Cold Brew Calculator
Choose concentrate or ready-to-drink, enter your coffee, and get the exact water amount and steep time for smooth, low-acidity cold brew.
What are you making?
Concentrate uses roughly 1:4–1:6 coffee to water and is meant to be diluted before drinking.
Concentrate vs. ready-to-drink
Concentrate is brewed strong (about 1:4 to 1:6) so you can store it and dilute a splash at a time with water, milk, or ice. Ready-to-drink is brewed weaker (about 1:8 to 1:12) so it's perfectly balanced straight from the jug. Pick your style above and the calculator adjusts the water accordingly.
Steeping and filtering
Stir the grounds into cold, filtered water until fully saturated, cover, and let it steep 12–18 hours. Filter through a fine mesh followed by a paper filter or cloth for a clean cup. Store finished cold brew in the fridge and drink within a week.
Want to think in pure ratios? Try the coffee ratio calculator, or scale a whole batch with the coffee amount calculator.
Common coffee ratios by method
Cold brew uses far more coffee per unit of water than hot methods. Here's how it compares.
| Method | Balanced ratio | Grind | Brew time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pour Over | 1:16 | Medium-fine | ~3:00–3:30 |
| French Press | 1:15 | Coarse | ~4:00 |
| AeroPress | 1:15 | Medium-fine | ~1:30–2:00 |
| Drip Coffee | 1:16 | Medium | ~4:00–6:00 |
| Chemex | 1:16 | Medium-coarse | ~4:00–4:30 |
| Cold Brew | 1:5 | Extra coarse | 12–18 hours |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ratio for cold brew concentrate?
For concentrate, use roughly 1:4 to 1:6 coffee to water (a 1:5 balanced ratio is a great start). Steep 12–18 hours, filter, then dilute the concentrate about 1:1 with water or milk before drinking.
How long should cold brew steep?
Steep between 12 and 18 hours. Around 12 hours at room temperature or 16–18 hours in the fridge gives a smooth, balanced result. Longer than 24 hours can turn bitter.
What grind size is best for cold brew?
Use a coarse grind, similar to raw sugar or coarse sea salt. A coarse grind keeps extraction gentle over the long steep and makes filtering much easier.