Cold brew is coffee made with cold water instead of hot. You steep coarse coffee grounds for 12 hours or more, then strain it to make a smooth, naturally sweet concentrate that keeps in the fridge for days. It's easy to make at home and needs almost no equipment.
Cold brew vs iced coffee
Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee poured over ice. Cold brew never meets hot water, so it tastes smoother and less acidic, with more chocolatey, sweet notes. It's also usually made as a concentrate, so you dilute it to taste.
What you need
- A large jar or jug with a lid (at least 1.5 litres)
- Freshly roasted coffee and a grinder, or coffee ground coarse
- Cold, filtered water
- A sieve plus a paper coffee filter, muslin or a nut milk bag, to strain it
Cold brew recipe
Makes: about 800ml of concentrate, enough for 6 to 8 drinks
Time: 5 minutes, plus 12 to 18 hours steeping
Ingredients
- 100g coffee, coarsely ground
- 1 litre cold, filtered water
Method
- Put the ground coffee in the jar, pour over the water and stir well so all the grounds are wet.
- Put the lid on and leave it in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. Longer gives a stronger, more intense brew.
- Strain through a sieve lined with a paper filter, muslin or a nut milk bag. Strain it twice if you want it really clear.
- Pour the concentrate into a clean bottle or jar and keep it in the fridge. It's best within a week.
How to serve cold brew
Fill a glass with ice, then add one part concentrate to one part cold water or milk. Adjust to taste: a little more concentrate if you like it strong. Oat milk, a splash of vanilla or a little syrup all work well. For a hot drink, top the concentrate up with hot water.
Can you make coffee with cold water?
Yes. With ground coffee, cold brew is the way to do it: cold water takes much longer to draw out the flavour, so it needs 12 to 18 hours in the fridge rather than a few minutes. Instant coffee also dissolves in cold water or milk, though it can take a few minutes of stirring. It's quick, but it doesn't have the depth of freshly brewed coffee.
Which coffee is best for cold brew?
Freshly roasted coffee makes the biggest difference. Chocolatey, nutty coffees from Brazil or Colombia make a classic, smooth cold brew, while fruity Ethiopian or Kenyan coffees give a brighter, more refreshing one. It's worth trying a few to find your favourite.
Getting the grind right
Use a coarse grind, like for a French press. If the coffee is too fine it will taste bitter and muddy, and be hard to strain. Here are the mistakes to avoid when grinding coffee.
Tips
- Use good water. Filtered water gives a cleaner taste. More on the best water for coffee.
- Steep it in the fridge rather than on the worktop. It's more hygienic, and the flavour is just as good.
- Cold brew concentrate is strong, so go easy at first.
- Make it into a coffee banana smoothie or an iced coffee protein shake.
New to brewing? See all our brewing guides, with the grind, ratio and brew time for every method.
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