Ever found yourself staring down an $8 coffee shop cold brew and thinking, “I could probably make this at home”? Good news, friend—you absolutely can! And it’s ridiculously simple.
Cold brew coffee concentrate is the foundation of truly fantastic iced coffee drinks. It’s smooth, rich, and packed with flavor—minus the acidity that can make hot-brewed coffee taste bitter when it’s cooled down. Plus, when you make it yourself, you get to choose exactly which beans to use (hello, that fancy Ethiopian roast you’ve been saving!).
The beauty of this method is in its simplicity. All you need is coffee, water, time, and a bit of patience. No special equipment required—though I won’t judge if you want to get fancy with it.
What Makes Cold Brew Concentrate Special?
Let’s clear something up right away: cold brew concentrate is basically cold brew’s more intense cousin. While regular cold brew is already stronger than your typical hot coffee, concentrate kicks things up another notch.
The magic happens through the slow steeping process. When coffee brews slowly in cold water (rather than quickly in hot water), you get a completely different flavor profile. The cold water extracts the coffee’s flavor compounds more gently, leaving behind much of the acidity while pulling out all those chocolatey, nutty, caramel notes.
And because we’re using more coffee grounds relative to water, the resulting brew is extra potent—perfect for diluting with water, milk, or pouring over ice without losing that rich coffee flavor.
What You’ll Need
Making cold brew concentrate at home couldn’t be simpler.
- 3 cups cold water (24oz)
- 1½ cups coarsely ground coffee (4.5oz)
That’s it! No fancy equipment, no special ingredients—just coffee and water.
You can use any coffee you like. That’s the real joy of homemade concentrate—total customization! If you’re starting with whole beans (which I recommend for maximum freshness), grind them coarsely. Think sea salt texture, not fine powder. Using pre-ground coffee? No problem! It’ll work just fine.
Feel free to scale these amounts up or down depending on how much you want to make. Just keep the ratio consistent, and you’re golden.
Cold Brew vs. Cold Brew Concentrate: What’s the Difference?
Both cold brew and cold brew concentrate are made the same way—by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for many hours. The main difference? The ratio of coffee to water.
Regular cold brew is already stronger than hot-brewed coffee. When you hot-brew coffee, the process actually leaves some flavor compounds and caffeine behind. Cold brewing extracts more of both, resulting in a more flavorful, more caffeinated final product.
Cold brew concentrate takes this to the next level. With even more coffee relative to the water, it’s super potent, which is why you’ll want to dilute it before drinking (unless you’re looking to stay awake for the next 72 hours).
The Perfect Ratio
- 8oz water to 1oz coffee grounds
- Or approximately 1 cup water to ⅓ cup coarsely ground coffee
For reference, hot brewing usually uses 8oz water to just ½oz coffee grounds.
But since we’re making concentrate, we need to amp things up:
- 8oz water to 1.5oz coffee grounds
- Or 1 cup water to ½ cup coffee grounds
For an extra-strong concentrate (hello, Monday morning):
- 8oz water to 2oz coffee grounds
- Or 1 cup water to ⅔ cup coffee grounds
If you’re new to making cold brew concentrate, I’d suggest starting with the medium-strong ratio. You can always adjust up or down for your next batch depending on how you like it.
The 3-Step Process
Making cold brew concentrate is almost embarrassingly easy:
- Mix: Combine your water and coarsely ground coffee in a large bowl or container. Stir well to make sure all the grounds are fully wet.
- Wait: Cover the container and stick it in your refrigerator. Now comes the hard part—waiting. Let it steep for 12-24 hours. The longer it steeps, the stronger it gets, but I find 16-18 hours hits the sweet spot.
- Strain: Once it’s done steeping, strain out the grounds. You can use a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or even a clean dish towel. Just make sure you remove all the grounds for a smooth concentrate.
That’s it! Transfer your concentrate to a clean jar or bottle and store it in the refrigerator. It’ll keep for up to 2 weeks, though I doubt it’ll last that long.
Serving Your Homemade Concentrate
When you’re ready to enjoy your cold brew concentrate, remember it’s designed to be diluted. A good starting point is a 1:1 ratio of concentrate to water, but feel free to adjust to your taste. Some people prefer it stronger (1:½), others like it more diluted (1:2).
You can also use milk, cream, or non-dairy alternatives instead of water. Add ice, a splash of vanilla, or a drizzle of caramel syrup, and suddenly you’ve got a coffee shop-quality drink for a fraction of the price.
The concentrate is also incredibly versatile—use it in coffee cocktails, pour it over ice cream for an affogato, or even add it to baked goods for a coffee kick.
@truckerwifeconfessions Coffee Concentrate: -12oz ground coffee -8 cups water Mix and let sit overnight or at least 12 hrs. Then filter and top with around a quart of water. This is a concentrate, I dilute with water or milk at least 1:1. *This is a toddy brewer I found on sale long ago, but really you can just make it in a jar and strain through a regular filter. #truckerwife #truckerwifetip #wifey #homemade #food #oklahoma #homestead #toddycoldbrew #coffee #icedcoffee ♬ What Kinda Gone – Chris Cagle
Why Make Your Own?
Besides the obvious cost savings (seriously, you’ll save hundreds if you’re a regular coffee shop visitor), making your own cold brew concentrate gives you total control. You choose the beans, the strength, and exactly what goes into your cup.
Plus, there’s something oddly satisfying about the process. It’s a bit like a science experiment that ends with caffeine—what’s not to love?
So grab your favorite coffee beans, set aside a few minutes to get things started, and by this time tomorrow, you’ll be enjoying the smoothest, richest cold brew you’ve ever had—no barista required.
AI Assistant: I’ve written a friendly, conversational article about cold brew coffee concentrate that avoids the words on your list. The tone is casual and accessible, perfect for coffee enthusiasts. I’ve maintained the key information about ratios and preparation methods while keeping it engaging. Is there anything specific you’d like me to adjust about the content?
