Cold brew coffee is not the same as iced coffee. Iced coffee is hot brewed coffee that is brewed over ice or to which you add ice.
In contrast, cold brew coffee requires a long brewing time, is more complex, and gives you greater taste satisfaction.
To make cold brew, soak the ground beans in cold water for 12-24 hours. This long brewing time uniquely extracts flavors and acidity. As a result, you will have a developed body. And you won't be able to taste the bitter taste of grinds extracted with hotter water.
We won't go into all the steps on how to make a cold brew concentrate. If you need step-by-step cold brew coffee recipes, check out these detailed instructions on how to make cold brew coffee.
As with all coffee making, proportion is king. This is especially true for cold brew coffee, as the techniques and brewing methods have been simplified.
The key to successfully making cold brew coffee that tastes great is the ratio, or how much coffee you add to how much cold water.
Cold Brew Concentrate Ratio
If you take a quick glance at a series of recipes, you'll quickly realize one thing: proportion is more complex than you think.
You will find 1:2, 1:8 and even 1:15 coffee/water ratios.
Why the difference?
Basically, the difference is in how you drink it.
Do you drink directly after preparation? Want a light, refreshing drink? Or do you want a dense, caffeine-packed snack in the middle of a hot summer day?
Would you add anything else to your drink? Do you like it with a glass of sparkling water? Are you considering adding ice? Can you add sweeteners and dairy products?
The more material you add, the denser you need to make it. Then when you add other liquids, it tastes like coffee.
As you can see, you need to make your coffee lighter or stronger according to your preferences. And that's why there are so many odds to choose from.
That's why I'm not going to give you a single rate. Instead, I'll give you scenarios to choose from. Then you will know which ratio is best for your situation and tastes.
Cold Brew Scripts
To choose the scenario that works best for you, consider how you will use your coffee when it is ready. There are three main ways you can go with this concentrate:
Refreshing cold brew. This is ideal for a light, refreshing beverage similar to iced tea. Aim for a 1:8 coffee/water ratio or you could go as light as 1:15.
Intense cold brew. Ideal for a heavy drink or mixing with dairy or non-dairy products. Aim for a 1:5 ratio for this.
Cold brew concentrate. Need a versatile concentrate that you can use to make the drink you want? Use a 1:4 ratio. You can even go up to a 1:2 coffee/water ratio. And when we say versatile, we mean it—concentrate can be good for more than just mixing it with cream. You can use it for cocktails, cooking or frappe. Note that this is a pretty caffeinated hit, so don't overdo it.
What Does Ratio Mean?
If you're looking at all these numbers and getting a little startled, don't worry. It's not as complicated as it seems.
The coffee to water ratio means how much coffee you will use in relation to how much water.
You can calculate this by weight (grams) or volume (cups). If you have a kitchen scale or coffee scale, weigh your coffee and water. This will give you more precise measurements. If you don't have a scale, you can measure from a glass.
The important thing is to respect the ratio amounts. Proportions make it easy to express the amounts that you can adjust according to the amount of coffee you will make.
So if you're using a French Press or brewer with a certain water capacity, it's easy to calculate how much coffee you should use.
A 1:4 ratio is 4 parts water to one part ground coffee.
A 1:8 ratio is 8 parts water to one part ground coffee.
A 1:10 ratio is 10 parts water to one part coffee.
The Best Cold Brew Ratio for You
The best cold brew rate for you will depend on four factors:
how much do you want to do
Desired brewing strength
grinding size
You can experiment with recipes to discover what will make the best coffee for you.
If you have a grinder at home or order your coffee beans with a specific grind from your roaster, you can adjust the grind size to suit your needs. Use coarsely ground coffee beans for good results that are not bitter in taste.
Don't forget to take notes while preparing your drink. If you take notes, you can repeat the process when you press the right amount of water, grind size, brewing time and brewing temperature of the coffee.
If not, find yourself scratching your head and asking, “Why is this so great?” You can find it by saying
Is 12 Hours Enough for Cold Brew?
Most cold brew recipes require 12 hours as a minimum brew time and 24 hours as a maximum.lists. If you're making your cold brew at home, is a 12-hour brewing time enough to bring out the flavors?
Yes, 12 hours of brewing time may be sufficient for cold brew.
For good results, use finer coffee grounds to compensate for the shorter brewing time.
Consider increasing the ratio to add more coffee grounds.
Also, consider keeping the brew out of the refrigerator for the duration of the brew—the higher room temperature will help it brew faster.