How to Make Cold Brew at Home: Ratio, Grind and Steep Time
Cold brew is the easiest coffee you'll ever make. There's no heat, no timing to the second and no special skill. You mix coffee and cold water, wait, and filter. Getting it right comes down to three things: the ratio, the grind and the steep time.
What you need
- A cold brew maker or a large jar with a fine mesh filter.
- Coarsely ground coffee. Grind it yourself if you can, or ask for a coarse grind.
- Cold or room-temperature filtered water.
- A kitchen scale (helpful, not required).
Step 1: pick your ratio
The ratio is how much coffee you use for the water. There are two ways to go.
| Style | Coffee to water | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to drink | About 1:8 to 1:10 by weight | Pour over ice and drink |
| Concentrate | About 1:4 to 1:5 by weight | Strong; mix with water or milk before drinking |
For a 2-quart pitcher of ready-to-drink cold brew, a good start is about 170 to 200 g of coffee (roughly 2 cups of coarse grounds). That's 6 to 7 ounces by weight.
Concentrate makers work differently. OXO's countertop brewer, for example, uses ten ounces of coarse coffee to make up to 32 ounces of concentrate, which you dilute with equal parts water or milk.
Not sure? Start in the middle, taste, and adjust next time.
Step 2: grind coarse
Use a coarse grind, like you would for a French press. Coarse grounds are easier to filter and leave less sludge in your cup.
You can go a little finer for a stronger, fuller brew. Hario notes that a finer grind gives more body and strength. Just know that very fine grounds can clog the filter and make the coffee taste muddy.
Step 3: mix and steep
- Put the grounds in the filter basket.
- Pour the water in slowly, so all the grounds get wet.
- Stir gently or tip the pitcher to soak any dry clumps.
- Put the lid on and let it steep.
How long? Most cold brew steeps for 12 to 24 hours. Steep it in the fridge or on the counter, as your maker suggests.
- 12 hours: lighter and smoother.
- 18 hours: a good middle point for most people.
- 24 hours: stronger and bolder.
Steeping in the fridge is slower, so lean toward the longer side.
Step 4: filter and store
- Pitcher makers: lift out the filter basket and let it drip for a minute.
- Countertop brewers: drain the brew into the carafe.
- For an extra clean cup, pour it through a paper filter.
Store your cold brew in the fridge with a lid on. A sealed lid helps keep it fresh and stops it from picking up fridge smells. How long it keeps depends on your maker. Primula, for example, says its pitcher keeps cold brew fresh for up to 14 days.
Common problems
- Too weak: use more coffee or steep longer.
- Too strong or bitter: use less coffee, steep less, or add more water or milk.
- Gritty: use a coarser grind, or filter it again through paper.
- Tastes flat or stale: use fresher beans and a container with a tight lid.
Pick a maker that fits your fridge
The best cold brew maker is one that fits where you'll keep it. The Takeya Deluxe fits most refrigerator doors and has an airtight, leak-proof lid. For five makers compared on fit, filter and lid, see our cold brew coffee maker comparison.