If you’re bored of regular hot coffee, cold brew is a great option. In addition to tasting delicious, cold brew coffee has a different flavor profile than coffee brewed hot.
Cold brew is a lighter and more earthy type of coffee that still has a lot of caffeine. To make cold brew in a French press, simply follow the steps in this guide. You’ll have a great morning routine in no time!
What is cold brew coffee?
Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee beans in water for 12 to 24 hours.
The difference in flavor between cold brewed and hot brewed coffee is that cold brew is much more mellow and smooth, while hot brewed coffee can taste bitter and acidic. Cold brew coffee is less acidic and easier on your stomach.
I love cold brew coffee because I can use my favorite beans and my French press.
To brew French press coffee at home, use a coffee to water ratio of 1:16, steep for four minutes, and use dark roast coffee beans.
Cold Brew Vs. Iced Coffee Facts
- Cold Brew is slowly brewed in cold or room temperature water, rather than being quickly brewed with hot water.
- Cold brew is higher in caffeine – cold brew contains 100-200 mg of caffeine, compared to about 95 mg of caffeine in a traditional cup of coffee.
- Regular coffee only tastes fresh on the day it’s made, whereas cold brew coffee stays fresh for 5-7 days when refrigerated.
Decaf Cold Brew Coffee
It’s very easy to make decaf cold brew coffee if you’re sensitive to caffeine. I think cold brewing decaf coffee tastes better, so it’s a good choice if you’re also sensitive to caffeine, are drinking it later in the day, or just want to keep your caffeine intake low.
I always pick up a few bags of my favorite decaf coffee from Strictly Organic when I’m back in Bend during the summer. The coffee is organic and fair trade certified. It uses water processing instead of chemicals for the decaffeination process, making it a great option for decaf.
As stated before, cold brew coffee has twice the caffeine as regular coffee. Therefore, it is a good idea to mix decaf coffee with regular beans. Be sure to use a high quality decaf coffee!
Tools to Make the Best Cold Brew
Cheap and easy to find ingredients make cold brew coffee a great choice for coffee lovers.
1: Burr Grinder
I recommend using a Burr Grinder to make perfectly ground beans. It is generally believed that a burr grinder is the best way to grind beans so that they are a consistent size. The grinder will let you choose how finely ground your beans should be, so it can be used for coarse grounds like French Press coffee or cold brew coffee, as well as finely ground beans for espresso or mid-size grounds for regular drip coffee.
2: A Scale
The perfect grind! If you want to have the best tasting cold brew every time, you need to have the perfect grind. Weighing your beans! This food scale is accurate and inexpensive, whether you weight the food in ounces or grams. Keep this machine on hand to quickly weigh your beans for the perfect brew.
3: a French Press
I recommend using a French Press for cold brew if you make it often. This method is less messy and easier than using a jar and cheesecloth to filter coffee grounds (which can be difficult to clean out). If you make it often, it will end up being cheaper in the long run because you can reuse it.
Cold Brew Coffee Ratio
I was disappointed with the watery brew the next day when I first tried to make cold brew.
To make cold brew coffee, you will need twice the amount of coffee as you would for a typical drip brew. The cold brew coffee ratio can be adjusted to produce a concentrate or regular-strength coffee, depending on your preference. I usually drink my cold brew with just coconut milk as a creamer, and drink it over ice. You can reheat cold brew coffee and enjoy it hot. You will need to add more water since ice will not melt and water it down. You could also make a stronger cold brew and mix it with different types of milk to create a latte or flavored coffee.
- Cold Brew to Pour over Ice: use 1 ounce of coffee beans per 1 cup of water. I typically make 3 cups of coffee, so I use 3 ounces of coffee beans. This is the most common cold brew coffee ratio.
- Cold Brew to Reheat and Enjoy Hot: Prepare cold brew as above, with 1 cup of water per 1 ounce of beans, and then add hot water to taste. To make a weaker brew, add 2 parts cold brew coffee to 1 part hot water. For a stronger brew, use a 4:1 ratio.
- Cold Brew Concentrate for Iced Lattes: use 3 ounces coffee beans per 2.5 cups of water. To prepare extra brew to keep on hand for the week, use 6 ounces of coffee to 5 cups of water.
Cold Brew Ratio in Grams
To make cold brew coffee, use 28 grams of coffee beans per 1 cup of water (or 85 grams per 3 cups). Pour the coffee over ice and enjoy. This is the most common cold brew coffee ratio.
To make hot coffee from cold brew, use the ratio of 1 cup of water per 28 grams of coffee beans. Add hot water to the cold brew until it reaches the desired temperature.
To make a cold brew concentrate for iced lattes, use 85 grams of coffee beans per 2.5 cups of water. To have coffee throughout the week, make a larger batch using 170 grams of coffee for every 5 cups of water.
Cold Brew Coffee Drinks
- Caramel Mocha Iced Coffee Concentrate
- Coconut Mint Iced Mochas
- Vegan Vanilla Iced Coffees (with cashew milk)
- The Best Vanilla Almond Lattes (these can be enjoyed hot or cold, but it’s best to start with a cold brew concentrate).
Can you make cold brew with a French press?
There is no easier way to make cold brewed coffee at home than using a French press. The easiest way to enjoy fresh coffee is to use a French Press. You can serve it over ice or mix it with milk.
You can enjoy a smooth, mild flavor from cold brewed coffee at any time of the day.
You can make cold brew coffee using a French press if you already own one. It is just as effective as a dedicated cold brew maker because it uses the same components.
To make cold brew coffee, put ground coffee in a beaker and add cold water. Steep the coffee, then press the grounds to the bottom so you have only coffee.
How long to steep cold brew in a French press?
For the best cold brew coffee using a French press, steep for 15 hours. If the coffee is shorter than this, it might be a bit underwhelming. If you steep your tea for too long, it will start to extract unwanted flavors from the leaves.
I’ve been experimenting with cold brew coffee for a while now and have tried out different brewing times in the past.
I believe that the 15-hour mark is the perfect time to steep. It will make a cold brew coffee that can be enjoyed on its own or in various cold brew recipes. It’s very versatile.
This recipe will take 15 hours to make. If you want to change the steeping time, it is suggested that you steep your cold brew coffee for at least 12 hours.
If you don’t brew your cold brew coffee for at least 12 hours, it won’t taste as good as it could. The extra hours make a big difference in taste.
If you don’t mind your coffee being bitter, you can steep it for longer than 15 hours. The size of the grind also affects this issue. I will discuss this more below.
The best grind size to use for cold brew coffee:
You will want to use a coarse coffee grind size for the perfect cold brew coffee at home. Since cold brew coffee takes a while to steep, you’ll want to use coarsely ground beans so the flavor can be released slowly.
- If you go too fine, you’ll over-extract the coffee, and you’ll be left with a sour-tasting cold brew coffee.
- If you grind your coffee beans too coarse, you’ll under-extract your cold brew coffee, and you’ll be left with a bitter-tasting coffee.
It’s all about finding the perfect balance of steeping time and grind size.
What coffee beans are best used?
You can make cold brew coffee at home however you want. The best type of coffee to use for cold brew in a French press is a medium or dark roast.
I’ve had great success with coffee beans that have been roasted to a medium or dark roast.
A light roast coffee is not as strong in flavor and is better to use when making pour over coffee, so the coffee’s true flavor can be experienced.
- If you prefer an easygoing cold brew coffee, I will go with a medium roasted coffee.
- If you like a robust cold brew coffee with distinct flavors, I suggest going with a dark roasted coffee.
If you have the opportunity, I would like to try this recipe with both types of coffee beans. This allows you to compare and contrast the two flavors to see which one you prefer.
How to make cold brew in a French press?
Listed below is a step-by-step guide on how to make cold brew in a French press. There are photos to correspond with each step so that you can follow the instructions easily. Let’s get started:
You can prepare your cold brew coffee by following the steps listed below:
- First, it’s time to grind your coffee beans. You can choose to use medium or dark roasted coffee beans for this.
- Grind them coarse; you can have a look above for the grind size I like to use.
- Once you’ve ground your coffee beans, add them to the French press beaker.
- Pour the cold tap water on top and give this a good stir.
- Once the coffee grounds are fully wetted, cover the beaker.
- Now, leave the coffee to steep in the French press for 15 hours.
After the 15-hour mark, you can follow the next steps:
- After steeping your cold brew coffee, place the plunger on the beaker.
- Slowly press down on it. The slower you go, the cleaner your cold brew coffee will be.
- Now, slowly pour the cold brew coffee into a jar or glass of choice.
- You’ve now made amazing cold brew coffee!
- Don’t forget to clean the French press so you can use it to make amazing coffee again!
Cold Brew FAQ
Is Cold Brew Stronger Than Regular Coffee?
Yes, cold brew is stronger than regular coffee. It takes a long time to make this coffee, which means more of the coffee is mixed in with the water. This makes the coffee stronger and more caffeinated than usual. It has a strong flavor that is not diluted when poured over ice.
Can Cold Brew Coffee Be Heated Up?
Yes, cold brew coffee is great heated. Microwave or heat in a small saucepan, and then add hot water to dilute. The ideal ratio for hot coffee made with cold brew concentrate is between 2 and 4 parts cold brew to 1 part hot water. For example, you might use 1 cup of cold brew concentrate with 1/2 cup of hot water, or 1 cup of cold brew concentrate with 1/4 cup of hot water, depending on how strong you want your coffee to be.
How Long to Cold Brew Coffee?
At room temperature, cold brew takes 12 hours. If you aren’t able to get to it for 24 hours, put it in the refrigerator to slow down the brewing process. If you want the tea to be ready sooner than 12 hours, start by boiling the water (not boiling it), and leave it for 3-6 hours.