What Is Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold or room-temperature water for 12–24 hours instead of brewed with hot water. The result? A smooth, low-acid concentrate that's naturally sweet and incredibly versatile — perfect over ice, mixed into lattes, or even used in baking.
What You'll Need
- Coarsely ground coffee (a 1:4 coffee-to-water ratio is a great starting point)
- Cold or room-temperature filtered water
- A large jar or pitcher
- A fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- 12–24 hours of patience
Step-by-Step Cold Brew Recipe
- Grind your coffee coarsely. A coarse grind prevents over-extraction and keeps the brew smooth. Think sea salt texture, not table salt.
- Combine coffee and water. Add 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee to 4 cups of cold filtered water in a large jar. Stir gently to saturate all the grounds.
- Steep in the fridge. Cover and refrigerate for 12–24 hours. Longer steeping = stronger, bolder flavor.
- Strain. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a clean pitcher. Discard the grounds.
- Serve and enjoy. Dilute with water or milk to taste (typically 1:1 concentrate to liquid). Serve over ice.
Tips for the Best Cold Brew
- Use quality beans. Cold brew highlights the natural flavor of your coffee, so start with great beans. Single-origin coffees with chocolate, caramel, or nutty notes work especially well.
- Don't rush the steep. Under 12 hours and you'll get weak, watery coffee. Over 24 hours and it can turn bitter.
- Store it right. Cold brew concentrate keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Ready to Brew?
The secret to great cold brew starts with great coffee. Explore our Cold Brew Coffee collection — carefully sourced beans that shine in cold extraction, with smooth body and natural sweetness that needs no sugar.