How to Make Cold Brew at Home

Cold brew is one of the easiest ways to make great coffee at home. Instead of hot water, you steep coarsely ground coffee in cold water for many hours. The result is a smooth, rich coffee that's lovely over ice, with milk, or straight from the fridge.

What you need

• Coarsely ground coffee (about the texture of raw sugar)
• Cold, filtered water
• A large jar or pitcher
• A fine strainer plus a paper filter, cheesecloth or a clean cloth

You can also use a French press: steep in it, then press and pour.

Step by step

1. Measure. Use about 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight, for example 100 g of coffee to 800 g (about 3½ cups) of water. That makes a strong cold brew you can drink as is or dilute to taste.
2. Combine. Add the coffee to your jar, pour in the water, and stir gently so all the grounds are wet.
3. Steep. Cover and leave it for 12 to 18 hours, at room temperature or in the fridge. Longer steeping gives a stronger, bolder cup.
4. Strain. Pour through a strainer to catch the grounds, then through a paper filter or cloth for a cleaner cup.
5. Serve. Pour over ice and add water or milk to taste. Many people like it about half cold brew, half water or milk.

Tips for a better cold brew

• Grind coarse. Fine grounds make cold brew muddy and hard to strain. If you buy ground coffee from us, choose the Coarse grind.
• Start fresh. Freshly roasted beans make a noticeably sweeter, fuller cold brew.
• Store it cold. Keep your strained cold brew in a covered jar in the fridge and enjoy it within about a week.

Which coffee should I use?

Almost any coffee works, but medium roasts with chocolate and caramel notes are a favorite for cold brew. Our Cold Brew Coffee is a medium roast chosen for cold brew and nitro, with smooth chocolate, toffee and floral tones. Pick the coarse grind and you're ready to go.

New to grind sizes? See our Grind & Brew Guide.