Cold Brew Coffee Recipe: Smooth Sipper or Strong Concentrate

Cold Brew Coffee Recipe: Smooth Sipper or Strong Concentrate

Whether you need to cool down or just want a low-acid, smooth cup of coffee any time of year—cold brew delivers. The secret to consistent results is choosing your style, sticking to a ratio, and controlling time and grind. Here are two reliable methods for café-quality cold brew at home: ready-to-drink and concentrate.

Cold Brew Ready-to-Drink Recipe (Silky & Simple)

  • Ratio: 1:8 (coffee:water)
  • Example: 100 g coarse-ground coffee + 800 g cold, filtered water
  • Steep Time: 14–16 hours in the fridge
  • Filter: Fine mesh + paper filter, or a dedicated cold-brew system
  • Flavor Profile: Smooth, gentle, and perfect over ice as-is

This method shines with medium roasts and chocolate-nutty profiles. It’s perfect for busy mornings because it’s already diluted to drinking strength. Serve straight over ice or add a splash of milk.

Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe (Bold & Flexible)

  • Ratio: 1:4 (coffee:water)
  • Example: 200 g coffee + 800 g water
  • Steep Time: 16 hours
  • Filter: Mesh strainer + paper filter for clarity
  • Flavor Profile: Stronger and versatile—ideal for iced lattes and cocktails

Cold brew concentrate is adaptable to different tastes in your household. Store in the fridge and dilute 1:1 with water, milk, or alt-milk when serving.

Choosing the Best Coffee for Cold Brew

  • Grind Size: Always coarse, like breadcrumbs—this prevents murkiness and bitterness.
  • Roast Level:
    • Medium roasts → caramel and cocoa notes
    • Light roasts → citrus and floral, amazing for cold brew spritzers
  • Water Quality: Use filtered water; cold water extraction requires longer steeping.

Pro tip: Try Savor Coffee Cold Brew Blend—crafted to deliver a bold yet smooth flavor when brewed cold.

Filtration Tips for Clear Cold Brew

For a silky texture, filter twice:

  • First through a mesh strainer.
  • Then through a paper filter.

Paper traps the finer particles, creating a smoother brew that stays fresher in the fridge.

Cold Brew Storage and Shelf Life

  • Ready-to-drink cold brew: keeps 5–7 days in the fridge.
  • Concentrate: often lasts a bit longer.

Always store in airtight bottles filled close to the top to minimize oxygen exposure.

Serving Ideas Beyond Iced Coffee

  • Cold Brew Tonic: 1 part concentrate + 2 parts chilled tonic, garnish with orange peel.
  • Iced Oat Latte: 1:1 concentrate and oat milk, sprinkle of cinnamon.
  • Citrus Spritz: Light roast concentrate + sparkling water, finished with lemon wedge.
  • Affogato-Style: Ready-to-drink poured over vanilla ice cream.

Cold Brew Troubleshooting

  • Too weak: Increase coffee dose (1:7 ratio) or steep longer by 2–4 hours.
  • Too bitter: Grind coarser, steep shorter, or use a smoother roast.
  • Sludgy/silty: Grind coarser and add paper filtration.
  • Flat flavor: Switch bean profile or brighten with a pinch of simple syrup and salt.

Cold Brew Pro Tips

  • Stir lightly at the start to ensure all grounds are wet, then let it steep undisturbed.
  • Weigh coffee and water for the first few brews to dial in consistency.
  • Batch brew on Sundays so weekday mornings are effortless.

Brew Better Cold Brew with Savor Coffee

At Savor Coffee, we roast with intention—crafting blends and single origins designed to shine over ice. Whether you prefer silky ready-to-drink or bold concentrate, our Cold Brew Blend delivers smooth, chocolatey richness without the bitterness.

Brew your best batch yet with beans roasted for cold brew by Savor Coffee. Shop now and taste the difference when taste matters.

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