Cold Brew Coffee Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best ratio for cold brew coffee? ›

A ratio of 1:8 of coffee to water will produce a nice coffee ready to drink after around 24 hours at a coarse grind. Another option is to create a much stronger cold brew (named cold brew concentrate), by using a ratio anywhere from 1 part coffee to 4 parts water, up to around 1 part coffee to 2 parts water.

A coarse grind size is ideal for cold brew — similar what you'd use for a French press. The coarseness will allow water to evenly saturate the grounds for a nice even extraction. If the grounds are too fine, they tend to float together in a dense mass and won't be evenly saturated with water.

Cold brew coffee is usually made by steeping coffee in water for a number of hours at cold or ambient (room) temperature. This slow, low temp brew makes cold brew taste very different from hot brewing the same type of coffee beans: mild chocolate and mellow, low acidity fruits are common flavor notes.

In addition to it's anti-inflammatory benefits, cold brew has the ability to reduce the risk of several diseases. Research shows that with increased coffee and cold brew consumption, you can reduce the risk of some cancers, heart disease as well as type-2 diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzhimer's disease.

Now let me show you the actual Golden Ratios: 1:15 to 1:18 (coffee to water). In here is where most people find the coffee to be at that sweet spot, though there are a few exceptions, like with espresso, for example.

For a ready-to-drink cold brew, use 70 grams of coffee (about ¾ cup) per 4 cups of water. Adjust the brewing time according to your preference.

No, not unless you want a subpar brew. Regular ground coffee has too fine of a texture compared to cold brew grounds. Finer grounds will often make the taste of your cold brew too harsh. Cold brew is supposed to be smooth-tasting, and using too fine of a grind will work against that goal.

The finer the grind, the more likely you'll get dry clumps. Finer ground coffee may also “over extract” meaning the water has pulled out too much of the bean's flavors, leading to a bitter brew. If pre-ground coffee is all you can get your hands on, you can still make cold brew.

First, add a splash of milk or cream to your cold brew before heating it up. This will help to round out the flavor and smooth out any bitterness. Also, add a pinch of salt to your cold brew before heating it up. The salt can actually help to balance out the flavors and reduce any bitterness.

If you soak the grinds for just 12 hours you'll find a cold brew that is weak and somewhat astringent, but after about 18 hours the brew is super smooth. Stick it in the fridge: Use cold water (filtered, if you want to really get specific) and let the brew sit in the fridge for 18 to 24 hours before straining.

What's the difference between iced coffee and cold brew? ›

Cold brew is steeped in water, without heat, for 10-24 hours while iced coffee is brewed hot and then poured over ice.

Despite its smooth taste, cold brew can pack more of a caffeine punch than regular iced coffee because of its long steep time and the large amount of grounds used to make it.

Studies have shown that drinking 3-5 cups (15-25 ounces or 450-750 ml) of cold brew coffee daily can lower your risk of heart disease by up to 15%. This is due to the beneficial compounds found in cold brew coffee, such as caffeine, phenolic compounds, magnesium, trigonelline, quinides, and lignans.

Like hot brew coffee, cold brew coffee contains antioxidants. And these can help fight inflammation. Additionally, coffee's antioxidants may have a positive impact on brain health.

Cold-brewed coffee: Is easier on your stomach. Coffee is very acidic, and drinking too much of it can irritate the stomach and aggravate certain conditions like indigestion, GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome. Cold-brewing coffee creates a cup that's almost two-thirds less acidic than its hot brewed counterpart.

That's about 24 ounces of water and a 1:8 ratio. This will leave you with a smooth, drinkable brew. If you prefer to make a concentrate, increase the amount of ground coffee you use to make the brew stronger. So, 6 ounces of coffee for that same 24 ounces of water will get you a double strong batch at a 1:4 ratio.

Cold Brew Ratio in Grams

Cold Brew to Pour over Ice: use 28 grams of coffee beans per 1 cup of water (or 85 grams per 3 cups). This is the most common cold brew coffee ratio. Cold Brew to Reheat and Enjoy Hot: Prepare cold brew as above, with 1 cup of water per 28 grams of coffee beans, and then add hot water to taste.

How Many Scoops of Coffee do I Need for Cold Brew? You can use around 6-7 scoops (12-14 tablespoons) of coffee grounds per quart of water to make cold brew coffee. By weight, that's around 85 grams of coffee per quart of water.

Most varieties of cold brew use more coffee beans and less water than regular coffee. On average, a cup of cold brew coffee contains around 200 mg of caffeine per 16 ounces (473 mL).