How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home: The Complete Guide

Cold brew is the easiest coffee you can make at home. Coarse grounds, cold water, 12 to 24 hours. No heat, no pressure, no specialized equipment. The result is a smooth, low-acid concentrate that keeps in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. This guide covers everything: ratio, grind size, steep time, equipment, and how to serve it.

Without heat, the result is

Cold brew is not iced coffee. Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee poured over ice. Cold brew is brewed entirely without heat using cold water over an extended steep time.

Without heat, acidic compounds and bitter molecules are left behind. The result is significantly less acidic, smoother, and more mellow than hot-brewed coffee. Cold brew is also concentrated, most recipes produce a concentrate two to three times the strength of regular coffee. You dilute it before drinking.

The Right Cold Brew Ratio

Standard concentrate ratio: 1 part coffee to 4 parts water by weight. For a 1-liter batch: 60 to 65 grams of coffee and 250 grams of water.

Dilute the finished concentrate 1:1 with water, milk, or milk alternative before serving. For ready-to-drink cold brew (no dilution), use a 1:8 ratio instead.

The Specialty Coffee Association recommends a starting ratio of 1:4 to 1:8 depending on whether you are brewing concentrate or ready-to-drink cold brew.

Grind Size for Cold Brew

Use a coarse grind, similar to French press, or slightly coarser. A coarse grind slows extraction and makes filtration easier. Fine or medium grinds over-extract during a 12 to 24-hour steep and produce a bitter, astringent concentrate. A burr grinder produces consistent coarse particles. A blade grinder produces uneven sizes.

Steep Time

Room temperature: 12 to 16 hours. Produces a brighter result. Refrigerator: 18 to 24 hours. Produces a smoother, more mellow concentrate. Do not exceed 24 hours. Check at the 12-hour mark and filter when it tastes strong and smooth.

Equipment You Need at Home

Steeping vessel: a wide-mouth mason jar works for batches up to 1 liter. Cover tightly during steeping to prevent absorbing refrigerator odors.

Filter options: cheesecloth or nut milk bag for cleanest result. Paper coffee filter for an extremely clean concentrate. Fine mesh strainer is faster but leaves some sediment.

How to Make It - Step by Step

Step 1 — Measure and Grind

Weigh 60 to 65 grams of coffee. Grind coarse. Grind fresh immediately before brewing.

Step 2 — Combine Coffee and Water

Add grounds to vessel. Pour 250 grams of cold water over the grounds. Stir gently to wet all the grounds. Cover the vessel.

Step 3 — Steep

12 to 16 hours at room temperature, or 18 to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Do not agitate during steeping.

Step 4 — Filter

Pour through your chosen filter into a clean container. Do not press or squeeze the grounds. Let gravity do the work.

Step 5 — Store and Serve

Transfer to a sealed container. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk before serving.

How to Serve It

Over ice with water: 2 to 3 ounces concentrate over ice, equal amount of water. With milk: replace water with whole milk or milk alternative. Straight over ice: 2 ounces concentrate over a full glass of ice, no dilution. Hot: dilute 1:1 with hot water for a smooth, low-acid hot coffee.

Best Coffee

Dark and medium-dark roasts work best. Cold brewing softens dark roast character and produces a smooth, chocolate-forward concentrate. Light roasts with high acidity taste flat in cold brew. Their brightness depends on heat-driven extraction that cold brew skips.

Browse our premium coffee collection for bold dark and medium-dark roast options suited to cold brew. Our bulk coffee options supply high-volume cold brew brewers. For more on how roast level affects extraction, read our guide to how roasting affects coffee flavor.

For a comparison of cold brew vs other brewing methods, read our complete coffee brewing methods guide. Our coffee brewing temperature guide covers why cold brew sits outside the standard temperature rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the brewing ratio?

1 part coffee to 4 parts water by weight for concentrate. For a 1-liter batch: 60 to 65 grams of coffee and 250 grams of water. Dilute 1:1 before drinking. For ready-to-drink cold brew, use a 1:8 ratio.

How long should cold brew steep?

12 to 16 hours at room temperature, or 18 to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Do not exceed 24 hours. Check at 12 hours and filter when it tastes strong and smooth.

Can I use regular ground coffee for cold brew?

Yes, but a coarse grind produces better results. Pre-ground coffee typically over-extracts in a long cold steep and produces bitterness. If using pre-ground, reduce steep time to 10 to 12 hours and check frequently.

How long does cold brew last in the refrigerator?

Up to two weeks in a sealed container. Cold brew lasts significantly longer than hot-brewed coffee because it has no oxidized oils from heat exposure.

Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

Cold brew concentrate is stronger — roughly 2 to 3 times the strength of drip coffee. Diluted 1:1, it is similar in strength to regular coffee.