How to Make the Perfect Cold Brew Coffee
Do you love cold brew coffee and want to start brewing your own at home? Nobletree is here to help. This guide will walk you through the steps so you can begin making cold-brew coffee like a pro! It’s really easy – you only need a few simple ingredients and patience. So let’s get started!
What is Cold Brew Coffee?
Cold brew coffee is simply coffee brewed with cold water over a longer period. The extended amount of time it takes for cold brew is a large part of what makes it so great. During the brewing process, the sweet coffee flavors and the caffeine are extracted from the beans, and the compounds that often give coffee its bitter taste are left behind. This brewing method results in a smoother, less acidic cup of coffee.
What we love about cold brew is that it doesn’t require expensive equipment or for you to be a trained barista to pull it off!
What You'll Need to Make Cold Brew Coffee
- • Your favorite medium or dark roast Nobletree coffee (coarse ground)
- • A pitcher or container for brewing
- • A mesh filter or cheesecloth
- • An airtight container to store the coffee in after brewing
- • Water
If you are using a mesh filter or cheesecloth, you will also need a rubber band or some way to secure it to the brewing container.
The Brewing Process
Brewing cold brew coffee is a simple process that can be done at home with a few basic supplies. The first step is to grind your coffee beans. We do not recommend preground coffee for a cold brew as the grind will be too fine and difficult to strain. We recommend using a coarse grind for cold-brew coffee. Place the ground coffee in a pitcher or container and add water. Stir until the coffee is fully saturated. Cover the container and let it sit in the fridge or at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
Once the brewing time is complete, strain the coffee through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Discard the grounds and pour the cold brew coffee into a serving container. Serve over ice, and enjoy!
The Perfect Cold Brew Coffee-to-Water Ratio
Depending on the guide or instructions you read, you may see different suggestions on the ‘perfect’ coffee-to-water ratio. But it really comes down to what you prefer. Here at Nobletree, we recommend starting with a 1:4 coffee-to-water ratio and then adjusting based on taste. This means that for every 1 cup of coffee beans (84g), you should use 4 cups of water. While we know this may seem like a lot of coffee compared to the amount of water, cold brewing requires a higher ratio of coffee to water. This is because we are not using heat to extract the qualities of the coffee bean! After brewing, if your coffee tastes too concentrated, you can add a bit of water, milk, or cream to balance it out.
Cold-Brew Serving Suggestions
A Nobletree cold brew can be served hot or cold with no additions and leave you with a great, balanced cup of coffee. But there are many other ways to enjoy cold brew coffee as well. Another fan favorite is to serve over ice with a splash of milk or cream. But you don’t have to stop there. Because cold brew brewing is best done in larger quantities, you can get creative. After you enjoy your morning cup, you can use any remaining cold brew to craft more unique coffee drinks, such as an affogato or cold brew float. The possibilities are endless!
How Long Does Cold Brew Coffee Last?
You should enjoy your cold brew as quickly as possible to retain the great coffee flavors you’ve come to love from Nobletree. After brewing, cold brew can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to two weeks. We recommend storing your cold brew in its concentrated form before you add any milk, cream, or other additions. You may notice that the flavor could begin to taste stale within 4-7 days.
Check out our full line of premium and specialty coffees to make the perfect cold brew today!