results:
Perfect cold brew maker with built-in filter. Easy to use and clean, makes 1 liter of cold brew concentrate.
$25-35
View on Amazon →Classic cold brew maker with reusable filter. Makes 1.5 liters of concentrate, perfect for large batches.
$35-45
View on Amazon →Premium cold brew maker with rainmaker top for even saturation. Makes 1.5 liters of concentrate.
$50-60
View on Amazon →You can use a French press for cold brew! Just add coffee and water, steep, then press. Check out our French Press Guide for details.
$20-40
View on Amazon →Simple and affordable. Use a large mason jar and a fine mesh filter or cheesecloth. Perfect for beginners.
$5-15
View on Amazon →You need coarse ground coffee for cold brew. A quality grinder like the Baratza Encore ensures consistent grind size.
$89-169
View on Amazon →Grind your coffee beans to a coarse consistency - similar to sea salt or breadcrumbs. Too fine and you'll get sediment; too coarse and extraction will be weak. Use a quality burr grinder for best results.
Recommended: 100-150g of coffee beans for a standard batch
Add your coarse ground coffee to your cold brew maker or container. The standard ratio is 1:8 (1 part coffee to 8 parts water) for a concentrate. For example:
Use room temperature or cold filtered water. Pour water over the coffee grounds and stir gently to ensure all grounds are saturated.
Cover your container and let it steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Most recipes recommend 16-18 hours for optimal flavor.
You can stir once or twice during steeping, but it's not necessary. Use our free coffee timer to track your steeping time!
After steeping, strain the coffee through a fine mesh filter, cheesecloth, or coffee filter. If using a cold brew maker, follow the manufacturer's instructions. For mason jar method, strain through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter.
Tip: Strain twice for cleaner coffee with less sediment.
Transfer your cold brew concentrate to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. It will keep for 1-2 weeks.
To serve, dilute the concentrate with water, milk, or your preferred liquid. The typical dilution is:
Serve over ice, or heat it up for hot coffee. Add sweeteners, cream, or flavorings to taste.
The ratio you use depends on whether you want a concentrate or ready-to-drink strength:
For most people, the 1:8 ratio works best. It creates a concentrate that you can dilute to your preferred strength when serving.
While you can use any coffee beans for cold brew, some work better than others:
Experiment with different beans to find what you like. Cold brew tends to highlight different flavor notes than hot brewing methods. For more on coffee types, check out our Light Roast Coffee Guide.
The steeping time significantly affects the flavor of your cold brew:
Room Temperature vs Refrigerator: Steeping at room temperature extracts faster (12-16 hours), while refrigerator steeping takes longer (18-24 hours) but produces smoother results.
Cold brew concentrate is versatile and can be served in many ways:
The most common way to serve cold brew. Dilute concentrate with water or milk (1:1 or 1:2 ratio), add ice, and enjoy. You can add sweeteners, cream, or flavorings.
Yes, you can heat cold brew! Heat your diluted cold brew in a microwave or on the stove. It will taste smoother and less acidic than regular hot coffee.
Cold brew makes excellent cocktails. Try it with whiskey, rum, or vodka. The smooth, low-acid profile pairs well with spirits.
Mix cold brew concentrate with milk or milk alternatives for a smooth, creamy latte. Add vanilla, caramel, or other flavorings.
Proper storage is essential for maintaining flavor and freshness:
Solution: Use more coffee (try 1:6 ratio), grind finer (but still coarse), or steep longer (up to 24 hours).
Solution: Use less coffee (try 1:10 ratio), steep for less time (12-14 hours), or dilute more when serving.
Solution: Grind coarser, use a finer filter, or strain twice through a coffee filter.
Solution: Steep longer (18-24 hours), use more coffee, or try a darker roast.
A: Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold or room temperature water for 12-24 hours. Unlike iced coffee (which is hot coffee poured over ice), cold brew is never heated, resulting in a smooth, low-acid coffee concentrate.
A: Cold brew coffee typically takes 12-24 hours to steep. Most recipes recommend 16-18 hours for optimal flavor. The longer it steeps, the stronger and more concentrated it becomes.
A: The standard cold brew ratio is 1:8 (1 part coffee to 8 parts water) for a concentrate, or 1:4 for ready-to-drink strength. For example, 100g of coffee to 800g of water makes a concentrate that you can dilute.
A: Cold brew concentrate typically has more caffeine per ounce than regular coffee because it's a concentrate. However, when diluted to drinking strength, the caffeine content is similar to regular coffee. The longer steeping time extracts more caffeine from the beans.
A: Cold brew concentrate can last 1-2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. For best flavor, use within 7-10 days. Always store it in the fridge to prevent spoilage.
A: Yes! You can make cold brew with a mason jar and a fine mesh filter or cheesecloth. A French press also works well for cold brew. Check out our French Press Guide for instructions.
A: Use a coarse grind, similar to sea salt or breadcrumbs. Too fine and you'll get sediment; too coarse and extraction will be weak. A quality burr grinder ensures consistent grind size.
A: Yes! You can heat cold brew concentrate. Heat your diluted cold brew in a microwave or on the stove. It will taste smoother and less acidic than regular hot coffee.
Continue your coffee journey with these related guides:
Cold brew coffee is a smooth, low-acid alternative to traditional hot coffee that's perfect for iced drinks, hot coffee, and cocktails. With its simple preparation and long shelf life, cold brew is an excellent addition to any coffee enthusiast's repertoire.
The key to great cold brew is using the right ratio (1:8 is standard), coarse ground coffee, and steeping for 16-18 hours. Experiment with different coffee beans, steeping times, and serving methods to find what works best for your taste preferences.
Use our free coffee timer to track your cold brew steeping time, and don't be afraid to experiment with different ratios and techniques to create your perfect cold brew.
Use Our Free Coffee Timer for Perfect Cold Brew →Affiliate Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links to Amazon. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. This helps support our free coffee brewing timer and guides.