How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home
No special equipment needed, just coarse grounds, cold water, and time.
A simple guide to making cold brew coffee at home without special equipment, covering grind size, steep time, and how to dilute the finished concentrate.
Cold brew has a reputation for requiring special gear, but a jar, a strainer, and some time are really all you need to make it at home for a fraction of the coffee shop price.
Use a Coarse Grind
A fine grind, like the kind used for espresso, will turn your cold brew muddy and over-extracted. Use a coarse grind, similar in texture to breadcrumbs, so the coffee steeps slowly and evenly.
Get the Ratio Right
A good starting point is one cup of coarsely ground coffee to four cups of cold water. This makes a concentrate, not a ready-to-drink coffee, so don't worry that it looks strong.
Steep for 12 to 24 Hours
Combine the coffee and water in a large jar, stir to make sure all the grounds are saturated, and let it sit at room temperature or in the fridge for at least 12 hours. Longer steeping generally means a bolder, more intense concentrate.
Strain It Well
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. It's slow, but it's the step that keeps sediment out of your final cup.
Dilute Before Drinking
Cold brew concentrate is strong. Mix it with water, milk, or ice at roughly a 1 to 1 ratio to start, then adjust to your taste from there.
Store the Concentrate for Up to Two Weeks
Kept in a sealed jar in the fridge, cold brew concentrate stays good for about two weeks, meaning one batch can cover you for a while without repeating the whole process.