Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for 12-24 hours. The result is smooth, low-acid, and naturally sweet. Once you make it at home, you'll never buy it again.
Cold brew is typically brewed as a concentrate (very strong) and diluted before serving. The ratio you brew at determines how you serve it.
Grind 100g of coffee very coarsely — similar to raw sugar or coarse sea salt. This allows the slow cold extraction to happen evenly without over-extracting. A fine grind in cold brew creates a bitter, muddy mess that is very hard to filter.
Add the ground coffee to a large mason jar, French press, or dedicated cold brew pitcher. Pour 1 litre of cold or room-temperature water over the grounds. You can also use a large jug with a lid — any vessel that fits in your fridge works.
Give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure all grounds are saturated with water. You should see no dry pockets of coffee sitting on top. Do not stir vigorously — this is not a cocktail. One or two slow passes with a long spoon is enough.
Cover the container tightly — either with a lid or plastic wrap — and place in the refrigerator. Steep for 16-18 hours. You can go up to 24 hours for a stronger concentrate. Less than 12 hours and the extraction will be thin and under-developed.
Pour the cold brew through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean container to remove the large grounds. Then strain again through a paper coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove the fines. The second strain is what makes the difference between murky and crystal-clear cold brew.
Pour the concentrate directly over a glass of ice. The ice dilutes it slightly as it melts — intentional. Strong, dark, and intensely flavoured. Best for experienced cold brew drinkers.
Mix equal parts cold brew concentrate and cold water or ice. This is the standard serving strength — equivalent to a regular iced coffee. The ratio to use if you're unsure.
Add milk or your preferred dairy alternative instead of water. Whole milk creates a rich, creamy iced coffee. Oat milk adds a subtle sweetness that pairs well with cold brew's chocolate notes.
Pour 60ml of cold brew concentrate over ice and top with 150ml of sparkling tonic water. The bitterness of the tonic complements the sweetness of the cold brew — a cafe favourite that sounds odd but tastes incredible.
