Skip the expensive coffee shop runs — cold brew concentrate is your ticket to barista-level iced coffee at home.
This liquid gold delivers a smooth, naturally sweet flavor that puts regular iced coffee to shame, and it's surprisingly simple to master.
With just two ingredients and a little patience, you'll create a versatile concentrate that transforms everything from morning lattes to evening cocktails.
Our foolproof recipe walks you through every step, plus insider tips on bean selection, storage secrets, and creative uses that go way beyond your typical iced coffee.
Fair warning: once you try it in an espresso martini, there's no going back.
How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate: Step-by-Step
Thanks to its long shelf life and customizable strength, a big batch of concentrate can be a great option for a house full of coffee lovers.
If there’s a batch of cold brew concentrate in the fridge, they can dilute it to their desired strength in no time.
This method is straightforward and delicious. It packs in maximum flavor for minimum effort.
Step 1: Choose the Right Coffee Beans
Medium to dark roasts are the best for cold brew, since they have a rich sweetness from the caramelizing of natural sugars. For a bold flavor, try Cafely’s BanMe: it’s made from dark roasted peaberry robusta beans, giving it an earthy, bittersweet flavor like dark chocolate and black cherry.
Step 2: Grind The Coffee
Since the extraction happens slowly over 12–24 hours, a coarse grind size is best to avoid overextraction.
Step 3: Measure the Coffee-to-Water Ratio
For a strong concentrate, use a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:4 by weight. For a milder option, use a 1:6 ratio.
Step 4: Brew Your Coffee
Add the grounds to a sealable container, and pour cold water on top. Stir gently and evenly — avoid agitating the mixture too much, but we do want all the coffee grounds to be wet. Cover the mixture, and place it in the fridge for 12–24 hours.
Step 5: Strain the Coffee
A fine mesh, cheesecloth, or cold brew filter will all work fine to separate grounds and the brew. A pour-over coffee setup is convenient, so consider using a brewer like the Hario v60, making sure the vessel underneath is large enough to hold all your coffee.
Step 6: Store & Serve
Use an airtight container to avoid loss of flavor or aroma, and shake well before use. You can drink your concentrate as is, but diluting to taste is more common. Start with equal parts concentrate and fresh water, and adjust from there.
Cold Brew vs. Cold Brew Concentrate
A regularly brewed cold brew and cold brew concentrate are slightly different. The main difference is that concentrate is made with a higher coffee-to-water ratio.
After you’ve brewed and strained the coffee, the concentrate has more flavor and caffeine than regular cold brew.
While both cold brew and cold brew concentrate have their place in the coffee world, there’s no denying that concentrate is a lot stronger and, therefore, more versatile.
While regular cold brew is great as a ready-to-drink option, concentrate can be added to many other food and drink options:
- Diluting — Cold brew can be diluted with ice and fresh water to make an iced coffee. It can also be topped up with boiling water to make specialty coffee as quickly as instant coffee.
- Lattes — A stronger concentrate can be used as espresso in both hot and iced lattes. It can offer a smoother, sweeter flavor than espresso might.
- Cocktails and Mocktails — Coffee pairs well with alcohol and foods like chocolate and orange, and aromatics like cloves or bergamot.
- Baking — Many baking recipes call for an espresso, a cup of coffee, or a spoonful of instant granules. Swapping to concentrated cold brew can kick them up a notch!
- Watering Plants — While it’s not a total water replacement, the nitrates in coffee can be just what an ailing plant needs. Try supplementing water with cold coffee every once in a while.
Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew Concentrate
Cold brewing coffee isolates a variety of flavors compared to hot coffee.
Most noticeably, cold-brewed coffee contains a lot of smooth, sweet notes from the sugars in the coffee that dissolve slowly.
Hot coffee often has fewer of these notes, because it’s in contact with the brewing water for less time than cold brew is.
While any bean and any roast can be used, we’ll go over a few favorites and explain why they’re so special.
Robusta Beans
Don't let robusta's reputation fool you — these beans are cold brew's secret weapon.
While they're known for bold, earthy flavors, dark roasted robusta coffee transforms into something magical when cold-brewed slowly. The roasting process converts natural carbohydrates into sugars, creating an unexpectedly smooth sweetness that balances robusta's intensity perfectly.
Take Cafely's HaNoi: this 100% robusta powerhouse delivers the kind of bold, uncompromising flavor that coffee purists dream about.
Traditional Vietnamese dark roasting unlocks incredible richness and natural sweetness, resulting in a cup that's both intense and beautifully balanced.
Here's the real kicker — robusta packs twice the caffeine punch of arabica. Combined with cold brew's naturally higher caffeine extraction, you're looking at serious fuel for your day. It's not just strong coffee; it's rocket fuel that tastes like liquid velvet.
Peaberry Coffee ("Culi Coffee")
Peaberry beans are nature's rare gems — single, rounded beans that form when only one seed develops inside the coffee cherry, creating an intensely concentrated flavor profile.
When it comes to cold brew, peaberry robusta beans like Cafely's BanMe are absolute game-changers. These caffeine-packed powerhouses don't just wake you up — they deliver an espresso-strength jolt that'll have you questioning every weak cup you've ever settled for.
The magic happens during that slow, 12-hour extraction.
Peaberry's naturally concentrated oils and sugars bloom into rich, decadent chocolate notes that taste like liquid brownies. It's bold enough to cut through milk and ice, yet smooth enough to sip straight.
Arabica Coffee Beans
Arabica beans are the world's most prized coffee variety, known for their complex flavor profiles and lower caffeine content compared to robusta — but don't mistake gentle for boring.
Vietnamese arabica like Cafely's DaLat proves that when you combine ideal growing conditions with meticulous care, magic happens. These organically-farmed beans spend months slowly ripening in the cool Vietnamese highlands, developing an intricate balance of bright acidity and delicate fruity-floral notes that most coffees can only dream of achieving.
Cold brewing unlocks arabica's hidden complexity like nothing else can. Those subtle fruit and flower notes that get lost in hot brewing suddenly bloom into focus, creating a cup that's both refreshing and sophisticated.
It's the difference between drinking coffee and experiencing it — smooth enough for purists, complex enough to surprise even the most discerning palate.
How to Store Cold Brew Concentrate
Using the best storage methods for your cold brew concentrate will keep your brew fresh and prevent flavor loss.
Here are the best methods to keep your coffee perfect:
- Airtight Containers — Any airtight container will work to make cold brew, but glass ones are best because they’re not reactive and won’t stain. Mason jars, for instance, are very popular.
- Keep Refrigerated — After you’ve brewed and strained the coffee, keep it in the fridge. The lower temperature will greatly slow down the staling process.
- Don’t Freeze — Freezing cold brew will damage the natural flavors and textures in it. However, if you have stale cold brew, freeze it into ice cubes rather than throwing it out. Then, you can cool an iced coffee without watering it down.
- Shake Well — Some small amount of separation before serving is normal, so shake thoroughly before you pour yourself some.
- Two-Week Shelf Life — You can keep cold brew concentrate in the fridge for up to two weeks before it starts to go stale or spoil. This is an improvement over the 7–10 day shelf life of regular cold brew.
Signs Your Cold Brew Concentrate is Spoiled
Even with proper storage, cold brew concentrate won't last forever, and drinking spoiled coffee can ruin your day (and your taste buds). Here are the telltale signs it's time to toss that batch:
Taste and Smell Changes:
- Sour, vinegar-like smell that hits you before you even taste it
- Flat, lifeless flavor that lacks the rich smoothness of fresh concentrate
- Bitter or off-putting aftertaste that lingers unpleasantly
Visual Signs:
- Visible mold growth on the surface or around the container edges
- Unusual cloudiness or film floating on top
- Strange color changes or separation that doesn't mix when stirred
When in Doubt: If your concentrate shows any of these signs or just doesn't smell right, don't risk it — dump it and start fresh. Your morning coffee should energize you, not make you question your life choices.
How to Use Cold Brew Concentrate
Cold brew concentrate is a spectacularly flexible ingredient to have in your kitchen. It’s not just a way to make a brilliant iced coffee, but also a way to enhance many other meals and drinks.
Now, let’s break down some key ways to use cold brew concentrate in your home.
1. Classic Coffee Drinks
Of course, the most popular way to use cold brew concentrate is in making cafe-style drinks.
1.1. Iced Coffee
The most popular cafe-style cold brew drink is the classic iced coffee, which you can make with a 1:1 ratio of cold brew concentrate to water.
To enhance that iced coffee, you can always add a touch of your favourite milk or creamer, or try adding a few pumps of coffee syrup.
1.2. Cold Brew Latte
For a stronger coffee drink, try making a cold brew latte.
This is a 2:1 ratio of concentrate to milk, though you can adjust it to taste.
To make the best cold brew latte, aim to temper the intense flavor of the coffee with the milk, so that they work together to make something greater than the sum of their parts.
1.3. Cappuccino Freddo
Using the same ratio of a cold brew latte, you can try a cold brew cappuccino.
A traditional Greek cappuccino freddo can be made in many ways, but using a 2:1 coffee to milk ratio is a good starting point.
Top that off with a little milk foam, made by whipping milk and sugar with a small electric whisk to create froth. The end result is a drink that’s only slightly different from the cold brew latte, but that feels far more indulgent.
2. Adding a Coffee Twist
Adding a coffee twist to other drinks in your life is a great way to use cold brew concentrate.
For instance, adding it to cocktails and mocktails can boost their flavor massively!
2.1. Cold Brew in Cocktails
Coffee blends particularly well with rum, though it does pair nicely with whiskey and vodka, too.
Try using a single measure (around 30 ml/1 oz) of cold brew to enhance cocktails you already enjoy. For instance, a dark ‘n’ stormy is a rum cocktail, made with a double rum, a dash of bitters, and topped off with ginger beer.
Adding cold brew concentrate to that will enhance the natural sweetness of the rum and bring an interesting richness to the ginger beer.
2.2. Protein Shakes
Another good place to use cold brew concentrate is in protein shakes. If you’re at the gym, for instance, a mid-workout protein shake with cold brew can give you that boost you need to get a few more reps in.
Using almond milk for cold brew protein shakes is a great choice, since the natural nuttiness of the almond milk is often enhanced by the coffee. If you find the cold brew is a great booster for you, try experimenting with different flavors of protein powder.
Cold brew coffee will pair well with chocolate, vanilla, and even more unique protein powder flavors, like cookie dough.
3. Baking & Cooking
Adding a little cold brew concentrate to bakes can enhance their natural flavors.
3.1. Brownies
For instance, adding around a quarter of a cup of concentrate to brownies can punch up their natural chocolate flavor, intensifying them.
3.2. Coffee-Flavored Cakes
Cold brew concentrate is also a suitable replacement in any coffee-flavored baking recipe.
A coffee and walnut cake, for instance, will likely taste better with cold brew concentrate than with a cup of instant coffee.
3.3. Cold Brew Concentrate for Beef and BBQ
This final tip is a little more off-the-wall, but try adding cold brew concentrate to beef- and umami-heavy dishes.
Coffee can accentuate the natural savory flavors in ingredients, creating a richer taste overall. There has long been a history of people adding coffee to their beef chili for this exact reason!
In recent years, coffee rubs for barbecueing meat have become increasingly popular.
To try this with cold brew concentrate, prick the meat all over with a fork, and pour cold brew across the entire surface. Allow it to sit for around half an hour before cooking as usual.
FAQs: How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate
Let’s break down some common cold brew concentrate FAQs.
1. What's the Difference Between Cold Brew & Cold Brew Concentrate?
Cold brew concentrate uses a higher coffee-to-water ratio (typically 1:4) compared to regular cold brew (1:8), making it much stronger and more versatile.
Think of concentrate as the espresso version of cold brew — it's designed to be diluted with water, milk, or ice to your preferred strength.
2. How Long Does Homemade Cold Brew Concentrate Last?
Cold brew concentrate stays fresh for up to two weeks when stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
This longer shelf life compared to regular cold brew (7-10 days) makes it perfect for meal prep and busy schedules.
3. Why Is My Cold Brew Cloudy?
Cloudiness usually comes from oversteeping (brewing longer than 24 hours) or using too fine a grind, which allows tiny particles to pass through your filter. It's still safe to drink, but strain it through a finer filter or cheesecloth for a cleaner cup.
4. Which Is Stronger, Cold Brew or Iced Coffee?
Cold brew concentrate packs significantly more punch than regular iced coffee. While iced coffee is just hot coffee poured over ice, cold brew concentrate can have 2-3 times the caffeine content and needs dilution before drinking.
5. Can I Make Cold Brew With Regular Coffee?
Absolutely! Any coffee works, though medium and dark roasts shine in cold brewing because their natural sugars and oils create smoother, sweeter flavors. Light roasts can taste more acidic and thin when cold-brewed.
6. How to Tell if Cold Brew Is Bad?
Trust your nose first — spoiled cold brew smells sour, musty, or vinegar-like. Taste-wise, it'll be flat, overly bitter, or have an unpleasant aftertaste.
Any visible mold or unusual film on top means it's definitely time to toss it.
7. Can I Use Leftover Coffee for Cold Brew?
Never use pre-brewed coffee for cold brew — it's already been extracted once and will taste bitter and weak. Cold brew requires fresh, coarsely ground coffee beans for that smooth, rich flavor profile.
8. How to Make Coffee Concentrate?
Use a 1:4 ratio of coarsely ground coffee to cold water.
Mix gently in an airtight container, refrigerate for 12-24 hours, then strain through a fine mesh or cold brew filter. The result should be strong enough to dilute 1:1 with water or milk.
9. Is Cold Brew Stronger Than Espresso?
Cold brew concentrate has more caffeine per ounce than espresso, but espresso delivers more intense flavor in a smaller serving.
Think of cold brew as marathon energy versus espresso's sprint — both strong, but different experiences.
10. Why Is My Cold Brew Bitter?
Bitterness in coffee signals overextraction from steeping too long (over 24 hours), grinding too fine, or using water that's too warm.
Stick to coarse grounds, cold water, and 12-24 hour brewing times for smooth results.
