Cold brew

Caffeine estimate

Approximately 210-315mg (240 ml of the undiluted brew, taking about 800 ml of liquid from 100 g of arabica in a litre of water).

Inferred, not independently verified — CoffeeHQ's caffeine estimator's range for this recipe's dose. It is a model built from published measurements of other coffees, not a measurement of this drink. Diluted one to one, the same glass holds half as much. Cold brew is often high in caffeine per serving because of how much coffee goes into it; the two studies read do not agree on whether a cold steep takes more caffeine from each gram than a hot brew.

Brewing method

Made using Cold brew steeping. Grind: Coarse.

Descriptive grind labels like this are illustrative starting points, not precise measurements — the same label can mean different particle sizes on different grinders. See the grind size guide for how to dial this in on your own equipment.

Taste, variation and common mistakes

Measured lower in total acids than hot-brewed coffee in the studies CoffeeHQ has read, and usually described by drinkers as smoother; whether it is less bitter was not tested in those studies. The trade-off is a less aromatic cup — heat also drives off much of the volatile aroma that makes hot coffee smell strong.

Common mistakes

• Drinking the concentrate undiluted — most cold brew is brewed as a concentrate and needs roughly equal-parts dilution with water, milk or ice before drinking.
• Using a fine grind, which over-extracts during the long steep and can taste muddy or bitter; a coarse grind is standard for cold brew.
• Steeping for much longer than the typical 12-24 hour range on the assumption that more time is always better — very long steeps don't reliably improve the result and can taste flat.

Steep time, grind and dilution ratio vary significantly by brewer and café — there is no single fixed recipe, and the figures here are a practical starting point rather than a formal standard.

Steps

1. Combine coarse coffee grounds with cold or room-temperature water.
2. Steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
3. Filter thoroughly and dilute the concentrate to taste before serving over ice.

Equipment

• Cold brew maker
• Burr grinder

Troubleshooting

• Coffee tastes weak or watery

Compare

• Cold brew vs. iced coffee

Build this drink

Tools for working out the quantities this drink needs.

• Cold-brew batch and dilution calculatorPlan a batch of cold brew from the coffee you have, dilute what you made, or work back from the number of glasses you need.