Cold Brew Coffee 101

This guide has been curated for 800ml of Cold Brew, you can adjust the figures according to your requirements.

In terms of equipment, I am using a glass jar and to enclose it I wrapped a breathable cotton cloth with a rubber band.

Option 1: For Light Roasts (Bloom Method)

1. Coffee-to-Water Ratio

• Use a 1:10 ratio (by weight) so for 800 ml total water, use 80 gms of coffee.

2. Bloom Phase

• Use hot water at about 80–90°C.
• Measure out 1.5 times the coffee weight in water for blooming:
  • For 80 gms of coffee, that’s 120 ml of hot water.
• Pour the 120 ml hot water over the coarse grounds and let them bloom for about 30 seconds.

3. Adding the Remaining Water

• After blooming, add enough cold water to bring the total water volume to 800 ml.
• That means adding 680 ml of cold water (since 800 ml – 120 ml = 680 ml).

4. Brew Time

• Stir briefly after adding all the water, then cover and let the mixture brew in the refrigerator for 16 hours.
• Stir once more before pressing (if using a French press) or straining.

Option 2: For Medium-to-Dark Roasts (No Bloom Required)

1. Coffee-to-Water Ratio

• Again using a 1:10 ratio, use 80 gms of coffee with 800 ml of cold water.

2. Brewing Instructions

• Place the coffee grounds in your French press or brewing container.
• Add 800 ml of cold water over the grounds.
• Stir thoroughly (about 10–15 stirs) to ensure even saturation.

3. Brew Time

• Cover and let the brew sit in the refrigerator for 16 hours.
• Give it another stir before plunging or straining.

Option 3: For Cold Brew with Orange Infusion

For a refreshing twist, try this variant that adds a hint of citrus to your cold brew.

1. Coffee-to-Water Ratio

• use 70 gms of coffee with 1000 ml of cold water.

2. Brewing Instructions

• Place the coffee grounds in your French press or brewing container.
• Cut 2 whole oranges into thin slices, keeping the peel on.
• Add 1000 ml of cold water over the grounds and orange slices.
• Stir thoroughly (about 10–15 stirs) to ensure even saturation.

3. Brew Time

• Cover and let the brew sit in the refrigerator for 14-16 hours.
• Give it another stir before plunging or straining.

4. Pro Tip

• Add fresh rosemary or mint.
• Stir in vanilla syrup or maple syrup.
• Mix with tonic water for a refreshing cold brew spritzer.

Additional Tips

Adjusting Strength

• The method mentions a ratio range of 1:8 to 1:10. If you prefer a stronger concentrate, you could opt for a 1:8 ratio. For 800 ml water, that would mean using 100 g of coffee.
• For light roasts using the bloom method, the bloom water would then be about 150 ml (1.5×100 g) followed by 650 ml of cold water.

Experimentation

• Feel free to adjust the brew time or the ratio within that range based on your taste preference. Personally, I prefer 22 hours of cold brewing time, although it varies for different types of coffees so I guess keep experimenting.