Cold Brew

Cold brew isn’t chilled coffee. This coffee never touches hot water at all.

Coarsely ground coffee steeps for 12 to 24 hours in cold water — room temperature water works too. Cold water dissolves flavor more slowly, pulling out fewer acidic and bitter compounds from the bean. The result is a sweet, round flavor, without the sharp acidity of hot-brewed coffee.

Brew ratio for cold brew: 1:7 to 1:8 (coffee to water) for a concentrate. Dilute the concentrate roughly 1:1 with water or milk before drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?

Cold brew is made with cold water, never hot. Iced coffee starts hot and is then cooled down. Because of the cold water, cold brew contains fewer acidic and bitter compounds — the flavor is rounder and sweeter. They’re two fundamentally different brewing processes.

What grind size do you use for cold brew?

Cold brew needs a coarse grind — coarser than you’d use for drip coffee. Too fine a grind causes over-extraction and a bitter taste. A coarse grind slows extraction down, which suits the long steep time. Think of the size of coarse sea salt. Set your grinder to the coarsest filter setting or beyond.

How long does cold brew keep in the fridge?

Cold brew stays good for 7 to 10 days in the fridge. After that, the flavor flattens and oxidation can set in. Store it in a sealed bottle or jar, and refrigerate it right after straining. If you’ve diluted it with water or milk, drink it within 2 days.