Cold brew is one of the easiest (and hassle free) ways to get a supply of consistently good coffee at home.
Here’re the answers to the frequently asked questions we’ve received from folks who are thinking of making their own cold brew coffees at home:
How long should I steep my Cold Brew for?
- 10 to 18 hours at room temperature
- 12 to 24 hours in the fridge
Steeping beyond these 18 to 24 hours will result in a more bitter coffee with a tinge of woodiness. If you plan to consume your cold brew with milk, oversteeping shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
I prefer steeping my cold brew in the fridge simply because it’s easier to remember to come back to my cold brew at the same time the next day.
If you forget about your cold brew or accidentally oversteeped it, don’t worry. You can still enjoy it with milk or mix it with a sweet lime/lemonade juice that you can still enjoy on a hot summer.
Best coffee for cold brew?
Generally, we would go with robust, medium to dark roast coffee blends for a cold brew as this isn’t the best brewing method to present the wider range of flavor notes in lighter roast coffees or single origins.
Coffees with nutty or chocolatey flavor profiles would generally be good for cold brews.
That said, you can use any coffees for cold brew, there’s no rules to break here.
Best grind size for cold brew?
Coarse.
Start with the maximum coarse setting on your grinder. If you find that it’s taking too long to steep, or that your cold brew tastes too ‘light’, you can grind the next batch slightly finer.
This also varies between coffee beans and roast levels, so experiment with your own set up!
Best coffee to water ratio for cold brew?
| Type of Cold Brew Coffee | Coffee : Water Ratio |
| Cold Brew Concentrate | 1:2 to 1:3 |
| Regular cold brew that you can drink straight | 1:5 to 1:10 |
How long does cold brew last?
7 – 12 days in the fridge.
Cold brew coffee tends to go stale and flat after 12 days.
If you started off with old beans, the shelf life of your cold brew would also be shorter. Ideally, I would try to finish it up within 7 days.
How to tell if my cold brew has gone bad?
Check for any foreign bodies – if you’ve kept it for more than 3 weeks, there might be mold growing in it.
Smell it – if it smells weird, chuck it.
Taste it – if it tastes off, flat or unpleasantly sour, you may want to throw it out.
Do I need to store my cold brew in the fridge?
Yes.
How to store my cold brew?
In glass bottles, with a small opening.
If you’re making a larger batch, you should ration them into smaller glass bottles. This will reduce the need to expose your entire cold brew to temperature changes and external air.
Ideally, you should plan your cold brew volume and make just enough to last you for a week.
Do I need to use filtered water for cold brew?
Yes.
The water you use can affect the final taste of your brew.
Can I cold brew decaf coffee?
Yes you can.
You may need to reduce the steeping time depending on the decaf coffee beans you’re using.
Best cold brew recipe?
This depends on the beans you use and your cold brew set up. We wrote a guide on how to make cold brew at home.
I have a cold brew question not on your list…
Leave your question in the comments below and we’ll get back to you!
