What coffee-to-water ratio do I need for cold brew?
As a concentrate: 1:5 to 1:8 (125–200 g per liter), dilute 1:1 before drinking. As a ready-to-drink beverage: 1:10 to 1:12. It's better to brew it stronger and dilute later — a concentrate that is too weak cannot be saved.
Why that is
Cold brew is mostly made as a concentrate — meaning significantly stronger than the finished beverage. There are practical reasons for this: concentrate is compact to store, has a long shelf life, and can be flexibly diluted — sometimes with water, sometimes with milk, sometimes as a base for cocktails.
Concentrate (1:5 to 1:8):
- 1:5 = 200 g coffee per liter of water. Very strong, almost syrupy. Ideal as a base for milk drinks.
- 1:8 = 125 g coffee per liter. Standard concentrate. Diluted 1:1, it yields a balanced beverage.
- Always dilute before drinking — pure concentrate is too intense and contains a lot of caffeine.
Ready-to-Drink (1:10 to 1:12):
- 1:10 = 100 g coffee per liter. Drinkable directly without dilution.
- 1:12 = 83 g per liter. Lighter, more tea-like, refreshing.
- Less flexible because you cannot adjust the strength upwards later.
Why stronger is better: A concentrate brewed too strongly can easily be diluted with water or ice. One brewed too weakly cannot — your only option is to pour it down the drain. Therefore, it's better to start at the higher end of the ratio (1:8) and then dilute to taste.
Comparison with filter coffee: Hot filter coffee typically uses a ratio of 1:15 to 1:17 (60 g per liter). Cold brew requires significantly more coffee per liter because cold water extracts less efficiently. This is partially, but not completely, compensated for by the long steeping time.
In practice at Green Wall Coffee
We don't have cold brew on the menu at Sophienstraße 27 at the moment. At home, a 1:8 concentrate is versatile: diluted with water, poured over ice with oat milk, or topped up with tonic. My tip: Start with 100 g to 800 ml of water and adjust to taste.
Feel free to drop by for a coffee — Green Wall Coffee, Sophienstraße 27 in Berlin-Lichtenberg, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm and Sat 10am–5pm.
Further reading
Related questions:
- How long does cold brew need to steep?
- Which beans are best for cold brew?
- How long does cold brew last?
Also relevant:
- What is the ideal coffee-to-water ratio for filter coffee? — Filter Coffee & Pour-Over
- How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee? — Health & Caffeine
All questions in this topic: Cold Brew & Iced Coffee