Cold brew is the most patient coffee there is, and the laziest, in the best way. No kettle, no timing your pour, no technique at all. You stir coffee into cold water tonight and wake up to something smooth, sweet, and gentle tomorrow. If hot coffee sometimes feels harsh on your stomach, cold brew is about 60 to 70% lower in acidity, which is why it tastes so mellow.
What You Need
- A large jar, pitcher, or French press
- Coffee ground coarse (like raw sugar)
- Cold filtered water
- Something to strain with: a fine mesh sieve plus a paper filter, cheesecloth, or the press itself
The Ratio
For ready-to-drink cold brew, use about 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight: 100 grams of coffee (about 1¼ cups of grounds) to 800 grams of water. Want a stronger concentrate you can dilute over ice or with milk? See our cold brew concentrate recipe, which uses a 1:5 ratio.
Step by Step
1. Combine and stir
Add the coarse grounds to your jar, pour in the cold water, and stir until every ground is wet.
2. Steep 12 to 18 hours
Cover and leave it on the counter for 12 to 14 hours, or in the fridge for 16 to 18. Longer is not better; past 20 hours it starts pulling woody, bitter flavors.
3. Strain
Pour through a sieve lined with a paper filter, or plunge if you used a French press, then pour the brew off the grounds completely.
4. Serve
Over ice, with a splash of cream, or just as it is. It keeps in the fridge for up to a week, which makes it the perfect Sunday-night ritual for a week of effortless mornings.
The Best Beans for Cold Brew
Cold water extracts sweetness and chocolate notes beautifully but mutes bright, delicate flavors. That's why medium and medium/dark roasts shine here. Both of our blends make outstanding cold brew: Rise & Shine turns syrupy and caramel-sweet, while Resurrection Espresso tastes like chocolate milk's grown-up cousin.
Certified specialty grade beans matter even more in cold brew because there's nothing to hide behind. Fresh, sweet, defect-free coffee makes the difference between cold brew you tolerate and cold brew you crave.
