closeup of cream in cold coffee

Cold brew coffee

What is cold brew coffee? Traditionally, it’s coffee made using room-temperature or cooler water, rather than the hot or even boiling water used in most brewing methods. The cold brew coffee name comes from the way it’s made, not how it’s served (though most people do enjoy it with ice).

Cold brewing extracts at a lower temperature and generally for a longer time than conventional hot water brewing methods. However, steeping times for cold brewing can vary significantly, from as little as a few minutes to 12–18+ hours overnight. Once brewed, cold brew coffee can be served immediately or chilled in the refrigerator.

Brewing coffee without using heat, over a longer period of time, affects the coffee grounds differently, giving you a smoother, more mellow cup. The cold brewing process also allows you to make a stronger cold brew concentrate, which is designed to be diluted with water or enjoyed with ice, even as it melts.

Sippable Fact

Cold brew vs iced coffee—both are great, but they’re not interchangeable terms, and here’s why! Iced coffee is coffee that has been brewed hot using a standard method, then cooled down to serve. Cold brew is brewed with room temperature or cooler water and can be served hot or over ice. They have different flavor profiles, and cold brew offers a less bitter, smoother taste. Whether you’re ordering at a coffee shop or brewing at home, be sure you’re clear on whether you want cold brew vs iced coffee.

You can use any type of coffee beans you prefer with this brewing method! Here’s how to make cold brew coffee so that you get the best freshness and flavor—with tweaks that can help you find your perfect cup.

Equipment

To make cold brew coffee, you will need:

  • Cold brew coffee maker, a French press or a container (carafe, jar, etc.)
  • Filters
  • Scale
  • Grinder (optional, but preferred)

Cold brew coffee makers

If you’d like more simplicity and convenience in the brewing process, you can use a cold brew maker. These devices combine the container and filter in one convenient gadget. While there are a greater variety of fairly simple, manual brewers, you can also find more complex, electric brewers that may even make multiple types of coffee. Before you start shopping, here are a few key factors to keep in mind—and questions to ask yourself.

  • Cost: What’s your price range for your cold brew coffee maker? Consider additional costs as well, such as any accessories you might want to buy, coffee filters that will need to be replenished, etc.
  • Size: What will fit in the space you have? Many cold brew makers are economical in size, but multipurpose machines may take up more space.
  • Capacity: How much cold brew will you make at a time? You can find everything from single-cup to gallon-size brewers.
  • Programming and features: If you’re looking for a multipurpose brewer, what else do you need your coffee maker to do?
  • Design: What fits your aesthetic and the style of your kitchen?
  • Safety: If you pick a coffee maker loaded up on features, does it have all the safety measures you want?
  • Cleaning and maintenance: Some cold brew coffee makers have dishwasher-safe parts and some do not. The more bells and whistles, the more maintenance is probably required—what are you willing to do to keep your brewer clean and in good order
  • Customer reviews and ratings: There’s nothing like hearing from others who have used a cold brew maker —what are they saying about your top choices? It can be especially helpful to look for feedback on filter quality, which can be difficult to judge before using.

Containers

You can use a carafe, jar, or another plastic or glass container—anything in your kitchen that can hold coffee and water will be fine. A French press or Mason jar can make for an aesthetically pleasing option, too.

Filters

For cold brew, if your brewer doesn’t come with a filter (or you are using a French press with a built-in filter), you’ll need to provide one. As with any brewing method, you’ll need to check the instructions for your coffee brewer to see exactly what types of filters it can support. Cloth is the most common material for cold brew coffee filters, though some brewers do support the use of paper filters for additional filtration.

Cloth filters

Many cold brew makers use cloth filters or filter bags. Cloth filters tend to absorb more oils and sediments than a metal filter but less than paper filters. They often create a smoother taste. Cloth filters are reusable, which offers benefits to your budget and the environment, but they do need to be cleaned carefully. Rinse and dry cloth filters thoroughly; you can use mild detergent to wash if preferred. Every six to eight weeks, boil the filters in fresh water for 10 minutes.

No matter what type of filter you use, be sure it’s the right size for your cold brew maker or container. If the filter bunches up, it can prevent the water from flowing evenly and cause channeling, where coffee grounds get trapped on the sides of the filter.

Paper filters

Generally, paper filters absorb more of the oils in coffee, which can contribute to a cleaner, lighter taste. If you want to experiment with paper filters, you can try out different thicknesses, materials, and densities (how closely the fibers are knitted together) to see what works best with your preferred coffee and flavors.

One of the biggest debates in the coffee-loving world is whether to use bleached or unbleached paper filters. Bleached paper filters are whitened, like most paper we use, while unbleached filters are not, requiring less processing. Unbleached paper filters are therefore considered by many to be slightly better for the environment—but they can create an unpleasant, papery taste. (Some bleached paper filters may leave a similar taste, to be fair). It’s an easy fix, however: just rinse any paper filter before brewing.

Scales

Using a digital scale to measure your coffee and water will help you make more consistent cold brew coffee—and keep track of what worked well (or not) for you so you can keep adjusting and experimenting.

Grinders

While you can buy and use ground coffee, buying whole coffee beans and grinding them immediately before brewing guarantees maximum freshness.

There are two types of grinders: burr (or mill) grinders and blade grinders. We recommend using a burr grinder—whether at home or where you buy your coffee beans.

Burr grinders

A burr grinder crushes coffee beans between a moving grinding wheel and a non-moving surface (the two “burrs” in the name). These grinders do a better job of creating a consistent grind, extracting the flavor of the coffee more evenly, and they’re better for the types of coffee that require smaller grind sizes, like espresso or French press. They’re also less likely to overheat the grounds, preserving the coffee’s oils and aromas.

Blade grinders

A blade grinder is less refined than a burr grinder, with a metal blade that spins to grind the beans. It functions a lot like a food processor, so how long you run the grinder determines how coarse or fine the grind is, though it’s not always easy to control. You can’t ensure a consistent grind, which impacts taste. However, you can get to know your grinder over time and determine the right length of grinding time for your preferred cup of coffee.

Whichever grinder you choose, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations while using it, and be mindful of any necessary safety considerations.

closeup of coffee beans in grinder

How to grind coffee beans

The size of your coffee grind makes a significant impact on the taste of your coffee. Knowing how to grind coffee beans starts with your brewing method. If you’re having your coffee ground where you buy it, just decide in advance how you plan to brew it.

As a general rule, the longer the coffee is in contact with water during the brewing process, the coarser the grind should be. That’s why espresso, which brews in seconds, requires a fine coffee grind, while cold brew, which can take hours to prepare, typically requires a coarse grind.

Pick your cold brew coffee grind size

To find the best cold brew coffee grind size, start with a coarse grind, then adjust as needed to brew your perfect cup.

Brewing MethodSize of Coffee Grind
French pressCoarse (like rock salt)
Cold brewCoarse
DripMedium (like kosher salt)
Pour-overMedium
EspressoFine (like table salt)

Coffee grind size and taste

If you’re not getting the taste you prefer—or if you just want to experiment with your coffee grind—try adjusting in one of two ways.

  1. Your coffee tastes bitter or sour: it may be ground too fine (over-extracted), so try a larger, coarser grind.
  2. Your coffee tastes flat or watery: it may be ground too coarse (under-extracted), so try a smaller, finer grind.

How to make cold brew coffee

Making cold brew coffee is a simple and straightforward process that results in a smooth and mellow cup. There are three consistent elements of how to make cold brew coffee you’ll love:

  • Choose the right coffee beans for you— considering variety, origin and roast
  • Grind them to the right size, as close as possible to when you brew
  • Use filtered water, if possible, and avoid distilled or softened water

Sippable Fact

For cold brew coffee, here are the quick numbers you need to know:

  • Coffee-to-water ratio: 1 gram of coffee to 4-5 grams of water (1:4 to 1:5)
  • Brewing temperature: Room temperature or cooler, then served immediately or chilled in the refrigerator
  • Brewing time: Typically, an approximate 12 hours of contact between coffee and water

Step-by-step guide: How to make cold brew coffee

Your experience will differ depending on whether you use a cold brew maker or are brewing manually. Here are three approaches for how to make cold brew coffee and some of the basic steps for each.

Fully Hands-on Approach

  1. Pour your coarsely ground coffee into your container.
  2. Gradually add the water and stir gently, making sure all the coffee grounds are moistened.
  3. Cover; if your container doesn’t have a lid, you can use cheesecloth. (If you’re using a French press, be sure the plunger is all the way up.)
  4. Let the coffee sit and steep in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 12 hours, or overnight. Don’t rush this step—time is everything for cold brew coffee!
  5. Once the coffee is fully brewed, strain your brew through a coffee filter or a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth into a large pitcher or your container of choice that has a cover. Strain a second time if needed. (If you’re using a French press, gently push the plunger all the way down, then strain further as needed.)
  6. Discard your coffee grounds—preferably by recycling them. And enjoy your cold brew!

Less Hands-On Approaches

With some cold brew makers, you grind your coffee and pour it into a porous filter bag or mesh stainless steel filter basket. Then, you pour the water into the container and let it sit and steep as directed above. Once your coffee is brewed, you won’t need to strain it—you just remove the filter bag or basket, discard the used coffee grounds and enjoy your cold brew.

For even greater convenience, you can choose a cold brew maker that uses prefilled and sealed cachets of coffee, which saves the steps of grinding and pouring your coffee, and you can simply discard the used cachet after brewing.

How to clean up after making cold brew coffee

It’s important to clean your equipment and tools after each use, following the instructions specific to your cold brew equipment.

Generally speaking, clean all containers once you’re finished using them, including washing and rinsing any reusable filters. Any coffee grounds and coffee oil (caffeol) that lingers can make your next cup taste bitter. Future you will be grateful!

Feeling refreshed from all this cold brew coffee? Experiment with other coffee brewing methods like drip, pour-over, espresso, and French press.

Safety should always be a top priority when preparing, serving, or drinking any hot beverage—please take all necessary precautions! Be sure to follow all the specific instructions for use, cleaning, storage and maintenance provided with your brewing equipment and tools (including but not limited to brewing machines and devices, grinders, kettles, scales and filters). Be mindful of how hot liquids and equipment may get during the brewing process, and if you grind your coffee, be particularly careful with the sharp blades.