How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate
Concentrate stores longer, uses less space, and lets you customize strength. Here's how to make it at home.
⚡ Quick Answer
Use a 1:4 to 1:5 coffee-to-water ratio (200-250g coffee per liter of water), steep 12-24 hours in the refrigerator or room temperature, then filter thoroughly. Concentrate yields 2-3x stronger than regular coffee. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk for drinking. Store concentrate refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Use coarsely ground coffee (similar to French press). The Toddy system, OXO brewer, or simple mason jar + filter methods all work well.
🎯 Key Takeaway: 1:4 ratio (250g/L) makes strong concentrate. Steep 16-20 hours. Dilute 1:1 for serving. Keeps 2 weeks refrigerated.
⚙️ Basic Concentrate Recipe
Standard Recipe (1 Liter Concentrate)
- • Coffee: 250g coarsely ground (French press grind)
- • Water: 1 liter cold or room temperature
- • Ratio: 1:4 (coffee:water)
- • Time: 16-20 hours
- • Yield: ~800ml concentrate after absorption
- • Serving: Mix 1:1 with water or milk
Result: Concentrate roughly 3x stronger than regular drip coffee. Diluted, yields about 1.6 liters of ready-to-drink coffee.
Ratio Guide
| Strength | Ratio | Coffee/Liter | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular cold brew | 1:8 | 125g | Ready to drink |
| Mild concentrate | 1:6 | 165g | 1:1.5 dilution |
| Standard concentrate | 1:4 | 250g | 1:1 dilution (recommended) |
| Strong concentrate | 1:3 | 330g | 1:2 dilution, very strong |
Brewing Methods
Mason Jar Method
Simplest approach.
- 1. Add coffee to jar
- 2. Add water, stir
- 3. Steep 16-20 hours
- 4. Filter through cheesecloth
French Press
Built-in filtration.
- 1. Add coffee to press
- 2. Add cold water
- 3. Steep 16-20 hours
- 4. Press plunger slowly
Toddy/OXO System
Purpose-built brewers.
- 1. Add filter, then coffee
- 2. Add water in layers
- 3. Steep designated time
- 4. Release valve to drain
Serving Suggestions
Dilute concentrate to taste:
- • Black coffee: 1:1 with cold water
- • With milk: 1:1 with milk (hot or cold)
- • Iced latte: Concentrate + cold milk + ice
- • Hot coffee: Concentrate + hot water (1:1 or 1:2)
- • Strong: Drink straight or 1:0.5 dilution