Making cold brew coffee is a simple process that involves steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water for an extended period. The result is a smooth, less acidic coffee concentrate that you can enjoy over ice or diluted with water or milk. If you prefer a stronger or weaker brew, adjust the coffee-to-water ratio to suit your taste. Here’s how to make cold brew coffee at home:
What you will need:
A grinder:
A Scale: *Optional for Cold Brew
Cold brew maker
Takeya Coffee Maker - Great one I use
Hario Cold Brew Maker - Another great option
1-Gallon Cold Brew Maker - Great for if you drink a lot of Cold Brew
Some Zone 2 Coffee:
Lets get into it
- For cold brew, start with a 1:4 Coffee-to-Water ratio. Play around with whatever works for you. 1 cup of ground coffee to every 4 cups of water is a good starting point.
- Grind coffee to a course setting. This should be near the upper end of your grinder. If you bought ground coffee from us - we have already ground it course for you!
- Add the ground coffee to the filter housing. The cold brew makers that I linked above all have a separate filter housing to hold the coffee grounds.
- Depending on how much coffee you added. Add the appropriate amount of filtered water to the container.
- Insert the filter housing that contains the coffee into container of water.
- Place a lid or cover on the container to keep it sealed.
- Let the coffee steep in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. The longer it steeps, the stronger the flavor will be. 16 hours is a good middle ground.
- After the coffee has steeped, remove the coffee and discard.
- Cold brew is typically strong, so you may want to dilute it with water, milk, or your favorite milk alternative. Start with a 1:1 ratio of cold brew concentrate to water or milk and adjust to taste.
- Pour the cold brew into a glass over ice. Add any flavorings or sweeteners if desired, such as simple syrup, vanilla, or a splash of cream.
- Enjoy!
* Store any leftover cold brew concentrate in the fridge. It will keep for up to 1-2 weeks, though it’s best enjoyed within the first week for optimal flavor.