Cold Brew Coffee at Home: The Complete Guide

Why Cold Brew?

Cold brew has gone from coffee-shop novelty to everyday staple — and for good reason. Brewed with cold water over an extended period, cold brew is naturally sweeter, smoother, and less acidic than hot coffee. It's also incredibly convenient: make a big batch on Sunday and you have ready-to-drink coffee all week.

The best part? It's surprisingly easy to make at home, and the results are often better than what you'd buy at a coffee shop.

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: What's the Difference?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they're very different drinks:

• Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee poured over ice. It's quick but can taste watered-down and bitter.
• Cold brew is never exposed to heat. Coffee grounds steep in cold water for 12–24 hours, producing a concentrate that's smooth, rich, and naturally sweet.

Cold brew takes longer, but the flavor payoff is significant.

What You Need

• Coarsely ground coffee (see recommendations below)
• Cold or room-temperature filtered water
• A large jar, pitcher, or dedicated cold brew maker
• A fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth for filtering

The Basic Ratio

For a concentrate (which you dilute before drinking): 1 cup of coffee to 4 cups of water. For ready-to-drink cold brew: 1 cup of coffee to 8 cups of water. We recommend starting with the concentrate ratio — it gives you more flexibility.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Grind your coffee coarsely — think sea salt or coarse kosher salt. A coarse grind prevents over-extraction and keeps the cold brew smooth.
2. Combine coffee and cold water in your container. Stir gently to make sure all the grounds are saturated.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 12–24 hours. 16–18 hours is the sweet spot for most coffees.
4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a paper filter. This may take a few minutes — don't rush it.
5. Store the concentrate in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
6. Serve over ice, diluted 1:1 with water or milk. Adjust to taste.

Best Coffees for Cold Brew

Cold brew rewards coffees with natural sweetness, chocolate notes, and low acidity. Our top picks:

• Honduras COMSA SHG Honey — the honey processing gives it a natural sweetness that's exceptional in cold brew
• Coastal Bean Scene™ — its rounded, balanced character is made for cold extraction
• Bishop Coffee Blend — consistent and satisfying, a reliable cold brew workhorse
• Strawberry Mocha — flavored coffees shine in cold brew; the cold extraction amplifies sweetness and mellows acidity
• I Love You Berry Much — bright berry notes become even more vibrant cold-brewed

Tips for Better Cold Brew

• Use filtered water — water quality matters as much as coffee quality
• Don't over-steep — beyond 24 hours, cold brew can become bitter and astringent
• Experiment with steep time — lighter roasts may benefit from a longer steep; darker roasts are often ready in 12–14 hours
• Try it with milk — cold brew concentrate + whole milk or oat milk is one of life's great pleasures

Ready to start brewing? Pick up a bag of your favorite coffee from our full collection and give cold brew a try this weekend.