How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

What you need

• A glass jar or bottle with a lid
• A dripper
• Paper filter

Method

1. Grind your coffee for cold brew, or source pre-ground coffee

   If you do not own a grinder, buy pre-ground coffee or bring whole beans to a cafe and ask them to grind it for cold brew — they will know the right setting

2. Add 60g of ground coffee to your jar or bottle

3. Pour 300g of cold or room-temperature water into the jar

   This gives a 1:5 coffee-to-water ratio; for a lighter result, you may adjust toward a 1:6 ratio according to your preference

4. Stir the mixture thoroughly until the coffee and water are well combined

5. Close the lid and steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for approximately 12 hours

   Twelve hours is a starting point — taste and adjust steeping time in future batches to match your preference; there is no fixed rule

   Expert tipExperiment freely: steeping shorter produces a lighter cup, longer a stronger and more intense one

6. After steeping, set up your dripper with a paper filter over a clean container and slowly pour the steeped coffee through to filter out all grounds

   Inexpensive disposable paper drippers are widely available and work well here

7. Serve the filtered concentrate over ice, diluted with water or milk to taste

   There is no fixed dilution ratio — adjust the amount of water or milk to suit your own preference; the concentrate can also be frozen into ice cubes

Why this works

Cold water extracts coffee compounds much more slowly than hot water, which draws out fewer of the bitter and acidic compounds that dominate a hot-brewed cup. The extended steeping time compensates for the slow extraction rate, producing a concentrated, balanced liquid. Because no heat is involved at any stage, the resulting brew stays mellow and smooth rather than sharp. Filtering through a paper dripper removes the fine particles left from immersion, giving the finished drink a clean texture.

Where beginners go wrong

1. 1

   Cold brew tastes too weak or watery

   Extend the steeping time beyond 12 hours in the next batch, or reduce the amount of water you use to dilute the concentrate when serving

2. 2

   Cold brew tastes too strong or harsh

   Shorten the steep time, or dilute more generously with water or milk when serving; you can also shift toward a 1:6 coffee-to-water ratio during brewing

3. 3

   Grounds end up in the finished drink

   Make sure the paper filter sits securely in the dripper with no gaps at the edges; pour slowly and steadily rather than all at once

4. 4

   The recipe produces a different result each time

   Cold brew is sensitive to small changes in steep time, grind consistency, and dilution; keep notes on your ratios and timing so you can narrow in on what works for your taste

What you should taste

A well-made cold brew is smooth and gentle on the palate, noticeably less bitter than a hot americano, with an easy finish that makes it approachable even for those who typically find coffee too sharp

FAQ