I know you are used to your regular hot brewing processes day in and day out. But let’s now break the monotony and give this cold brewing process a shot. In that regard, I will teach you how to make concentrated cold brew coffee at home. And who knows, you might never get back to your regular hot coffee drinks after this.
To make your cold coffee concentrate, coarsely grind your coffee beans and mix with water. Afterward, let the mixture steep overnight or for 14-18 hours. Strain your brew through a sieve and dilute it before serving.
Cold Brew Vs. Cold Brew Concentrate
| Feature | Cold Brew | Cold Brew Concentrate |
| Coffee-to-Water Ratio | Typically 1:8 to 1:10 | Stronger ratio, usually 1:3 to 1:5 |
| Strength | Ready-to-drink strength | Highly concentrated and intense |
| Dilution Needed | No dilution required | Must be diluted with water or milk |
| Flavor Profile | Smooth, mild, low acidity | Bold, rich, and fuller-bodied |
| Caffeine Content | Moderate per serving | Higher per ounce (before dilution) |
| Serving Style | Served over ice or straight | Diluted hot or iced |
| Brew Time | 12–24 hours | 12–24 hours |
| Shelf Life (Refrigerated) | Up to 3–4 days | Up to 7–10 days |
| Best Use Case | Casual sipping, ready-to-drink | Coffee drinks, lattes, flexibility |
| Ideal For | Those who prefer lighter coffee | Those who want control and strength |
Pro tip: Cold brew concentrate is ideal if you want flexibility—one batch can become iced coffee, hot coffee, or milk-based drinks just by adjusting dilution.
Typically, cold brew concentrate and cold brew are quite similar. The two cold brews go through the same cold brewing process, which involves steeping coarse coffee grounds in the water for several hours, then strain. The cold brewing process is slower and results in a richer and more flavorful brew than hot brewing.
Even so, the two cold, caffeinated drinks are not the same; one stands out as more potent compared to the other. Let’s see how.
The cold coffee concentrate is highly intense compared to a usual cold brew. In other words, the concentrate is more flavorful and contains the highest caffeine content.
And that’s the reason why you dilute it with water or milk before drinking. But for the cold brew coffee, you consume it the way it is without diluting.
Regarding the coffee grounds to water ratio, a standard cold brew utilizes 1 ounce of coffee grounds to 8 ounces of water. This ratio implies that for 1/3 of a cup of coarse coffee grounds, you use one cup of water.
When it comes to the cold brew concentrate ratio, you increase the coffee grounds quantity relative to water. For a mid-level cold coffee concentrate, combine 1.5-ounce coarse coffee grounds with 8-ounce water. If you are still a beginner in this coffee concentrate game, I advise you to begin with this ratio.
If you aim to make the strongest cold coffee concentrate, use this ratio: 2-ounce coffee grounds to 8-ounce water. Or better still, 2/3 cup of ground coffee to 1 cup of water.
Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate Ingredients
To make your cold brew coffee concentrate, you need;
- 2/3 cup of coarse coffee grounds
- 1 cup of cold water
Note that you can use any coffee beans or grounds to prepare this concentrate. Even so, the coarse grind size is the most suitable. You can also adjust ingredient amounts to suit the brew size you wish to prepare.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
If you’ve been wondering how to make concentrated cold brew coffee, now is the time to clear your doubts. Follow the 5 steps below when preparing your cold brew coffee concentrate.
Step 1: Mix Your Coarsely Ground Coffee with Water and Stir
Pour your coarse coffee grounds into a large bowl. Take your cold water and gradually add it to them. Thereafter, stir the mixture to combine. You can decide to use store-bought grounds or buy your favorite beans and coarse-grind them yourself.
Step 2: Allow to Steep
Cover your bowl with a cheesecloth and leave it to steep at room temperature for about 14-18 hours. With Starbucks, their cold brew steeps for about 20 hours. Personally, my cold coffee concentrate stands for about 15 hours.
Therefore, I can say it’s up to you to decide on how long you want to steep your cold brew. Just bear in mind that the longer your cold brew takes to steep, the bitterer and stronger it becomes.
Step 3: Strain
Pull out the cheesecloth from your bowl and line it on a fine-mesh sieve placed on a large pitcher. Strain your coffee using the sieve into the jug. Don’t stir your concentrate; it will make your coffee cloudy. If you don’t have a cheesecloth, feel free to use coffee filters, a nut milk bag, or a clean handkerchief.
Step 4: Transfer Your Cold Coffee Concentrate into a Reserved Jar and Store
Take your cold brew and pour it through a sieve lined with a coffee filter into a reserved jar. At this point, you may decide to get on and drink your cold brew coffee concentrate or store it in the fridge. Make sure you keep it chilled all the time.
Step 5: Prepare to Drink
When you are ready to drink your cold coffee concentrate, put some ice cubes into a glass. Take ½ cup of the cold brew coffee concentrate and dilute it with ½ cup of water or milk, then add the mixture to the glass with ice cubes. If you like, you can add a sweetener and stir. Fix your straw and enjoy your caffeinated drink while you are still alive.
Related: How to Make a Spanish Latte
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the best grind size for cold brew coffee concentrate, and how do you tell if the grind is correct?
A. The ideal grind for your cold brew concentrate is a coarse coffee grind. You can tell if your coffee bean grind is of the required size by observing how fast your brew drains. If the grind size is too fine, it can cause your coffee to drip at an extremely low speed. Some grounds may even clog the filter.
Q. Do I need a specific cold brew coffee maker?
A. You can make your cold brew with or without a specified cold brew coffee maker. Even so, using a cold brew coffee maker would yield better results than when cold brewing without it. That’s because it evenly disperses water across the coffee grounds and helps you with filtering.
Q. How long should I allow my cold brew to steep?
A. Anywhere between 14-18 hours will give you excellent results. Just ensure you don’t go into the 20–24-hour range. It may give you some unfavorable woody notes in your coffee. If you need an intense profile, my advice is you dilute less instead of steeping longer than the recommended time.
Q. How long does a cold brew concentrate last after making it?
A. If you refrigerate the concentrate well, it lasts for 7-14 days. But the earlier you consume your cold brew concentrate, the better. I am sure you wouldn’t want to drink something that is not fresh and tastes off.
Q. How do you serve cold coffee concentrate?
A. You can dilute it with water or milk, and ice. You can also use it as your shot of espresso version for some coffee recipes like the maple pecan latte and crème egg Frappuccino.
Final Thoughts
You already have all it takes to make concentrated cold brew coffee at home. No more money wasted on ready-made cold brews that you don’t even know how long they have stayed on the shelf. This post is here to guide you every step of the way, and I will be glad to hear you made it.