How to Make Cold Brew at Home: Ratio, Steps and Best Coffee
To make cold brew at home, mix 1 part coarsely ground coffee with 8 parts cold water, steep for 12 to 18 hours, then strain. For a quart, that's about 120 grams of coffee (1⅓ cups ground) and 32 oz of water. It's ready to drink over ice and keeps in the fridge for up to 10 days. For a stronger concentrate you can dilute, use a 1:4 ratio instead.
At Tapestry, we use our Abstract Blend for cold brew. It's a blend of natural Ethiopian and washed Colombian coffees with notes of honey, berry and cacao, roasted to order at our roastery in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Cold Brew Ratio Chart
| What you're making | Water | Coffee | Ratio | How to serve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 quart, ready to drink | 32 oz | 120 g (about 1⅓ cups ground) | 1:8 | Over ice as is |
| 1 quart, concentrate | 32 oz | 240 g (about 2⅔ cups ground) | 1:4 | Mix 1 part with 1 part water or milk |
| Half gallon, concentrate | 64 oz | 1 lb | About 1:4 | Mix 1 part with 1 part water or milk |
| 1 gallon, ready to drink | 128 oz | 1 lb | About 1:8 | Over ice as is |
Ratios are by weight. Cup amounts are approximate, so use a scale if you have one. The coffee grounds soak up water, so you'll strain out a little less than you put in.
What You Need
- Coarsely ground coffee
- Cold, filtered water
- A large jar or pitcher
- A fine mesh strainer plus a paper filter or cheesecloth
- A sealed bottle or jar for storing
How to Make Cold Brew, Step by Step
- Grind your coffee coarse. Aim for about the texture of coarse sea salt. Fine grounds make cold brew muddy and hard to strain.
- Combine coffee and water. Add the coffee to your jar, pour in the water, and stir until all the grounds are wet.
- Steep. Cover it and steep for 12 to 18 hours at room temperature, or 18 to 24 hours in the fridge. Past that, it can start to taste woody or flat.
- Strain. Pour it through a fine mesh strainer to catch the grounds, then through a paper filter or cheesecloth for a cleaner cup. Don't squeeze the grounds, which can add bitterness.
- Store it cold. Keep it in a sealed container in the fridge. It tastes best within a week and keeps for up to 10 days.
- Serve. Pour over ice. If you made concentrate, dilute it first.
The Best Coffee for Cold Brew
Cold brew mutes bright acidity and brings out sweetness and body, so medium and dark roasts are the easiest place to start.
- Abstract Blend: our cold brew pick. Honey, berry and cacao give it more personality than a typical cold brew.
- Loom Blend: nutty, toffee and chocolate notes for a classic, smooth cup.
- Fringe Blend: our dark roast, with bold chocolate flavor that stands up well to milk.
Fruity single origin coffees can make a great cold brew too, just expect a brighter, more tea-like cup. Whatever you choose, grind it right before brewing if you can.
Cold Brew Troubleshooting
Why is my cold brew weak?
You likely need more coffee or a longer steep. Check your ratio against the chart, and remember the concentrate needs diluting but the 1:8 recipe doesn't.
Why is my cold brew bitter or woody?
It probably steeped too long, or the grind was too fine. Try a shorter steep and a coarser grind.
Why is my cold brew cloudy or gritty?
Fine particles got through. Strain it a second time through a paper filter.
Is Cold Brew Less Acidic?
Cold brew tastes smoother and less acidic because cold water pulls out fewer of the sharp, bright flavors. Research suggests its actual pH is close to hot coffee, though, so it may not be gentler on a sensitive stomach for everyone. The difference you notice is mostly in the taste.
Cold brew can also have a lot of caffeine, since it uses more coffee than a typical cup. A 12 oz glass often has 150 to 240 mg. See why coffee has caffeine for how it compares. Wondering how it differs from iced coffee? Read cold brew vs. iced coffee.
Want Cold Brew Without the Wait?
Stop by either of our Lakeville cafés for cold brew or nitro cold brew. Serving it at your business? We make wholesale cold brew kegs for Twin Cities offices, restaurants and cafés.
Brewing at home? Every bag we sell is roasted to order and ships in 1 to 3 business days. Take our 60-second coffee quiz to find your match.
