Cold brew coffee made using a filter method over ice.

Cold Brew Brewing Guide

The warm summer months are a fantastic time to start exploring cold brew coffee recipes! Brewing cold brew coffee using great quality, freshly roasted speciality coffee will result in a far superior product than the usual iced coffee offerings found in the supermarket or at the usual chain coffee shops. We've put together a summer coffee collection of our favourite fruity, juicy coffees...

What is cold brew coffee, and how do you make it? Cold brew is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, then filtering out the grounds. The result is a smooth, naturally sweet, low-acid concentrate that you dilute with water or milk over ice. To make it at home, use 250g of coarsely ground coffee per 2 litres of filtered cold water, steep for 12 hours, then filter. Full recipe below.

Preparation

  • You Will Need

    • Large Jug or Pitcher
    • V60 or AeroPress
    • AeroPress

  • Ingredients

    • 220ml of hot water, just off the boil or 2 litres of filtered cold water (depending on method)
    • 20g of fine/medium ground coffee or 250g of course ground coffee (depending on method)
    • 100g Ice Cubes (if using the hot coffee over ice method)
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Cold brew concentrate being poured over ice.

Method

Recipe for cold brew coffee - hot coffee over ice:

If you'd rather not wait 12 hours to slow infuse your coffee, then the iced V60 or AeroPress method is definitely for you! This method is also fantastic for making a single iced coffee and is our personal favourite. This method of making cold brew involves brewing your coffee using a V60 or similar filter coffee maker and using ice cubes to chill the coffee immediately. In our experience, the coffee might not be fully chilled, so it could benefit from a short amount of time in the freezer or can be served over ice cubes to help to drop the temperature further. The following method is a great starting point:

  1. Grind 20 grams of coffee using your usual filter grind. Grind a bit more fine than usual to slow down the brew.
  2. Brew the coffee using 220ml of hot water. You could brew your coffee using an AeroPress, V60 or similar filter coffee method. The idea is to make a stronger concentrate brew.
  3. Add 100g of ice cubes to the brewed coffee.
  4. If required, chill in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes.

Recipe for cold brew coffee - slow infused:

Perhaps the most common and well know recipe for cold brew coffee is the slow-infused method. This involves using a set amount of coffee on a coarse grind infused in cold water and then filtered. The length of infusion can vary and depends on the desired coffee-to-water ratio and final strength of the coffee. We recommend trying the following coffee recipe as a starting point:

  1. Grind 250g of fresh roasted coarse ground coffee.
  2. Add the ground coffee to 2 litres of fresh filtered cold water.
  3. Infused the coffee for 12 hours.
  4. Filter the cold brew coffee through a paper filter. You could do this using a V60 with filter paper or a filter basket from a filter coffee machine.
  5. The resulting coffee will be a concentrate that should have a great strength of flavours.
  6. Use the concentrate and dilute this with cold water or milk to taste.

The cold brew slow infusion method is fantastic for making a large batch of iced coffee for coffee shops or to share with friends at home or at a party. The cold concentrate will last for a few days and could even be frozen for use at a later date!

Choosing the best coffee for cold brew

For a classic, chocolatey cold brew

Choose a medium roast with tasting notes of chocolate, caramel, nut, or dried fruit. These coffees amplify beautifully in cold brew and partner perfectly with milk or oat milk. Our blends and Brazilian single origins are excellent here.

For a fruit-forward, vibrant cold brew

Choose a light roast washed or natural single-origin with bright, fruity notes — citrus, berries, stone fruit, or tropical character. Cold brew turns these coffees into something that drinks more like a coffee tea: refreshing, floral, and ideal served black over ice. Our Rwandan and Colombian single origins shine in this style.

What to avoid

We'd steer clear of dark, smoky, or heavily roasted coffees. The long extraction time exaggerates the roast character, which can produce a heavy, ashy concentrate. Stick to light or medium roasts with clean, distinctive flavour notes.

How to serve cold brew

Cold brew concentrate is endlessly versatile. A few of our favourite serves:

  • Cold brew with oat milk — equal parts concentrate and oat milk over ice. The classic.
  • Cold brew tonic — 50ml concentrate, 100ml tonic water, ice, and a slice of orange. Surprisingly refreshing.
  • Black cold brew — concentrate diluted 1:1 with cold water. Best with a fruit-forward single origin.
  • Cold brew affogato — pour concentrate over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
  • Coffee milkshake — blend concentrate with ice cream and milk for a summer dessert.

Coffee FAQ's

Cold Brew Brewing Guide

What is a cold brew?

Cold brew coffee involves steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended duration at low temperatures.

Can I freeze cold brew concentrate?

Yes. Cold brew concentrate freezes well for up to 2 months. Freeze in ice cube trays for ready-to-use cold brew ice cubes — they'll chill your drink without diluting it.

What grind size should I use for cold brew?

A coarse grind, similar to cracked peppercorns or coarse sea salt. Finer grinds extract too quickly and produce cloudy, bitter results that are difficult to filter.

Is cold brew less acidic than iced coffee?

Yes. Cold brew is typically around 60–70% lower in titratable acidity than hot-brewed coffee, which is why many people who find regular coffee harsh on their stomach enjoy cold brew.

How long does cold brew last in the fridge?

Cold brew concentrate keeps for up to 7 days in a sealed container in the fridge. Diluted cold brew is best drunk within 2–3 days.

Can I make cold brew using multiple brewing recipes?

Yes, you can use several brewing recipes to make your own cold brew. Check out the recipes above.

Which coffees are suitable for Cold Brew?

Explore our suggested coffees below to find the best suitable blend or single origin for your cold brew.

Perfect for Cold Brew

Explore specialty coffee that will work well when brewed as Cold Brew

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Related brewing guides

AeroPress brewing guide

V60 pourover brewing guide

Cafetière (French press) brewing guide

Light vs dark roast coffee

Whole bean vs ground coffee