Brewing Methods
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home
Step-by-step cold brew guide — coarse grind, immersion ratio, steep time, straining, and how to store and dilute the concentrate.
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Free Coffee Tool
Cold Brew Ratio Calculator
Enter your batch size and pick a strength — get the exact coarse-ground coffee and water for concentrate or ready-to-drink cold brew.
By Michael Anderson
Last Updated: September 21, 2026
Cold brew ratios run much higher than hot coffee because the long steep and cold water extract more gently. Pick your batch size and whether you want a concentrate to dilute or a ready-to-drink brew, and this calculator gives you the exact grounds and water.
Calculate Your Cold Brew Batch
1:5.0
Strong (1:4)Light (1:8)
Coarse-ground coffee
189 g
Cold or room-temp water
946 ml
Steep time
12-24 hrs
Dilute lightly to taste, or drink over ice as-is for a bolder glass.
Get the Coarse Grind Cold Brew Needs
Too fine a grind over-extracts during a 12-24 hour steep and clogs your filter. These burr grinders make it easy to dial in a consistent coarse grind for cold brew.
4.6· $199-$299
Baratza Encore ESPAn electric grinder with stepless micro-adjustment under $250 and Baratza's repair-friendly design, spanning espresso through French press.
4.4· $179-$199
Breville Smart Grinder ProA versatile electric grinder for both espresso and filter coffee, with a Dosing IQ feature for consistent shot-to-shot repeatability.
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Concentrate vs. ready-to-drink: which should you brew?
Most cold brew is made as a concentrate at 1:4 to 1:5 and then diluted roughly 1:1 with water, milk, or ice right before drinking. Brewing concentrated makes the most of your steeping container and gives you control over strength at the moment you drink it — dilute more for an iced latte base, less for something closer to hot coffee strength.
If you'd rather skip the dilution step entirely, brew at a lighter 1:8 ratio and drink it straight over ice. The trade-off is that a full-strength batch takes up more space in the fridge for the same number of servings, since you're not concentrating it down first.
How to filter cold brew after steeping
- Coarse strainer first. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the bulk of the grounds.
- Paper filter for clarity. A second pass through a paper coffee filter or dedicated cold brew filter removes fine sediment for a cleaner concentrate.
- Refrigerate promptly. Cold brew concentrate keeps well refrigerated for 1-2 weeks — store it in an airtight container away from light.
Frequently Asked Questions
1:4 to 1:5 is the standard range for a concentrate you'll dilute before drinking — 1:4 makes a stronger concentrate, 1:5 (the classic Toddy-style ratio) is a bit more forgiving to dilute.
If you want to drink it straight over ice with no dilution, brew at a lighter 1:8 instead.
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