Cold brew coffee is a lower acidity, less bitter version than it’s hot brewed coffee counterpart … but it can get expensive to always buy at the grocery store. So, we started making it at home and it is SO easy! Just follow our easy instructions below to make your own cold brew coffee as strong as you want. I have been making my coffee this way for YEARS (yes, I heat it up in the winter) and I absolutely love it.
What About Tea, Can that be Cold Brewed?
Absolutely! Just check out our Cold Brew Tea – perfect for summer!
Cold Brew vs. Hot Coffee vs. Iced Coffee
- Cold Brew coffee is made by brewing roughly ground coffee beans in cold water for a long period of time (at least 24 hours) – steeping is generally done in the fridge.
- Hot Coffee, the stuff you are probably most accustomed to, is brewed by pouring hot water over finely ground coffee in a very short period of time.
- Iced Coffee, on the other hand, is simply hot coffee poured over ice.
Key Ingredient + Kitchen Tools
- coffee beans – any variety of coffee beans will work to make cold brew – light roast, dark roast, espresso beans, even decaf coffee beans!
- coffee grinder – we love our trusty electric coffee grinder! It is worth the investment to not have to buy cold brew at the store.
- mason jars – for years we have used large mason jars for this process, but you can use other storage containers too.
- fine mesh sieve – to strain the cold brew, you will need is sieve with a reusable cheesecloth, thin paper filters, reusable coffee filters, or something similar.
How to Make Cold Brew at Home
How Long Should Cold Brew Sit in the Fridge?
It should chill for a minimum of 24 hours. Typically anywhere from 24-48 hours will result in a medium strength cold brew. For a stronger cold brew, let it steep for longer.
Pro Tip
I would recommend straining it a couple of times to ensure you get out as much of the grounds and residue as possible.
Storage
Homemade cold brew coffee can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
Best Ways To Enjoy Cold Brew Coffee
This is entirely up to your personal preference. It can be enjoyed the same way you enjoy regular hot coffee. Option to learn how to make cold foam or sweet cream cold foam to enjoy on top. Add a splash of your favorite creamer, like our cashew coffee creamer or any store-bought options.
Homemade Cold Brew FAQs + Tips
- Why cold brew is less acidic? When regular, hot coffee is brewed the hot water going through the fine coffee grounds allows more acidity to be present in the final product. A higher acidity level can be harder on your stomach, especially if you are prone to acid reflux.
- Can I make cold brew in a french press? Yes! Just use the same water to coffee ratio and follow our tutorial on how to make cold brew in a french press (it’s so easy – the same concept as normally making coffee in a french press).
- How to make cold brew concentrate? Simply use a 4:1 ratio of water to coffee beans and follow the same instructions. Don’t let it steep for too long or it will start to get some bitterness coming through.
- Best storage options: 60oz glass beverage carafe, 1 gallon glass mason jar beverage dispenser, or a 2 qt pitcher with lid.
Cold Brew & Whole30
It is also an awesome addition to any Whole30, which limits what you put in your coffee to tame the bitterness (think – creamer). Cold brew is less bitter and easier to drink black than hot coffee – I highly recommend cold brew if you are starting a Whole30! But I also have this awesome Whole30 Vanilla and Cinnamon Creamer you can try too!
Made this recipe and loved it?!
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Ingredients
- 1 cup whole coffee beans, medium to dark roast
- 8 cups filtered water
Instructions
- Grind the Beans: Use a coffee grinder to roughly grind up 1 cup whole coffee beans.
- Mix: Place the coffee beans and 8 cups filtered water in a large, clean jar. Secure a lid on top and give it a good shake to mix everything up.
- Refrigerate: Let it sit in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. Option to let it chill longer for a stronger cold brew.
- Strain: Put a mesh sieve or strainer on top of another large jar or bowl and place a piece of cheese cloth on top of that. Pour the cold brew mixture through the cheesecloth and strainer. Repeat this process a couple times, if needed to remove any coffee bean grounds.
- Serve/Store: Serve immediately or store in refrigerator for several weeks.
Notes
- How to Coarsely Grind Coffee Beans: I simply place mine in my coffee grinder and pulse a few times. Don’t get too hung up on how they look – as long as they are somewhere between whole beans and finely ground you will be just fine!
- Small Batch: Your can cut down the ratio to 1/2 cup roughly ground beans and 4 cups of water.
- What Works for You: You will also figure out what ratio works best for you (everyone has their own personal preference) – but this is a very “typical” ratio. From here determine if you like your cold brew stronger or weaker. To make it stronger, allow it to brew longer, use more grounds/less water, use a stronger type of bean. To make it weaker, use more water/less grounds.
- Can you heat it up? Yes! Just because you are brewing it in cold water doesn’t mean you cannot heat it up later. The acidity level will remain the same! To heat up, simply place in a small saucepan or teapot and warm up to the desired temperature.
- Can you use decaf beans? Yes! You can definitely use decaf coffee beans instead of regular.
- Can you use finely ground coffee beans? In short, yes, you can use finely ground coffee beans BUT you may run into an issue with filtering out all the grounds during the straining process. Keeping the beans more coarsely ground will help prevent that.
- Caffeine: Here is a great article on whether cold brew has the same amount of caffeine as regular coffee.
- Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate: simply make a stronger batch with 1 cup roughly ground coffee beans (medium to dark roast) and only 4 cups filtered water.
Nutrition
Originally published on June 7, 2018 – updated with new photos on July 7, 2021.
Gaby says
I’ve been making cold brew coffee for a while too. I use a coffee filter and a funnel to strainer the brew into a glass bottle.