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Cold brew is smooth, mellow and easy to make at home. It needs no special skills and no heat, just coffee, water, time and a way to strain it. Once you have a batch of concentrate in the fridge, iced coffee is ready in seconds all week. This guide walks you through making cold brew at home, choosing equipment and serving it, and closes with gift ideas for the cold brew fan in your life.
What is cold brew?
Cold brew is coffee made by steeping grounds in cold or room-temperature water for many hours, usually 12 to 24. Because hot water never touches the grounds, the coffee extracts more slowly and gently. The result tastes smoother, less bitter and less acidic than hot coffee poured over ice.
Cold brew is different from iced coffee, which is regular hot coffee that has been cooled or poured over ice. Our post on choosing a cold brew coffee maker covers the differences in more detail.
What you need
- Coarsely ground coffee. Think coarse breadcrumbs. Fine grounds make cloudy, bitter cold brew that’s hard to strain.
- Cold, filtered water.
- A container such as a large jar, pitcher or dedicated cold brew maker.
- A filter, such as a mesh insert, cloth, paper filter or pre-filled filter pack.
- Time and fridge space.
Three ways to make cold brew
The jar method
Mix coffee and water in a large jar, cover and steep. Strain through a fine sieve lined with a paper filter or cloth. It’s cheap, but straining can be messy.
A cold brew maker
A dedicated maker has a built-in filter, so you add coffee and water, steep and remove the filter. A cold brew maker makes the whole process much cleaner and fits neatly in the fridge door.
Filter packs
Pre-filled filter packs work like giant tea bags. Drop one in a pitcher of water, steep overnight and lift it out. No grinding, measuring or straining. A box of cold brew filter packs is the easiest way to start.
Shop the gear
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Step-by-step: your first batch
- Measure. A good starting ratio for concentrate is about 1 part coffee to 4 or 5 parts water by weight. For ready-to-drink cold brew, use about 1 to 8.
- Combine. Add the coffee to your container, pour in the water and stir gently so all the grounds are wet.
- Steep. Cover and leave for 12 to 18 hours. Room temperature extracts faster; in the fridge, allow up to 24 hours.
- Strain. Remove the filter or pour through a lined sieve. Don’t squeeze the grounds, which can add bitterness.
- Store. Keep in a sealed jar or bottle in the fridge.
Getting the flavor right
Too strong or bitter?
Shorten the steeping time, use a coarser grind or dilute more when serving.
Too weak or watery?
Use more coffee, steep longer or dilute less.
Choosing beans
Medium and dark roasts give the classic chocolatey, nutty cold brew flavor. Flavored blends are an easy way to add variety; a chocolate cold brew pack is a treat on its own or with milk.
Serving ideas
- Classic iced: concentrate, water and plenty of ice.
- Creamy: concentrate with milk or a plant-based alternative.
- Sweet cream: top with a splash of lightly sweetened cream.
- Coffee tonic: concentrate over ice topped with tonic water.
- Hot cold brew: dilute concentrate with hot water for a smooth, low-bitterness hot coffee. Perfect for chilly mornings.
- Cold brew ice cubes: freeze leftover cold brew so iced drinks never get watery.
How long does cold brew last?
Concentrate keeps well in a sealed container in the fridge for up to about a week, and diluted cold brew for a few days. If it tastes flat or sour, it’s time for a new batch.
Cold brew in winter
Cold brew isn’t just a summer drink. Because the concentrate is so smooth, it makes an easy hot coffee with a splash of hot water, and it’s a quick base for holiday drinks like spiced lattes or coffee with cinnamon and vanilla. Keeping a jar in the fridge also saves time on busy holiday mornings when the house is full.
Gift ideas for cold brew fans
Cold brew gear makes a thoughtful, practical gift, and it’s easy to put together a kit.
- The starter kit: a cold brew maker plus a bag of coarse-ground coffee.
- The no-fuss kit: filter packs, a glass bottle and a note with your favorite recipe.
- The flavor sampler: a few flavored cold brew packs and a reusable straw.
- The on-the-go kit: cold brew packs with an insulated tumbler. Our tumbler guide can help you pick one.
For more ideas, see our coffee gift guide.
Common cold brew mistakes
- Grinding too fine, which makes cloudy, bitter coffee.
- Steeping too long, past about 24 hours, which can taste woody.
- Squeezing the filter, which pushes bitter compounds into the coffee.
- Leaving it uncovered, so it picks up fridge odors.
Cleaning your cold brew gear
Coffee oils build up quickly in mesh filters and pitchers. Rinse the filter as soon as you remove it, then wash it in warm soapy water with a soft brush. Wash the pitcher and lid each time you finish a batch, and let everything dry completely before the next one. A periodic soak in warm water with a little baking soda removes stale smells.
Making cold brew part of your routine
Many people start a new batch on Sunday evening so concentrate is ready for the whole working week. Keep a second container on hand so you can start the next batch before the first runs out, and keep a note of the ratio and steeping time you like best.
FAQ
Does cold brew have more caffeine?
Concentrate is usually stronger than regular coffee, but once diluted, a glass is often similar to a cup of hot coffee. It depends on your ratio.
Can I use regular ground coffee?
You can, but coarse grounds are easier to strain and give a cleaner taste.
Do I need a special machine?
No. A jar and a strainer work fine, but a maker or filter packs make it simpler and tidier.