How to Make Cold Brew Coffee Like a Pro

Cold brew is a refreshing coffee option that’s quick and convenient to make at home. You need minimal equipment, and it lasts a week in your refrigerator, making it a great make-ahead option.

Keep reading to learn all about cold brew and to find a recipe for the best homemade cold brew.

What Makes Cold Brew Coffee Different from Regular Coffee

Cold brew is different from regular coffee because it’s brewed in cold or room-temperature water for hours, whereas regular coffee is brewed using hot water and is only steeped for a few minutes. It’s also different from traditional iced coffee, which is brewed hot and served over ice.

Cold brew extraction is slower and gentler because it uses cold water. This results in lower perceived acidity, less bitterness, and a smoother, naturally sweet flavor. It can lead to more concentrated coffee than other extraction methods, but this will depend on the type of cold brew you make.

Cold brew brings out the natural sweetness of coffee, so the roast level and tasting notes will influence the final flavor. Always opt for specialty-grade, organic coffee that gives you the cleanest cup and the best flavor.

Choosing the Right Cold Brew Coffee Grounds

To make cold brew, you can use any roast level, but the most important thing is to ensure your coffee is coarsely ground.

Cold brew coffee grounds that are too fine will extract too fast, leaving you with a bitter-tasting coffee that is harder to strain. You can purchase whole bean coffee and grind it yourself, or look for a coarse-ground option.

Although you can use any roast level, keep in mind that the roast can affect the final taste. Using a medium or dark roast will often result in chocolatey, rich flavors, while a light roast will give you a brighter, fruitier result. There is no right or wrong option; it all depends on your preference.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home Step by Step

Cold brew is easy to make at home and requires equipment you likely already have in your kitchen. Follow this recipe to learn how to make cold brew coffee at home:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of coarsely to extra-coarsely ground coffee

• 8 cups of cold filtered water

Instructions:

1. Add the ground coffee to a large jar or pitcher.

2. Pour the cold water over the grounds and stir gently to combine.

3. Cover and let it steep for 12-16 hours in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

4. Strain well through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the grounds.

5. Store in your refrigerator for 7-10 days.

This recipe makes cold brew that is more diluted and ready to drink on its own. You can make stronger variations by increasing the amount of coffee in the recipe and by experimenting with longer steeping times.

The Ideal Coffee-to-Water Ratio for a Cold Brew Coffee Recipe

The ideal coffee-to-water ratio for cold brew will depend on how strong you like your coffee and whether you’re making a cold brew concentrate or brewing ready-to-drink cold brew.

Ready-to-drink cold brew coffee is exactly what it sounds like: cold brew that you can pour from your pitcher into your cup and drink as is. Cold brew concentrate, in contrast, is used as a base for drinks. You can mix it with milk, tonic water, syrups, or other ingredients to create a coffee beverage.

Both options are made using the same ingredients and steps; you just have to adjust your coffee-to-water ratio:

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee for a Stronger or Milder Flavor

When making DIY cold brew coffee at home, three main variables will affect the strength of the flavor:

1. Coffee-to-water ratio

2. Steeping time

3. Dilution

You can adjust these variables to brew a stronger or milder cold brew, depending on your preference.

How to make cold brew coffee stronger:

• Increase the amount of coffee

• Steep your coffee for longer, but don’t oversteep it

• Dilute the finished cold brew less

How to make cold brew coffee milder:

• Decrease the amount of coffee

• Steep the coffee for less time

• Dilute the finished cold brew with more water or milk

The roast level of your coffee can also impact the perceived strength of your cold brew, so experiment with different roasts and flavor notes.

Storing, Serving, and Customizing Cold Brew Coffee

To keep your cold brew fresh and flavorful, store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 7-10 days. An airtight container will keep out odors that can affect its flavor.

When you’re ready to serve your cold brew, you can serve the ready-to-drink version over ice. For the concentrate version, serve over ice and dilute it with water or milk.

You can customize your cold brew’s flavor further by adding ingredients, like:

• Vanilla

• Flavored syrups

• Sweeteners 

• Cinnamon

Experiment with different add-ins to find your preferred flavor combinations.