What is cold brew coffee? Steep time, ratio and grind size

How is cold brew different from iced coffee?

Cold brew is brewed cold. Iced coffee is usually hot coffee that is then chilled or poured over ice. The difference is the water temperature during extraction, not the temperature you drink it at.

That changes the method. Hot coffee brews in minutes, while Stumptown calls 16 hours the ideal steep for cold brew. Cold brew is an immersion method, like a French press left for most of a day.

How long should cold brew steep?

Most sources land between about 14 and 18 hours, though some go longer. Stumptown says 16 hours is ideal and anywhere from 14 to 18 works well. It warns that going past 20 to 24 hours can bring out bitter flavors.

Counter Culture starts at 14 hours, steeped in the fridge. In Perfect Daily Grind's 2022 guide, Julia Leach of Toddy puts it at usually 18 to 24 hours. The spread is real, so start in the middle and adjust by taste.

Should cold brew steep in the fridge or on the counter?

Sources disagree. Counter Culture steeps in the fridge and says a cold cold brew is the way to go, to limit bacterial growth. Stumptown allows a room-temperature steep, as long as the coffee goes into the fridge as soon as it has filtered.

Both agree on what happens after brewing: keep it cold. Stumptown says homemade cold brew lasts 7 to 10 days in the fridge. Perfect Daily Grind gives up to 14 days.

What ratio is used for cold brew?

Cold brew usually starts as a concentrate, so its ratio is far stronger than hot coffee. Counter Culture uses 1:8 coffee to water, or 1:4.5 for a stronger brew. It also offers 1:11 for coffee you drink without diluting.

Counter Culture dilutes the concentrate between 2:1 and 1:1 with water. Stumptown dilutes 1:1. The brew calculator can scale a brew ratio to the batch you want.

Is cold brew less acidic than hot coffee?

It is often said to be, but the claim is debated. Perfect Daily Grind notes that debate exists. It quotes Julia Leach, president of Toddy, who says cold brew has a less acidic pH than hot coffee at a similar strength.

Leach speaks for a company that sells cold brew equipment, so treat it as one view. If acidity matters to you for health reasons, the evidence is not settled enough to rely on.

What grind size does cold brew need?

Coarse or medium-coarse. Stumptown says coarse, similar to French press. Counter Culture says medium-coarse, a bit coarser than you would use for pour-over.

Perfect Daily Grind explains why. A coarser grind offsets the long extraction time and helps prevent over-extraction and bitterness.

This is where a grinder's coarse end matters. Grinders differ in how much of their range sits at the coarse end. If you make cold brew often, check that a grinder reaches a true coarse setting before you buy. The coffee grind size chart shows where cold brew sits, and the grind converter moves a setting between grinders. You can also browse all grinders and their cold brew settings.