This incredible Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate recipe and guide will help you make your perfect cup! I cover my favorite coffee grounds to water ratio to make an easily stored concentrate, how to make cold brew in a french press, and how to hot bloom (and why you might want to).
I spent months brewing it longer and shorter, with a higher and lower coffee grounds to water ratio, and found the perfect mix, whether you're measuring in metric or with cups and spoons! So let's dive in!
Cold brew coffee concentrate is the perfect coffee beverage in the Summer, and whenever the weather is hot. It has a smooth robust flavor and is even easier to make than hot coffee or iced coffee (which is made a little differently, check out the section below to understand how).
It's also great to serve to guests and friends, because while it's very easy to make, cold brew coffee is very "high brow" giving it a luxurious and impressive vibe.
In addition to this cold brew coffee, try making my Starbucks Copycat Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso and Iced Mocha! Even without a coffee machine, you can make a decent espresso or espresso drink using my recipes for French Press Espresso or AeroPress Espresso.
For another cold coffee variation, try making an iced Americano by diluting hot espresso with ice and cold water. This method creates a coffee beverage that is very similar to an iced coffee.
For coffee shop-inspired treats to serve alongside this cold brew concentrate, check out my Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vegan Gluten-Free Brownies, Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls, Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins, Gluten Free Chocolate Muffins, Gluten-Free Apple Coffee Cake, or Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake.
So what's the difference between cold brew coffee and an iced coffee? Keep reading to find out!
Jump to:
What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?
The difference between cold brew coffee and iced coffee is the brewing method. Cold brew is brewed cold for a long period of time. Iced coffee is first brewed hot and concentrated and then cooled and diluted with ice.
How to make it (with photos)
Ingredients Notes + Substitutions
Ok so cold brew coffee concentrate is just filtered water and coffee beans, but grind size, coffee brand and type, and whether or not you use filtered water, can all play a role in making a good cup!
The best coffee for Cold Brew
A medium or dark roast coffee is best for cold brew because it retains its strong coffee flavor even with the slow and cool brewing method.
My personal favorite everyday brand to use for cold brew coffee is Gevalia House Blend medium roast coffee because of it's full bodied with balanced flavor.
The best grind size for cold brew
A medium coarse grind is the best for cold brew coffee because it is easy to filter and releases caffeine and flavor more slowly than a fine grind. A medium grind will also work, but you will have a higher caffeine concentration.
Is filtered water better for making coffee?
Since our body registers taste more strongly for cold beverages over warm beverages, it's more important to use filtered water when making cold brew coffee. With unfiltered water, chlorine and other chemicals are more noticeable.
I recommend trying this recipe once with unfiltered water and then with filtered water to see if you can tell the difference! For me, using unfiltered water was the secret to unlocking that coffee shop taste!
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Variations
Make these popular cold brew coffee variations easily with these instructions!
- Pumpkin Cold Brew - Adding pumpkin pie spice to the grounds while they brew will give you a pumpkin spice flavored coffee. However, if you're like me and prefer a stronger pumpkin flavor more like a pumpkin spice latte, try adding my Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer to your regular cold brew coffee.
- Cold Brew Espresso - This method can be used exactly as listed to make cold brew espresso! Using ground espresso beans will make it more authentic, but your regular coffee grind will be similar and makes a perfect substitute. Use ¼ cup of cold brew concentrate in place of 1 shot of espresso.
Step-by-Step Instructions
There are just four extra easy steps to make the perfect cold brew concentrate!
Hint: The french press I used in the photos is the Bodum large 1 liter size, and is perfect for making cold brew concentrate!
- Combine: Add the coffee grounds and filtered water to a large jar or container. Use a whisk to mix them thoroughly together.
- Brew: Seal the jar with a lid and place in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 18 hours.
- Filter: Place a nut milk bag or cheese cloth in a sieve over a bowl. Slowly pour the cold brew mixture into the lined sieve to filter. Filter a second time if you like. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Serve: To serve, dilute with 1 part cold brew concentrate to 2 parts water, ice, or milk/creamer of choice.
French Press Cold Brew
You can make cold brew coffee concentrate in a french press, and it cuts down on some of the mess and trouble. Use a medium coarse grind and check the size of your french press to make sure you don't overfill it. Most standard french presses have a volume of 32 ounces (4 cups).
Because a nut milk bag or cheesecloth is a finer filter than the one built into a french press, I recommend filtering the cold brew concentrate a second time using one of these tools.
Hot Bloom Cold Brew
Hot blooming uses hot water to bloom the coffee grounds before finishing the cold brew at a cooler temperature. A hot bloom rapidly extracts the aromatic oil and releases carbon dioxide in the coffee grounds giving it a bolder and better flavor.
Because hot bloomed cold brew coffee is more acidic and has more caffeine, it's best to try this method when adding milk or cream to the finished drink to balance the acidity.
To hot bloom, first add just enough hot water to cover the coffee grinds and stir. Then wait 30 seconds before adding the remaining amount of ice water and brew as instructed above.
Expert Tips
Make the best cold brew coffee concentrate on the first try with these expert tips!
If you like creamer, try a hot bloom.
I LOVE a good hot bloomed cold brew and highly recommend you try it. However, if you drink your cold brew coffee black, it may be too acidic.
Check out the above "Hot Bloom Cold Brew" section to learn how I do it.
Mind your grind.
A too-fine-grind will give you one caffeinated cup! If using pre-ground coffee with a find grind, brew it for less than 18 hours unless you want a serious caffeine jolt.
A medium coarse grind (similar to what you would use for french press coffee) is my favorite and recommended grind size.
Recipe FAQs
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftover cold brew coffee concentrate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
The coffee grinds to water ratio for this cold brew coffee concentrate is 25 grams of ground coffee to 1 cup of filtered water. Or 75 grams of ground coffee for 3 cups of filtered water. This is roughly 1 cup of ground coffee in three cups of filtered water.
Cold brew coffee is different than iced coffee and other coffee brews because it has a much longer brewing time at a COLD temperature. This creates a smooth flavor that is less acidic than traditional coffee. Hot coffee and iced coffee are both brewed at a hot temperature.
Many people prefer cold brew coffee because it has a smooth, less acidic taste than iced coffee or hot coffee. This makes cold brew ideal for drinking black and during the daytime.
Related coffee recipes to consider...
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Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card or comment field below. Thank you!
Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
Ingredients
- 75 grams medium course ground coffee beans , this is about 1 cup of whole beans or a little less than one cup of medium coarse ground coffee beans
- 3 cups of filtered water (710 grams, 710 ml)
Instructions
- Combine: Add the coffee grounds and filtered water to a large jar or container. Use a whisk to mix them thoroughly together.
- Brew: Seal the jar with a lid and place in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 18 hours.
- Filter: Place a nut milk bag or cheese cloth in a sieve over a bowl. Slowly pour the cold brew mixture into the lined sieve to filter. Filter a second time if you like. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Serve: To serve, dilute with 1 part cold brew concentrate to 2 parts water, ice, or milk/creamer of choice.
Jeff
Can I freeze this concentrate for later use?
Jamie
Hi Jeff! I haven't tried freezing it myself but I think it would work just fine.
Marge
I make coffee ice cubes for longer storage. When ready to have one, just put one in cup a few hours before drinking, add additional water & flavoring/sweetener and it’s ready.
Kevin
I am really enjoying, trying the different variations of cold brew. I found that I also really like the hot bloom method when using creamer. I actually have both in my refrigerator right now, so I can pick one depending on my mood.
Matthew
I’m glad I found this recipe. It made the perfect cup of cold brew. I’m brewing my second batch right now.
Venetta
This cold brew coffee concentrate recipe works like a charm! The dilution information was accurate, 1/3 coffee concentrate to 2/3 of whatever else you add. This will be my go to recipe all summer!
Jamie
Cheers Venetta! I'm so glad you're enjoying it.