What Is The Best Coffee To Water Ratio To Make Cold Brew?

If yes, what coffees do you like for cold brew? I asked myself these exact questions when I was on the hunt to find the best ratio for Cold Brew.

As I looked around to see what coffee to water ratios was out there, I found pretty much nothing. Making coffee at home is easy, but you need to be especially careful about the proportion of coffee and water. If you don’t do this, your taste will be too strong or not strong enough.

So, let’s get started.

What is cold brew coffee?

The term cold brew is a misnomer. Cold brewing coffee is not a different process than brewing regular hot coffee.

Cold brew coffee is a method of brewing coffee that uses cold water and a coarse ground for more extended periods to produce a thicker, less acid, and more flavorful drink than conventional hot-brewed coffee.

Cold brewing takes around 12 hours, whereas hot-brewed takes about 4 minutes. The result is up to 2x more caffeinated than typical drip-brewed coffee.

How is Cold Brew Coffee made?

The process involves steeping coarsely ground coffee in room temperature or cold water for about 12 hours. The result is a rich-tasting, highly caffeinated brew that doesn’t have the bitterness of hot-brewed coffee.

STEPS FOR MAKING IT

This is a simple recipe once you get the ratios right and have the time. You don’t need to be a master chef to make a cold brew :

1. Grind your coffee- Coffee that has been ground at a medium to coarse level works best in this recipe.
   
   
2. Steep coffee in cold water- Mix ground coffee with cold water. Use Chlorine-free water for best results.
   
   
3. Let it chill- After submerging the ground coffee in cold water, leave it for 12 hours. After that, remove the grounds from your mixture and pour it through a strainer and into a pitcher or carafe.
   
   
4. Strain- You will want to use a coarse strainer or cheesecloth to strain out any excess grounds that were not submerged in water during the brewing process.

And enjoy! Easy, right? Now let's get some tips on the Coffee to Water Ratio to get a cold brew better than the ones you buy.

Cold Brew Coffee Ratio.

There are many factors for making cold brew better than the ones you buy. There's a general consensus that 1:5 coffee to water creates a balanced drink that you can enjoy straight.

If you like adding milk or something else to your iced coffee, you should mix one part iced coffee with one part milk or whatever else you prefer. Consider adding sweetened milk or sugar to your iced coffee blend.

We recommend beginning with the basics and learning how to broaden your range of skills over time. Start with the 1:5 proportion, see how you like it, and then you can thereafter try different versions.

Here are some different proportions you can try as per your taste pallets:

1. 1 part Coffee (Coffee that is ground coarsely) in 5 parts Water- This is the most popular ratio for a cold brew and the most important ratio to remember when making coffee.
   
   
2. 1 part Coffee to 4 parts Water- For a more potent, more bitter cold brew, use this ratio to make your cold brew.
   
   
3. 1 part Coffee to 6 parts Water- This ratio is almost equivalent to black coffee, so that it will be very strong. It’s great if you like to sip on strong coffee throughout the day.
   
   
4. 1 part Coffee to 12 parts Water- You can keep going with ratios if you like, but most people won’t need to go this far!

Cold Brew Concentrate Ratio

The best coffee to water ratio will be a little different for every coffee drinker. This is because everyone has different taste buds that react differently to different types of coffees.

Cold-brew is strong, so if you plan on blending it and adding in dairy and other flavors, you may want to start with a stronger concentration than you may expect.

You can always dilute the batch later if it ends up being too strong for your liking.

What is the purpose of making concentrate?

Making cold brew concentrate is a way to make delicious, concentrated coffee. There are many ways to do it; google for cold brew recipes.

The most popular methods are:  

• Steeping the grounds in water and then straining out the grounds before drinking the brew. You’ll notice that the grounds left behind in the strainer are very concentrated.
  
  
• Making a concentrate and storing it in the fridge in a sealed container.
  
  
• Brewing cold brew coffee and then splitting it up into multiple glasses to reduce the strength.

What is the best coffee to water ratio to make cold brew concentrate?

For a single drink, the concentrate ratio is 1:1 (coffee: water). This makes for one of the most profound flavors you can obtain from cold-brewed coffee.

So, for a one-cup concentrate made of 12 oz. Cold-brewed coffee, you will use 18 oz. of water (4 oz. per cup). The finished product will be like iced coffee in the future, and no need to add more ice cubes before drinking.

For a concentrate, you want your coffee to be strong but will reduce its bitterness. If you're going to dilute it with milk for iced coffee, then go with the ratio of 1:2.

The total amount of water for cold-brewed coffee is significant because it will affect the strength and taste of your brew. For example, if you have 4 oz. Per cup of cold-brewed coffee, 12 oz. would be ideal for a strong but balanced drink.

For 16 oz. of cold brew coffee, you would want to use 24 oz. of water in order to have the same strength as iced coffee.

FAQ:

Q: Isn’t it too much work to do cold brew?

A: Yes, but if you are serious about cold brew, it will be worth it! It's not super complicated, just a little time-consuming.

The hardest part of brewing coffee is actually the ground coffee portion. So once you get that part down and start experimenting with flavors and ratios, it's going to be a breeze! No more stale coffee at the office (unthinkable).

Q: Is cold brew stronger than other coffee?

A: YES. Because the coffee grounds are steeped in water for 12+ hours, making it very strong! That being said, it is pretty easy to dilute! 

You can always add all of the water in at once and then let it sit for 12 hours, or you could use less water (2 ½ cups) and steep it for 2 hours. 

This will be a lot weaker than if you were to make it with 4 cups of water. And after all that work.

Q: Should I dilute my cold brew coffee?

A: If you are looking for a cold-brew coffee with the creamiest texture and less strong, then yes. You will want to dilute it with either milk or water to get the right balance of coffee flavor and milk.

How many tablespoons of coffee should I use for cold brew?

Most coffee houses (at least in the U.S.) follow this formula for making many of their coffees: 1 tbsp of granulated or ground coffee per 12 oz. of water. This is usually course grinds, so this method may not work for you depending on the fineness of your machine.

What is the best ratio for iced coffee?

1 part coffee and 8 parts water is a good ratio for cold brews, and is how it’s done at many shops.
This means that you would need to mix 8oz of water with 1oz of coffee (1:8).

What is the proper ratio for a cold brew?

2 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee per cup of (filtered) water, steeped in the fridge overnight (about 12 hours). The resulting concentrate can then be diluted with milk or water to taste.

How long do you steep cold brew?

Cold brew is made by steeping ground coffee for 12+ hours in water. This allows the coffee to reach its full flavor potential without becoming bitter.

Can you steep cold brew too long?

Yes, you can over-steep your cold brew which can result in dark oily looking liquid.

Is 10 hours enough for cold brew?

Most coffee connoisseurs don’t recommend making your own batch for less than 12 hours to allow for the best flavor.

Can you use regular ground coffee for cold brew?

Yes, you could use regular ground coffee to make cold brew with a ratio of 2 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee per cup of water.

Do I need an ice bucket for cold brewed coffee?

No, you don’t need an ice bucket for making your own cold brew; simply mix it with filtered or purified water and let it sit overnight in the fridge.

Should you Stir cold brew while steeping?

You should mix your grounds and water before you start steeping, as stirring throughout will make for a less than desirable end product.

Final Thoughts:

Try the ratio that works best for you and your taste buds! As long as you are using the right amount of coffee to water ratio, you’ll be ready to make a delicious cup of cold brew.

You can constantly adjust the ratio to make it stronger too. For example, if it tastes weak, add more coffee grounds. If the taste is too strong, add some water and sweetener or milk.

I hope this article has helped you out in your quest to find the best coffee to water ratio for cold brew. Let us know your favorite cold brew recipe in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out our Cold Brew Coffee Recipes on our site for more.

And remember, you be the judge!

So, let us know what you think about it, and if you have any questions, feel free to comment below and let us know by liking or sharing the post on your social media platforms.