If you already know how to make great hot coffee but haven’t tried cold brew concentrate at home, you’re missing out on an easy way to enjoy café-quality coffee all week. Cold brew concentrate is more versatile than ready-to-drink cold brew. You can dilute it for iced coffee, mix it with milk for a latte, or use it as a base for coffee cocktails. The most important part is getting the coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, and steeping time just right.
In our last guide, we explained why cold brew and iced coffee taste so different, even when made from the same beans. Here, we’ll show you step by step how to make cold brew concentrate, pick the best beans, get the right coffee-to-water ratio, and store your concentrate so it always tastes great.
Quick Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe
You can save or print this recipe for easy reference while brewing.
[Download Printable Recipe Card (PDF]
Yield 4–6 servings Prep Time 10 minutes Steep Time (Room Temp) 12-16 hours Steep Time (Refrigerator)
14-16 hours
Coffee 3 ounces (approx. 85 grams)
Water 4 cups (32 fl. oz or about 1 liter)filtered water Coffee-to-Water Ratio 1:4 Storage Refrigerate in an airtight glass container for up to 7–10 days
Quick Method
- Combine coarse ground coffee and filtered water in a large jar.
- Stir until all the grounds are saturated.
- Cover and steep for 16 hours.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve, then filter through a paper coffee filter.
- Refrigerate the concentrate and dilute with equal parts water or milk before serving.
Choosing the Best Coffee for Cold Brew Concentrate
Cold brew concentrate is just what it sounds like: a strong version of cold-brewed coffee. You make it by soaking coarse coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water for 12 to 24 hours. Because it uses more coffee and less water than ready-to-drink cold brew, the result is a richer, stronger coffee that you’ll want to dilute before drinking.
One of the most important decisions you’ll make is selecting the coffee itself. Although almost any coffee can be used, not all coffee beans produce the same results. Freshly roasted specialty coffee usually tastes better than older pre-ground coffee because it keeps more of its natural sweetness and aroma. For cold brew concentrate, medium and medium-dark roasts are popular because they produce balanced coffee with chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, and nutty flavors that pair well with milk.
Lighter roasted coffee, however, should not be overlooked. When brewed correctly, they produce refreshing concentrates with fruit-forward flavors and surprising sweetness. Kenyan coffee, in particular, develops a lively combination of blackberry, blackcurrant, citrus, and cocoa, creating an elegant cold brew without overwhelming acidity.
Grind size is equally important. A coarse grind slows extraction by reducing the surface area exposed to water. Because cold brew steeps for up to 24 hours, a fine grind continues extracting compounds long after the desirable sugars have dissolved, often producing woody or bitter flavors. A coarse grind creates a cleaner, sweeter concentrate that filters more easily.
Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe
This cold brew concentrate recipe is popular because it’s so simple. With just two ingredients and some basic equipment, almost anyone can make café-quality cold brew at home.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ((8 oz) coarse ground coffee
- 4 cups (1 liter) filtered water
Equipment
- Large glass jar or brewing pitcher
- Long spoon
- Fine mesh strainer
- Paper coffee filter or cheesecloth
- Airtight glass bottle for storage
How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate
- Start by placing the coarse ground coffee into your brewing container. Slowly pour the filtered water over the grounds. Stir gently for 20 to 30 seconds until no dry pockets remain. This simple step promotes even extraction and helps produce a more balanced concentrate.
- Cover the container and allow it to steep based on where you're brewing. If you're brewing at room temperature, aim for 12 to 14 hours. The warmer environment speeds up extraction, producing a concentrate with a full body, balanced sweetness, and enough brightness to preserve the coffee's character. If you're brewing in the refrigerator, extend the steeping time to 14 to 16 hours because the colder temperature slows extraction. This longer brew allows the coffee to develop the same body and sweetness without becoming under-extracted. The goal is to create balance without eliminating acidity.
- Once brewing is complete, strain the coffee through a fine mesh sieve to remove the larger grounds. For a cleaner concentrate, filter it a second time through a paper coffee filter. Although this step takes a little longer, it removes fine sediment and creates a smoother final cup.
- Transfer the concentrate into a clean, airtight bottle and refrigerate immediately.
Pro tip: A standard cold brew can be poured directly over ice and enjoyed immediately, whereas a concentrate is intended to be mixed with water, milk, or another beverage before drinking.
A well-made cold brew concentrate should retain some of the coffee's natural fruit character while developing a smoother body and greater perceived sweetness. Brewing significantly longer than recommended doesn't necessarily produce better coffee. Instead, it can flatten the cup and introduce woody or over-extracted flavors that mask the coffee's natural complexity.
Don’t forget to filter your concentrate well. Running it through a paper filter after the first strain removes fine particles that can settle in the bottle and make your coffee gritty.
The Ideal Coffee-to-Water Ratio for Cold Brew Concentrate
For most home brewers, the following ratios provide an excellent starting point.
Coffee Water Result
Coffee | Water | Result |
3 ounces | 4 cups | Strong cold brew concentrate |
3 ounces | 5 cups | Medium-strength concentrate |
3 ounces | 8 cups | Ready-to-drink cold brew |
How to Dilute Cold Brew Concentrate
Since cold brew concentrate is intentionally made strong, the last step is to dilute it before drinking. This gives you lots of options. You can make a lighter, refreshing drink for a hot day or a richer coffee that goes well with milk.
Mix equal parts concentrate and cold water. This makes a balanced cup that’s sweet and still has enough body to taste great over ice.
If you like milk-based drinks, use milk or your favorite plant-based milk instead of water. Oat milk pairs well with coffee with chocolate and caramel flavors, while whole milk makes a rich, creamy latte. For fruity coffee like Kenyan kahawa, try sparkling water for a refreshing coffee tonic that brings out citrus and berry notes.
The beauty of cold brew concentrate is that you are never limited to one serving style. A single batch can become a classic cold brew, an iced latte, a coffee tonic, or even the base for coffee mocktails, making it one of the most versatile brewing methods available.
How Long Does Cold Brew Concentrate Last?
One big advantage of making cold brew concentrate is that you don’t have to brew coffee every day. If you store it properly, a batch will stay fresh for several days, which is perfect for busy mornings or making drinks all week.
After you filter the concentrate, pour it into a clean airtight bottle or container and put it in the fridge right away. Some people say cold brew can last up to two weeks, but most coffee experts suggest drinking it within seven to ten days for the best flavor. Over time, it will lose some of its aroma and sweetness, even if it’s still safe to drink.
PRO tip: It’s also important to keep your concentrate away from foods with strong smells, since coffee easily picks up other aromas. Glass containers generally perform better than plastic ones because they do not retain odors or alter flavor with repeated use.
If your concentrate develops an unusual odor, visible cloudiness beyond normal sediment, or an unpleasant sour taste, discard it.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to make cold-brew concentrate is less about following a strict recipe and more about understanding the relationship among coffee, water, grind size, and time. Once those fundamentals come together, you’ll be able to prepare consistently smooth, flavorful cold brew that rivals what you’d find in many specialty cafés.
Use this recipe as a starting point, and then try different coffee origins, roast levels, and dilution ratios to find what you like best. Every coffee brings out something new when brewed cold, which makes cold brew one of the most fun ways to experiment at home.
If you’re not sure whether you prefer cold brew or iced coffee, check out our guide comparing the two. You’ll learn how each method changes the flavor, body, and acidity so that you can pick your favorite for your next cup.
If you're looking for coffee with vibrant fruit notes, chocolate sweetness, and exceptional clarity, explore our selection of farm-direct Kenyan coffee and discover how different origins transform the cold brew experience.