Last Updated on January 28, 2024 by Murat Aktas
Cold brew is an ancient brewing method with a history of over 400 years. It is obtained by steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in cold or room-temperature water for 12 to 24 hours. This long brewing process produces a refreshing, smooth, and less acidic coffee.
You can easily make the cold brew coffee at Starbucks at home in a few simple steps. Moreover, you don’t need to have fancy equipment or be an ultra-talented barista.
This article will explain how to make cold brew coffee at home. It will be simple, but I will provide all the necessary details.
Cold Brew Coffee 101
Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee beans at room temperature for 12-24 hours. It has a smooth, chocolaty taste profile and is less acidic.
However, the two most commonly asked questions about cold brew coffee are:
- Does cold brew have more caffeine?
- Is cold brew stronger than normal coffee?
Cold brew coffee is brewed with a high coffee-to-water ratio, meaning it is brewed with less water per unit of coffee than regular coffee. The result of this brewing is a coffee concentrate.
This concentrate naturally contains a high amount of caffeine. However, it is diluted during serving. Therefore, the amount of caffeine per unit remains lower than regular coffee.
Of course, if you drink the cold brew coffee concentrate directly, the caffeine content will be high.
So, cold brew coffee has a lower caffeine content than regular coffee and is not stronger.
For example, a 16 fl oz (473 ml) Starbucks cold brew coffee contains 205 mg of caffeine. The same medium roast Pike Place filter coffee contains 310 mg of caffeine.
Related: A Tour of Cold Brew Types
Difference Between Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee
Cold brew coffee and iced coffee are two types of cold coffee that are often confused. However, they differ in preparation, taste, and caffeine content.
As mentioned, cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period (12-24 hours). On the other hand, iced coffee is made by traditionally brewing coffee grounds with hot water and then adding ice to it.
While cold brew coffee requires a long brewing time (12-24 hours), iced coffee can be brewed in as little as 5 minutes.
Cold brew coffee takes longer to brew because it uses cold water, which extracts the flavors of the coffee more slowly than hot water. Therefore, longer brewing times are needed for cold brew.
In terms of taste, iced coffee is more acidic, bitter, and robust than cold brews. I would also like to add that cold brew is less acidic, which makes it gentler on the stomach.
Regarding caffeine content, cold brew is a step ahead of iced coffee. This is because the ice added to cool the iced coffee dilutes the coffee, reducing its caffeine concentration.
What Do You Need for Homemade Cold Brew?
Coarsely ground coffee, room temperature water, a filter, and a container are sufficient to brew cold brew coffee. If you want to take your homemade cold brew coffee to the next level, I’ll provide the necessary tips in the following sections of the article.
Step-by-Step Guide For Making Cold Brew Coffee
You now know quite a bit about cold brew coffee. In this part of the article, I will explain how you can make the perfect cold brew coffee at home. I will also provide some tips within this explanation.
Step 1) Calculation
Cold brew coffee is brewed at a 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio, meaning you should use 8 units of water per unit of coffee. For example, for a 16 fl oz brew, you should use 2 oz of coffee.
Step 2) Grind Your Beans
The ideal grind size for cold brew coffee is extra coarse grind. If you are using pre-ground coffee, that’s fine. However, I strongly recommend purchasing a grinder for a more aromatic coffee experience.
Coffee beans lose most of their aroma shortly after being ground. Therefore, grinding your coffee just before brewing will yield the best result.
Step 3) Combine Water And Coffee
Add the coffee grounds and room temperature water to a container of suitable size for your brew. Then, stir the slurry with a spoon.
I often use a wide-mouth glass bottle for my brews. However, if you have a French press, you can use it to make your cold brew, as it will make the straining process easier later on.
Step 4) Leave it For Steeping
Leave your cold brew coffee to steep for 12-24 hours. Brewing for less than this range can result in a weak coffee while going much over can lead to a bitter taste.
As a starting point, you can brew for 16 hours. If your coffee is too strong, you can move closer to 24 hours; if it’s too weak, move closer to 12 hours.
On the other hand, you can choose to leave your cold brew coffee either in the fridge or on your countertop during this stage.
Cover a strainer with cheesecloth or a fine cloth and strain the coffee through it. The finer the filter mesh, the fewer coffee grounds in your cup.
Step 5) Strain
If you have a Chemex, Hario V60, or Kalita Wave, you can use those as well. I strain my cold brew brews with the help of a Hario V60, which is one of the most practical methods.
If you brew your coffee using a French press, use the press’s plunger to strain your coffee.
Step 6) Serve
After making it, cold brew coffee is mixed with water and concentrated in equal parts. If you have 1 cup of concentrate, add 1 cup of water.
But you don’t have to follow this exact mix. You can adjust the amount of water based on what tastes good and pour it over a glass of ice. If you like, milk can be added too.
Final Thoughts on Cold Brew Coffee
To make cold brew coffee at home, it’s important to filter it well. Having coffee grounds in your drink can make it less enjoyable. Now you know everything necessary to make cold brew coffee yourself. You can go to your kitchen and easily prepare it.
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Cold Brew Coffee
Equipment
- 1 Contaigner
- 1 Paper Filter
- 1 Pour Over Coffee Maker Chemex, Hario V60 etc.
Ingredients
- 100 gr Coffee Beans (or grounds)
- 800 ml Room Temperature Water
Instructions
- CalculationCold brew coffee is brewed at a 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio, meaning you should use 8 units of water per unit of coffee. For example, for a 16 fl oz brew, you should use 2 oz of coffee.
- Grind Your BeansThe ideal grind size for cold brew coffee is extra coarse grind. If you are using pre-ground coffee, that’s fine. However, I strongly recommend purchasing a grinder for a more aromatic coffee experience.
- Combine Water And CoffeeAdd the coffee grounds and room temperature water to a container of suitable size for your brew. Then, stir the slurry with a spoon.
- Leave it For SteepingLeave your cold brew coffee to steep for 12-24 hours. Brewing for less than this range can result in a weak coffee while going much over can lead to a bitter taste.As a starting point, you can brew for 16 hours. If your coffee is too strong, you can move closer to 24 hours; if it’s too weak, move closer to 12 hours.
- ServeAfter making it, cold brew coffee is mixed with water and concentrated in equal parts. If you have 1 cup of concentrate, add 1 cup of water.
