Choosing Your Beans And Grinds
Go with your flavor preference when choosing your cold brew coffee beans. If you prefer a mild, less bitter taste, go with a blonder or lighter roast. Choose a darker roast if you prefer a stronger coffee flavor.
Note: For cold brew, darker roasts do tend to work better as far as flavor is concerned, as lighter roasts can sometimes get lost or muted.
As for choosing your grinds, be sure to select a coarser grind size. These work better for cold brew, as fine grinds can pass through the towels and create a gritty coffee. Cold brew grinds should be course like beach sand.
Steep And Brew Your Coffee
Place your mason jar or cold brew coffee maker in the fridge with a lid on. Leave to steep for 12-18 hours. You can also steep your coffee at room temperature if it is more convenient.
If your coffee tastes acidic it is under-extracted and you will need to increase the brew time. If your coffee tastes bitter it is over-extracted and youll need to decrease the brewing time. You can use the table below to help you troubleshoot.
| Extraction |
Combine With Cold Water
Once the beans are ground, its time to combine them with water . There are several ways to go about this, depending on what you have available to you at home.
The most important part is finding a vessel that is large enough to hold the beans and water at the ratio you choose .
- I like using a quart-sized wide-mouth mason jar to brew my cold brew. It does hold a little less water than Id like for the perfect ratio, but its super convenient.
- You can also use a large quart glass measuring cup, bowl, or pitcher.
- Another option you might have is to use a French Press. Then, when its time to strain, you simply have to press down on the filter.
Pour the water over the grinds in whichever vessel you choose, ensuring the grounds are all wet . You can also use a spoon to gently press the grounds down once youve added the water to ensure they are thoroughly wet .
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How Long Should Cold Brew Steep
Regardless of what method you to choose, cold brew steeps for the same amount of time.
Steep cold brew between 16-24 hours.
If you need to leave cold brew steeping longer, for example if youre gone for a day, refrigerate the cold brew while its steeping to slow down the process, and allow it to steep for 48 hours.
Toddy System Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
For the following recipe, youll need 12 ounces of medium to coarsely ground coffee and 7 cups of water.
How to make cold brew coffee with a Toddy System:
- Place the rubber stopper in the bottom of the brewing container.
- Dampen the filter so its damp on both sides.
- Place the filter inside the brewing container above the recessed area where the rubber stopper goes.
- Add one cup of filtered room temperature water in the Toddy brewing container.
- Add 6 ounces of medium to coarse grounds.
- Add 3 more cups of water, pouring in a circular motion.
- Submerge the floating grounds without stirring.
- Let sit for about 5 minutes.
- Add 3 more cups of water
- Add 6 more ounces of medium to coarse grounds.
- Submerge the floating grounds without stirring.
- Cover the brewing container and allow the coffee to steep in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. Or if you dont have space in the fridge you can leave it on the counter for between 14-18 hours.
- When its ready, hold the brewing container above the glass pitcher and remove the rubber stopper. You can set the brewing container on top of the glass decanter and allow it to drain.
- Discard the grounds and place the airtight lid on the glass decanter, place it in the fridge.
- With this ratio, its suggested to dilute the concentrate 1:3 cold brew to water.
Helpful tips: When putting your coffee and water in the brewing container try not to stir the ground coffee, but gently press whats floating under the water surface. Stirring can clog the Toddy System.
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Best Cold Brew Makers
If youd like your cold brew maker to have a bit more style than a jar, we’ve tested all the available makers on the market to bring you the ones that make the very best coffee and that are the easiest to use. Our suggestions range from $25 to $100 you can choose between an electric appliance or a filtration system. To see our picks, head over to the roundup: 7 Iced Coffee Makers to Upgrade Your Morning Routine.
Can I Make Cold Brew With Regular Ground Coffee
You can make cold brew with regular ground coffee but there are a few things to consider.
First of all, regular ground coffee is designed for hot brewing methods, so it will be less soluble in cold water and may produce a weaker final brew.
Secondly, the grind size is important when brewing cold brew a finer grind will result in a more intense flavor, while a coarse grind will be more mellow.
So if youre using regular ground coffee, you may want to experiment with the grind size to see what produces the best results.
The best grind size for cold brew coffee is coarse, which looks like this:
If youre using regular ground coffee, which is usually a lot finer, you can steep your cold brew for a shorter amount of time.
Ive tested making cold brew with fine ground coffee with great results. Although more steps are involved, you can make great-tasting cold brew coffee with a finer grind than the coarse grind size.
You can check out this article to learn more about making cold brew coffee with fine ground coffee.
Don’t Miss: Price Of Starbucks Grande Latte
Best Features: Oxo Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker
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Disassembles for easy cleanup and storage
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Visually appealing design
This big brewer might be a counter hog, but it brews some mighty fine cold brew concentrate and is extremely easy to use. The OXO “Rainmaker” water dispersion technology keeps the extraction consistent while allowing the user to “set it and forget it,” which is pretty much the whole point of cold brew. Our product tester said the resulting flavor is “very smooth and flavorful” and, as an added bonus, the mesh filter prevents grounds from spilling into the coffee.
The glass carafe into which the concentrate is brewed feels very delicate, but the clear markings and silicone-sealed top make it a lovely and functional vessel. Optional paper filters can contribute even more clarity to the finished product, but the built-in metal mesh is an eco-friendly element to the contraption. Dispensing is easy and there’s even a measuring cup to help you properly dilute the concentrate. It’s fairly expensive for a cold brew coffee maker, but we view it as a good value nonetheless as our reviewer writes, the “product pays for itself quickly.”
The Spruce Eats
Style: Immersion | Capacity: 32 ounces | Material: Glass, plastic, and stainless steel | Warranty: Manufacturer guarantee
“Looks great in any kitchen, makes high-quality cold brew concentrate, and disassembles for easy cleanup.” Cheyenne Elwell, Product Tester
Which Coffee Beans Are Best Used In Cold Brew Coffee
There are a few different types of coffee beans that you can use for cold brew coffee. The best type of coffee bean to use for cold brew coffee is typically a darker roast.
This is because the flavor of the coffee beans will be more pronounced when they are brewed at a lower temperature.
Cold brew coffee is also typically less acidic than hot brewed coffee, so using a light roast might make the final product taste more acidic than you would like.
I prefer either a medium or a dark roast for my cold brew coffee. These coffee roasts make a robust cold brew coffee that I love.
Ultimately, it is up to you to experiment with different types of beans until you find the perfect one for your cold brew coffee.
If youre still on the hunt for some great coffee beans for your cold brew coffee, you can check out my recommendations here.
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Why Is Cold Brew Coffee More Expensive
When you hit up your favorite café, youll likely notice that a cup of cold brew is more expensive than the same sized cup of freshly brewed hot coffee. Why is it so much more expensive? Two factors: Time and materials.
Cold brew coffee steeps for anywhere between 12 and 48 hours, and as we all know time equals money. Also, cold brew coffee requires a greater volume of ground coffee than drip, French press or pour-over coffee. Between the extra time and extra beans, cold brew just costs more to make, so thats why youll pay more.
The Toddy Cold Brew System Is Our Top Pick
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong
The Toddy Cold Brew System earned the top spot after our testing process. We were impressed by the smooth, strong flavor of the coffee, as well as how easy cleanup is afterward. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly pick, consider the County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Maker, which has a simple design that fits any kitchen and makes tasty coffee to boot.
There are many reasons for cold brew coffees rise in popularity: it’s easy to make and stays fresh for several days the strength can be adjusted between a concentrated or diluted brew most importantly, its downright delicious.
Cold brew coffee makers generally rely on one of two brewing methods. The first style, known as immersion brewing, involves steeping coffee grounds in cold water anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. The second is a drip process that also takes several hours. Both methods infuse cold brew with a sweet, often chocolaty taste while avoiding the bitterness and high acidity found in hot coffee.
We sent cold brew coffee makers to our expert food writers so they could put them through our comprehensive testing process. They evaluated each one on its usability, design, performance, and value to help customers find the best option for their coffee needs.
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Pour Through Cloth Vs French Press Vs Cold Brew Machine
There are three methods to making cold brew, so choose whichever works best for you! The pour through cloth is my personal favorite.
Pour Through ClothFor the straining process, I prefer to use a pour through cloth because its simple and doesnt require any special gear. Simply place the cloth over a cup or bowl, and slowly pour the coffee concentrate through. Let it sit and strain through, refraining from making the cloth overflow. Additionally, dont squeeze the coffee grounds through let them slowly strain.
French PressIf you do have a French press, they are great to use for making cold brew coffee. Measure out your coffee grounds and water, then add them to the press. Stick the lid on top and let the coffee steep for about 12 to 24 hours in the fridge. Press the plunger down, decant the coffee, and serve!
Heres a great tutorial and description of the parts of a French press that may be helpful.
Cold Brew MachineFinally, for the die hard coffee lovers that may be extra prepared for this recipe, using an actual cold brew machine wont hurt!
Mason Jar Cold Brew Method
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Is Cold Brew Less Acidic Than Other Coffee
Yes, cold brew is less acidic than other forms of coffee, whether it be traditional iced coffee or drip. Since cold brew is made by using cold water instead of hot, the coffee beans dont release the same amount of oil that they would if brewed at higher temperatures. One last quick tip: dark roast coffee beans are less acidic than light roast coffee beans, so consider giving those a shot if you want even less acidity in your cold brew.
Best Budget: Primula Burke 16
What We Love: Simple and easy use, great value
What We Don’t Love: Takes a long time to brew
While the Primula Burke Cold Brew Coffee Maker is affordable, it rivals cold-brew coffee makers that cost double its price. This little coffee maker is made with heat-resistant borosilicate glass, with a silicone lid, and has a capacity of 6 cups.
This cold-brew coffee maker uses pot-style brewing, where a basket of grounds is immersed in a brew pot. The mesh filter captures nearly all of the sediment for a smooth brew. The bottom of the filter unscrews so you can dump the grounds for easy cleanup, and both the filter and carafe are dishwasher safe. The biggest drawback? Brew time is 24 hours, so you need to plan ahead.
Dimensions : 8.7 x 5.1 x 7.6 inches | Capacity: 51 ounces | Weight: 1.75 pounds
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Why Cold Brew Coffee Tastes So Good
Cold brew coffee tastes really good because it is low in acid, which causes heartburn problems for some coffee drinkers.
Cold brew coffee is coffee as it is meant to be smooth, and you can taste many of the nuances that coffee offers. It isnt sharp, it isnt bitter, and it doesnt have any off-flavors that you wish werent there.
This cold brew coffee recipe never gets stale. When you brew hot coffee, the hot water extracts the oils from the coffee beans, which is where the acidity comes from. Since cold brew does not involve hot water, these oils arent extracted, resulting in very low acidity.
What Equipment Do You Need To Make Cold Brew Coffee
The bare essentials when it comes to making cold brew at home include a container to steep the coffee/water and a filter to separate them after steeping. You can do this with a mason jar and cheese cloth/strainer, but if you plan to make cold brew coffee regularly, it is worth investing in a cold brew maker that makes the entire process easier. The cold brew maker shown in this post is the Honour Cold Brew Maker. Its great because it has a specific area for the coffee grounds, so after steeping you can easily take it out and the cold brew coffee is ready to go. It already is in the container youll store it in and has a pour spout to make it incredibly easy to store. Easy peasy.
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Finishing Touches To Enjoy
After straining youll be left with a coffee concentrate which will be very strong. So to enjoy your coffee simply add some ice cubes and dilute it with milk or water using a 1:1 ratio.
You can also use half-and-half or any other milk alternatives you prefer. For extra flavor, you can add sugar or flavored syrups too.
You can store the excess cold brew concentrate in the fridge for up to two weeks!
Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Coffee Review
Product Description:
Cold-brew concentration, ready-to-drink cold brew, and cold brew coffee beans are all available from Bizzy.
The Smooth and Sweet blend of light, medium, and dark roasted beans is ideal for making cold brew coffee at home because it is pre-ground.
The Dark and Bold is a great option if youre looking for a more robust flavor. Smooth and Sweet combines 100% Arabica beans from Central and South America, USDA certified organic beans.
For your convenience, they are pre-ground with a coarse setting ideal for cold brewing. Because of its naturally low acidity and its sweet caramel flavor, there is no harshness and maximum flavor.
Whether you prefer your coffee black or with a splash of your favorite creamer, youll be pleased with this brand.
There are 12 oz, 1 pound, and 2-pound packs of Bizzy Cold Brew pre-ground coffee beans available for purchase.
Pros
- 1.1-pound Bag of Whole Beans
- Creamy with a great scent
- Blended in Italy
Product Description:
The centuries-old coffee brand is a reliable and accessible option. Their decaffeinated coffee beans appeal to individuals who abstain from caffeine.
Lavazza uses a natural way to manufacture decaf beans by steaming green coffee and removing the caffeine with carbon dioxide. The CO2 procedure preserves the beans integrity while eliminating caffeine.
The coffee is thoroughly roasted with heated air to give it the balanced flavor and fuller body of a typical caffeinated cup.
Pros
Product Description:
Pros
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