How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home in 3 Simple Steps (No Machine Needed)

You can make real cold brew coffee at home with nothing but coffee, water, a jar, and time. No machine, no filter cone, no subscription needed. Steep coarsely ground coffee in cold water for 12 to 18 hours, strain it, and dilute the concentrate to taste. That's the entire method. Here's exactly how to do it, plus which of our roasts actually make the best cup.

In this article

• What you'll need
• Step 1: Grind and measure
• Step 2: Steep
• Step 3: Strain and dilute
• Which coffee to use
• Common mistakes
• FAQ

What you'll need

• Coarsely ground coffee (coarser than drip, similar to raw sugar)
• Cold or room temperature filtered water
• A large jar, pitcher, or French press
• A fine mesh strainer, plus cheesecloth or a coffee filter
• A kitchen scale if you have one, though measuring cups work fine

Step 1: Grind and measure your coffee

Use a coarse grind, similar to sea salt or raw sugar. If your coffee is ground too fine, it will over-extract during the long steep and turn bitter.

For a standard concentrate, use a 1:4 ratio of coffee to water by weight. That's roughly 85 grams (about 1 cup) of coarsely ground coffee to 32 ounces (4 cups) of water. Prefer it stronger or weaker? Adjust the ratio anywhere from 1:3 to 1:6 and see what you like.

Step 2: Combine and steep

Add the coffee grounds to your jar or pitcher, then pour the water over them, stirring gently to make sure every ground is saturated. Cover the container and let it sit at room temperature or in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. Sixteen hours is the sweet spot for most people: long enough to fully extract flavor, short enough to avoid bitterness.

Room temperature steeping extracts slightly faster and gives a bolder cup. Fridge steeping takes a touch longer but produces a smoother, more mellow result. Both work, so pick whichever fits your schedule.

Step 3: Strain and dilute

Set a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter over a bowl or pitcher, then pour the mixture through slowly. What you're left with is cold brew concentrate, not a ready-to-drink cup. It's strong.

Dilute the concentrate with water or milk, starting at a 1:1 ratio, and adjust from there. Serve it over ice. Stored in a sealed container in the fridge, the concentrate stays fresh for up to two weeks.

Which coffee should you actually use?

Any fresh, coarsely ground coffee will make cold brew, but some roasts are better suited to the method than others.

If you want...	Try...	Why
Bold, low-acid, chocolate notes	6 Bean Blend	Dark roast, built to hold up to a long steep without turning flat
A smooth everyday batch	Cowboy Blend	Cocoa, caramel, and vanilla tones that mellow nicely over ice
Something fruitier to experiment with	Tanzania (single origin)	Pear and strawberry notes come through even after dilution
Cold brew without the caffeine	Peru Decaf	Caramel and citrus notes, same method, none of the jitters

As a rule, darker roasts and blends are the safer starting point for cold brew because they're built for consistency and hold their flavor over a long steep. Once you've got the method down, a single origin like the Tanzania is a fun way to see how much a coffee's origin shows up even in a cold, diluted cup.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using pre-ground coffee. Most bagged pre-ground coffee is ground fine, for drip machines. Fine grounds over-extract during a long cold steep and turn bitter. Grind coarse, or ask your roaster to grind coarse for cold brew specifically.

Steeping too long. More time isn't always better. Past 24 hours, cold brew starts tasting flat and overly bitter rather than stronger.

Drinking the concentrate straight. Cold brew concentrate is roughly twice the strength of a normal cup. Dilute it before you drink a full glass, or you'll get a jolt you weren't expecting.

Even with careful technique, you'll get slightly different results depending on your beans, water, and steep time. That's normal. Most cold brew guides agree the fun part is dialing in your own preferred strength once you've got the basic method down.

Frequently asked questions

How long does cold brew coffee last in the fridge?

Cold brew concentrate stays fresh in a sealed container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Once diluted, drink it within a few days for the best flavor.

Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

The concentrate is stronger, yes, since it uses more coffee per cup of water. But diluted cold brew has a similar or slightly higher caffeine content than a regular hot cup, largely because of that higher coffee-to-water ratio, not the cold water itself.

Can I make cold brew without a grinder?

Yes. Buy whole beans and ask your local coffee shop or grocery store to grind them coarse, or use pre-ground coffee labeled for French press, which is already close to the right coarseness.

Do I need to steep cold brew in the fridge?

No. Room temperature steeping works fine and actually extracts slightly faster. The fridge just gives a marginally smoother, more mellow result. Either is safe.

What's the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?

Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee cooled down and poured over ice. Cold brew is steeped in cold water from the start, for many hours. The slower cold extraction produces a smoother, less acidic cup than iced coffee.