How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee, which is sometimes called cold press or cold steeped, is made without heated water and is growing in popularity around the world. Because the coffee is prepared without heat, the result is a smoother and less-acidic cup of the infamous morning beverage. It can also be stored for a few weeks and is great for making large batches of coffee for events or for storing in the fridge and having ready for a morning cup. Brewing coffee this way just takes a little bit of patience, but the result is worth it. Here’s how to make your own cold brew coffee at home.

Gather Your Equipment and Ingredients

In order to make cold brewed coffee, you’ll need a few pieces of equipment. The good thing is that you don’t need any specialised or fancy coffee-making gear. You’ll need a container to hold the water and coffee beans, a filter (a cheesecloth or paper filter will work well), a spoon, and a coffee grinder if you don’t have preground coffee. To make your cold brew, you’ll need 500 millilitres of cold water and 65 grams of ground coffee beans. 

Grind the Coffee Beans

If you don’t have preground coffee, you’ll need to grind it yourself. A medium-fine grind is best for cold brew coffee; this will be slightly coarser than a standard espresso grind. Aim to create uniform-sized grounds for your cold brew—this helps ensure more even steeping and, ultimately, a better cup of coffee.

Combine the Water and Coffee Beans 

Next, measure out your beans and water and combine them in your container. Use your spoon to gently stir the coffee and water together, making sure the grounds are completely soaked. 

Let It Steep 

Now that your mixture is all combined, it’s time for the waiting game. Cover the container and let it sit somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight (like the pantry) for between 12 and 18 hours. After that time, the cold brew should be ready to strain. You may want to check the flavour before you strain it; the longer you let it steep, the stronger the flavour will be, so if it’s too weak for your taste, you can let it steep for longer. 

Strain the Cold Brew

You’ll then need to strain your brew. Line a fine-mesh sieve with a cheesecloth or filter and place it on top of a pitcher or jar. Pour the cold brew mixture slowly into the sieve and let it run through the filter; this could take a few minutes. Once all of the liquid is strained, you’re ready to serve! 

Adding Other Ingredients

If you’d like, you can add your cold brew to other ingredients, like milk or sugar, to make a delicious iced latte or iced mocha. Cold brew can also be used for creating unique cocktails like spiked iced coffees. Get creative and experiment with different components to create unique and delicious combinations. 

Cold brew coffee is the perfect way to beat the heat in summer—it’s smooth, less acidic, and incredibly refreshing. For the perfect coffee for your cold brew, contact Margaret River Roasting Co. We’ll be happy to source the perfect coffee beans for your brew.