Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for 12 to 18 hours instead of brewed with hot water. The slow, cold steep pulls out less bitterness and acidity, so it tastes smooth and naturally sweet. All you need is coarse coffee, water, a jar and a strainer.
What you need (makes about 8 glasses)
Item | Amount |
|---|---|
Coarsely ground coffee | 100 g |
Cold, filtered water | 800 ml |
A jar or jug with a lid | 1 litre or bigger |
A fine strainer plus a cloth, paper filter or muslin | For straining |
That's a 1:8 ratio of coffee to water, which makes a concentrate you dilute when serving.
Step by step
Grind coarse. The grounds should look like coarse sand or breadcrumbs. Fine coffee turns muddy and bitter. If you buy ground coffee, choose a cold brew grind.
Mix. Put the coffee in the jar, pour in the water and stir so all the grounds are wet.
Steep. Close the lid and leave it in the fridge for 12–18 hours. Less time is lighter, more is stronger. Don't go past 24 hours or it turns woody.
Strain twice. First through a fine strainer, then through a cloth or paper filter to remove the fine sediment.
Serve. Fill a glass with ice, add 100 ml of cold brew concentrate and top with 100 ml of cold water or milk.
Which beans to use
Medium to dark roasts make the classic chocolatey, smooth cold brew. Light roasts make a brighter, fruitier cup.
Our beans | Cold brew style |
|---|---|
Intense Roast (dark) | Bold, bittersweet chocolate. Our pick for cold brew with milk |
Signature Roast (medium-dark) | Smooth chocolate notes, good black or with milk |
Classic Roast (medium) | Soft caramel and a hint of citrus, best black |
All our beans are small-batch Arabica from Chikmagalur, roasted fresh every 3 days. Choose the Cold Brew grind at checkout and they arrive ready to steep. A 250 g pack makes about 20 glasses.
How long does cold brew keep?
Strained cold brew concentrate keeps for about a week in a closed bottle in the fridge. Dilute it only when you serve it.
Common mistakes
Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Grind too fine | Muddy, bitter, hard to strain | Use a coarse cold brew grind |
Steeping too long | Woody, flat taste | Stop at 18 hours |
Straining once | Gritty sediment | Strain again through cloth or paper |
Serving undiluted | Very strong | Mix 1:1 with water or milk |
Flavour ideas
Add sweet cream, salted caramel or a pinch of cinnamon. Try our vanilla sweet cream cold brew or salted caramel cold brew.
No time to wait 12 hours?
For an iced coffee in 60 seconds, pour 20 ml of STIR Speciality over ice with 160 ml of cold water for an iced Americano, or with cold milk for an iced latte. It's not cold brew, but it's smooth, 100% Arabica and ready immediately.
FAQs
Is cold brew the same as iced coffee? No. Iced coffee is brewed hot and then cooled or poured over ice. Cold brew never touches hot water, so it's smoother and less acidic.
Can I steep it at room temperature? Yes, for 12–14 hours, then move it to the fridge. In hot weather, the fridge is safer.
Does cold brew have more caffeine? The concentrate does, because it's strong. Once diluted 1:1, a glass is similar to a regular cup of coffee.
Can I make hot coffee with cold brew? Yes. Dilute the concentrate with hot water or warm milk.