Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate

Cold brew coffee is a refreshing, smooth drink that is steeped in cold water for 8 to 24 hours. It’s made using coarse-ground coffee, usually from light to medium roast beans, and offers a less acidic and more mellow flavor than hot-brewed coffee. Here’s a guide to making your own cold brew concentrate at home.

Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Recipe

Cold brew concentrate serves as a versatile base for various coffee drinks. It can be stored in the fridge for 7 to 14 days, making it convenient for quick coffee fixes throughout the week. You can dilute the concentrate with water, milk, or other liquids to adjust the strength of your coffee. We recommend starting with a 1:1 ratio—for example, mix 100 ml of water with 100 ml of cold brew concentrate and adjust to your taste.

Ingredients

To make cold brew concentrate, you’ll only need two basic ingredients:

• Coffee (coarse grind): 40 grams (1.4 oz)
• Water: 200 ml

This ratio of 1:5 coffee to water yields about 120 ml of cold brew concentrate. Feel free to scale up the recipe if you want to make a larger batch.

Preparation Steps

1. For the best results, grind your coffee beans just before brewing. The grind should be coarse, similar to what you’d use for a French press. Tip: Freshly ground beans enhance the flavor and aroma of your cold brew.
2. In a jar or French press, combine the ground coffee and cold water. Make sure the container has a tightly fitting lid to prevent the coffee from absorbing any unwanted odors from the fridge.
3. Place the jar or French press in the fridge and let the coffee steep for 8 to 24 hours. The longer it steeps, the more concentrated the flavor becomes. Tip: Set a reminder to ensure you don’t steep the coffee too long, as over-extraction can result in bitterness.
4. After steeping, filter the cold brew to remove any sediment. Start with a fine strainer, then use an Aeropress or a paper filter for a second pass to ensure a clean, smooth concentrate. Be sure to pre-wet paper filters with hot water (over 90°C / 194°F) to remove any papery taste.
5. Your cold brew concentrate is now ready! Store it in the fridge for up to 14 days, and use it as a base for iced coffee, lattes, or other refreshing coffee drinks. Simply dilute with water or milk according to your preference.

Why Cold Brew is Different

• Cold brew is steeped for up to 24 hours, allowing the water to extract most of the soluble components from the coffee, resulting in a denser, richer flavor.
• Due to the extended steeping process, cold brew tends to have higher caffeine levels than regular coffee.
• Since many acids and oils are less soluble in cold water, cold brew is much less acidic than hot-brewed coffee, making it a smoother and more stomach-friendly option.