How to make cold brew at home?
Combine 100 g coarsely ground coffee with 1 liter of cold water, let it steep in the fridge for 12–24 hours, then filter. The concentrate lasts 2 weeks in the fridge. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk before drinking.
Why that is
Cold brew is the simplest of all coffee preparations — no hot water, no pressure, no complicated technology. All you need is coffee, cold water, a container, and patience. The long extraction time at a low temperature replaces the heat: The cold water slowly dissolves sugars, oils, and aromatics, while acids and many bitter compounds remain in the grounds.
Step by step:
1. Grind coffee coarsely. Like for a French press — coarse sea salt. Grinding too fine leads to over-extraction and a muddy result. 100 g of coffee for 1 liter of water (1:10 concentrate ratio).
2. Mix coffee and water. Put it into a large container (mason jar, glass carafe, French press). Use cold or room-temperature water — never warm. Stir briefly so all coffee particles are wetted.
3. Cover and put in the fridge. Let it steep for 12–24 hours. 16 hours is a good standard. Prepare it in the evening, filter it in the morning — that way you have fresh cold brew for breakfast.
4. Filter. Strain the coffee through a paper filter, a fine sieve, or a French press. With a French press, just push the plunger down. If you want it extra clear: pour it through a paper filter again after straining.
5. Store. Pour the concentrate into a bottle and store it in the fridge. Shelf life: 7–14 days.
6. Dilute and enjoy. Cold brew concentrate is too strong to drink straight. Dilute 1:1 with cold water, milk, or plant-based milk. Pour over ice cubes. Adjust to taste — stronger or milder.
Minimal equipment: A mason jar and a kitchen sieve. That's all you need. Special cold brew containers are practical, but not necessary.
In practice at Green Wall Coffee
We don't have cold brew on the menu at Sophienstraße 27 at the moment. With natural Ethiopian beans, the sweetness and berry aromas come out beautifully in cold brew. My tip for home: Try different beans — cold brew tastes different with every variety, and the differences are surprisingly distinct.
If you want to taste the difference yourself: Sophienstraße 27, Berlin-Lichtenberg. Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm.
Further reading
Related questions:
- What coffee-to-water ratio do I need for cold brew?
- How long does cold brew need to steep?
- Which beans are best for cold brew?
Also relevant:
- How do I brew French press coffee correctly? — French Press
- What grind size do I need for cold brew? — Grinding & Grind Size
All questions in this topic: Cold Brew & Iced Coffee