Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Murat Aktas
One cup of cold brew can be one of the most enjoyable ways to cool down during hot weather. I ensure that there is always enough cold brew in the fridge during summer.
You don’t need special equipment to make cold brew at home. If you have coffee beans or coffee grounds, you probably have the necessary tools in the corner of your kitchen.
In this article from Best Coffee at Home, I will explain the intricacies of making cold brew at home without going into unnecessary details.
Grab your mason jar and keep reading.
What Do You Need to Make Cold Brew at Home?
- Mason jar
- Filter
- Coffee
- Water
Mason jar
First, choose a mason jar that is the appropriate size for the amount of cold brew you plan to brew.
Filter
If you don’t want to see coffee grounds floating in your cup while drinking cold brew, you should use a high-quality filter. Hario V60, Chemex, Kalita Wave, or Melitta Bentz filters will work great if you have them. Additionally, you can use cheesecloth if you have it. Cheesecloth is an affordable, durable, and reusable filter.
Coffee
I use freshly ground coffee instead of pre-ground coffee for the cold brew method. Coffee beans lose most flavor within the first 20 minutes after being ground. Therefore, I grind my coffee beans before brewing and use them quickly.
Water
The water you use for making a cold brew must match your taste buds. Although it may seem like a simple detail, it is one of the key points of the recipe.
Related: Best Cold Brew Coffee Subscription Services Reviewed
Step By Step Mason Jar Cold Brew Recipe
Making cold brew in a mason jar is one of the easiest ways to brew coffee at home. I will explain all the details step by step, but remember that this recipe is very simple.
To brew cold brew in a mason jar, all you need to do is mix your coffee grounds and water, wait for it to brew, and strain it.
However, there are a few small details that I need to mention. I’ll explain these in the brewing steps.
Step 1) Coffee-Water Ratio Calculation
The first thing you must do for homemade cold brew is adjust the coffee-water ratio correctly. The ideal coffee-water ratio is 1:8. So, you should use 8 parts of water for 1 part of coffee. For example, you can use 100 grams of coffee grounds for an 800 ml brew.
On the other hand, the coffee concentrate you will obtain with this ratio may be a bit strong for direct consumption. To eliminate this strength, the concentrate is usually diluted using 1 part of water for 1 part of coffee concentrate.
Step 2) Grind Your Coffee Beans
If you are using pre-ground coffee, you can skip this step. I have something to tell you if you are grinding your coffee beans. Relatively coarser grinding is required for homemade cold brew in a mason jar.
I prefer an extra coarse grind coffee as an ideal grinding degree in my recipes.
Note: The grinding degree required for cold brew is a bit coarser than that of a French press. This example may help you to visualize it.
Step 3) Add Water and Stir
Add the necessary amount of water according to the ratio you determined. Then, use a spoon to stir until all the coffee grounds are wet and soaked.
Step 4) Steep
The ideal steeping time for cold brew is between 12-24 hours. This steeping time will determine the strength level of your coffee. The longer you steep, the stronger it will be.
You can steep your cold brew prepared in a mason jar for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator or countertop.
On the other hand, the 12-24 hour range may seem too long. However, don’t forget that your brewed cold brew can last up to a week in the refrigerator without spoiling, and you can enjoy it for days.
If you are new to the cold brew method, I recommend starting with an average steeping time of 16 hours.
Note: Do not exceed the steeping time of 24 hours to avoid unwanted bitter tastes.
Step 5) Strain Out The Coffee Grounds
After waiting enough time for steeping, strain your coffee. The better filter you use, the fewer coffee grounds you will see in your cup.
You can use Hario V60, Chemex, or Kalita Wave filters at this stage. Even cheesecloth can do the job.
Related: French Press vs Pour-Over?
Step 6) Serve and Enjoy
After straining your cold brew coffee, dilute it according to your taste and serve it with ice. If the taste is too strong, you can add milk.
Note: If you have brewed more than you can consume at once, don’t worry about it. You can store cold brew coffee in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks without spoiling.
Bottomline for Mason Jar Cold Brew
Cold brew coffee is a great option if you’re looking for a refreshing drink to cool down on hot days. While it does take some time to prepare, the good news is that you can make a large batch in one go and store it in the fridge for a few days.
And if you want to brew your cold brew at home without fancy equipment, using a Mason jar is an easy and effective method. Plus, the taste will be as good as what you’d get from a cafe.
Cold Brew In a Mason Jar
Equipment
- 1 Mason jar
- 1 Filter
Ingredients
- 100 gr Coffee Grounds
- 800 ml Room Temperature Water
Instructions
- Coffee-Water Ratio Calculation The first thing you must do for homemade cold brew is adjust the coffee-water ratio correctly. The ideal coffee-water ratio is 1:8. So, you should use 8 parts of water for 1 part of coffee. For example, you can use 100 grams of coffee grounds for an 800 ml brew.
- Grind Your Coffee Beans If you are using pre-ground coffee, you can skip this step. I have something to tell you if you are grinding your coffee beans. Relatively coarser grinding is required for homemade cold brew in a mason jar.I prefer an extra coarse grind coffee as an ideal grinding degree in my recipes.
- Add Water and StirAdd the necessary amount of water according to the ratio you determined. Then, use a spoon to stir until all the coffee grounds are wet and soaked.
- Steep The ideal steeping time for cold brew is between 12-24 hours. This steeping time will determine the strength level of your coffee. The longer you steep, the stronger it will be. You can steep your cold brew prepared in a mason jar for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator or countertop.
- Strain Out The Coffee GroundsAfter waiting enough time for steeping, strain your coffee. The better filter you use, the fewer coffee grounds you will see in your cup.You can use Hario V60, Chemex, or Kalita Wave filters at this stage. Even cheesecloth can do the job.
- Serve and Enjoy After straining your cold brew coffee, dilute it according to your taste and serve it with ice. If the taste is too strong, you can add milk.
