How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home

Not a fan of hot coffee? Cold brew offers a refreshing twist on the popular breakfast beverage by transforming it into a coffee that is perfect no matter what time of day, no matter what the palate. Add caramel, chocolate, vanilla, your favorite dairy alternative, or even peppermint flavoring, and you have a refreshing cold brew coffee that even someone who isn't a fan of coffee is sure to love!

So, how can you make awesome cold brew in the comfort of your own home, without having to drive to the local café or barista? Koffee Kult not only supplies the most delicious Arabica coffee beans, but we also have a cold brew guide for you to follow!

Why Cold Brew Coffee?

First off, it's nice to know why cold brew coffee is such a popular way of enjoying coffee. Since cold brew is cut 50|50 with milk, water, or other mixers, it is perfect for those looking for a subtle coffee flavor with a sweet touch and lower concentration of acidity.

Key benefits of cold brew:

• 70% less acidic than hot brewed coffee
• Smooth, naturally sweet flavor profile
• Less bitter - no burnt or harsh notes
• Concentrated - dilute to your preferred strength
• Stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
• Versatile - drink hot or cold, add flavors, make lattes

Cold brew extracts different flavor compounds than hot brewing, resulting in a coffee that tastes like cherries soaking in vodka until the vodka tastes like cherries! That's exactly what cold brew does! While the process of heating coffee grounds creates higher acid levels in general, the acid level of cold brew is much lower than that of hot coffee.

What You'll Need

Equipment:

• Large jar or pitcher (at least 1 quart/32oz capacity)
• Coffee filter or cheesecloth (or a dedicated cold brew filter bag)
• Fine mesh strainer (optional, for double filtering)
• Storage container for finished cold brew

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of Koffee Kult coffee, ground until coarse
• 4-5 cups of cold, filtered water (your amount of water should match your preferred strength)

Coffee recommendation: Any of our coffees work great for cold brew, but we especially recommend:

• Dark Roast - Chocolate and smooth
• Medium Roast - Balanced and sweet
• Road Dog - Bold with caramel notes

Step-by-Step Cold Brew Instructions

Step 1: Grind Your Coffee ⚙️

Take one pound of your favorite Koffee Kult coffee and grind it until coarse.

• Coarse grind looks like coarse sea salt or breadcrumbs
• Too fine = over-extraction and bitter taste
• Too coarse = weak, under-extracted brew

Don't have a grinder? Order your coffee already ground for cold brew when you checkout on our website!

Step 2: Combine Coffee and Water ?

Combine your one pound of Koffee Kult coffee grounds with one pound of water (your amount of water should match your preferred strength).

Coffee-to-water ratio guide:

• 1:4 ratio (strong concentrate) - 1 lb coffee to 4 cups water
• 1:5 ratio (medium concentrate) - 1 lb coffee to 5 cups water
• 1:8 ratio (ready to drink) - 1 lb coffee to 8 cups water

Most people prefer making a concentrate (1:4 or 1:5) and diluting it later with water, milk, or ice.

Step 3: Prepare the Filter Bag ?

Place the coffee grounds into the filter bag, and then place the bag into the brewing jug.

No filter bag? No problem! You can also:

• Mix grounds directly in the jar and strain later with cheesecloth
• Use a French press (easiest filtering method!)
• Line a colander with coffee filters

Step 4: Cover and Saturate ⏰

Cover the filter filled with grounds with cold water, making sure that all of the grounds have been covered and saturated.

• Stir gently to ensure all grounds are wet
• Press the filter bag down to fully submerge
• All grounds should be in contact with water

Step 5: Steep for 12+ Hours ?

Place the lid on your cold brewing jug and let it sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours. Remember, for cold brew – the longer it sits the better.

Steeping time guide:

• 12 hours - Minimum, light flavor
• 18 hours - Sweet spot for most people
• 24 hours - Maximum flavor extraction
• Beyond 24 hours - May become too strong or bitter

Room temperature or refrigerator? Either works! Room temperature extracts slightly faster, while refrigerator steeping takes longer but some prefer the flavor.

Step 6: Remove Grounds and Enjoy! ?

After the jug sits, viola! Pour your delicious Koffee Kult cold brew over ice, add some flavored syrup, creamer, and sweetener, sit back, and ENJOY a nice cold brew!

Filtering tips:

• Remove the filter bag and gently squeeze (don't over-squeeze or you'll extract bitterness)
• For extra-smooth cold brew, strain through a coffee filter after removing the bag
• Store the concentrate in the refrigerator in a sealed container

How to Serve Your Cold Brew

Classic Cold Brew ☕

• Fill glass with ice
• Pour cold brew concentrate (dilute 1:1 with water if using concentrate)
• Add milk, cream, or sweetener to taste

Cold Brew Latte ?

• Fill glass with ice
• Add 4oz cold brew concentrate
• Fill with milk of choice (dairy, oat, almond, etc.)
• Add sweetener if desired

Flavored Cold Brew ?

Try these flavor combinations:

• Vanilla Sweet Cream - Add vanilla syrup and half-and-half
• Caramel Macchiato - Drizzle caramel and add milk
• Mocha - Mix with chocolate syrup
• Peppermint - Add peppermint extract and cream
• Cinnamon Dolce - Add cinnamon syrup

Hot Cold Brew? ☕

Yes, you can heat cold brew! It won't taste exactly like hot-brewed coffee, but it's smooth and less acidic. Heat gently (don't boil) and enjoy.

Cold Brew Pro Tips

Experiment with strength
Start with the 1:5 ratio and adjust to your taste. Some prefer 1:4 for stronger concentrate, others like 1:6 for lighter brew.

Use filtered water
Since cold brew is 98% water, water quality matters! Filtered or spring water makes the best-tasting cold brew.

Try different beans
Each coffee origin creates different cold brew flavors. Try single origins for unique taste experiences!

Make it in advance
Cold brew stays fresh refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Make a big batch on Sunday for the whole week!

Double strain for smoothness
First strain through your filter bag, then strain again through a coffee filter for ultra-smooth cold brew.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Too weak/watery?

• Use more coffee or less water
• Steep longer (up to 24 hours)
• Use a finer grind (but not too fine!)

Too strong/bitter?

• Use less coffee or more water
• Steep for less time
• Use a coarser grind
• Dilute your concentrate more when serving

Gritty texture?

• Filter through coffee filters or cheesecloth
• Use a coarser grind
• Don't squeeze the filter bag too hard

Sour taste?

• Steep longer for better extraction
• Use fresh, quality coffee beans
• Ensure all grounds are fully saturated

Storage and Shelf Life

Concentrate: Up to 2 weeks refrigerated in airtight container
Diluted cold brew: 3-5 days refrigerated
With milk added: 1-2 days refrigerated

Storage tips:

• Use glass or stainless steel containers (plastic can absorb flavors)
• Keep refrigerated at all times
• Label with the date you made it
• Smell before drinking - if it smells off, discard it

Why Use Koffee Kult Coffee for Cold Brew?

Fresh roasted - We roast and ship within 24 hours
Specialty grade - Only the highest quality beans
Perfect for cold brew - Our roast profiles work beautifully cold
Nitrogen-flushed packaging - Stays fresh until you brew

Best Koffee Kult coffees for cold brew:

• Dark Roast - Smooth chocolate notes
• Medium Roast - Balanced and sweet
• Road Dog - Bold caramel flavors
• Colombia Huila - Fruity and complex

Ready to Start Cold Brewing?

? Shop Koffee Kult Coffee

Order your favorite coffee and start making amazing cold brew at home today!

Questions About Cold Brew?

? Chat with our AI Coffee Expert
Get brewing tips and recommendations: Ask our AI chatbot

? Email us
customerservice@koffeekult.com

? Call us
(954) 962-2353

So, no matter how much you love a good ole' cup of hot joe, you may want to test out some cold brew and give your taste a break. Enjoy smooth, refreshing cold brew made with fresh-roasted Koffee Kult! ☕