How to Make Cold Brew at Home, Step by Step

Before We Start, This Isn't About Making Coffee

We're not here to teach you how to make coffee. You already know coffee.

This is about cold brew a completely different experience. Smoother, sweeter, and once you try it properly, it's hard to go back.

Let's get into it.

What Is Cold Brew? A Quick History

Cold brew has been around much longer than most people think.

Back in 17th century Japan, traders discovered that steeping coffee grounds in cold water
slowly, over many hours produced something remarkably smooth and clean. They called it Kyoto-style cold drip, and the idea never really went away.

Today, cold brew is one of the fastest-growing categories in the specialty coffee world and for good reason.

Choosing Your Coffee Beans

Your cold brew is only as good as the coffee you put in it.

Cold brew amplifies everything in the bean the good and the not-so-good. So use great ones.

• Go specialty coffee — Specialty-grade beans (SCA 80+) are carefully sourced and roasted for quality. You'll taste every bit of that in your cold brew.
• Medium to dark roast — Brings out chocolate, caramel, and nutty notes. Perfect for cold brew.
• Fresh is everything — Beans roasted within the last 2~4 weeks make a noticeable difference.
• Origin suggestions — Ethiopian (fruity, floral) or Colombian (balanced, chocolatey) are cold brew favourites.

🌐 Here some recommended Beans for Cold Brew 

The Brewing Process

Pick your method below and follow the steps. Each one produces a slightly different result start with what you have and upgrade when you're ready.

Toddy Cold Brew

The gold standard for home cold brew. The Toddy Cold Brew System uses a special felt filter that removes oils and sediment, giving you an ultra-smooth, low-acid concentrate. It's what specialty coffee shops use and now you can too.

Grind Size: Coarse picture chunky breadcrumbs or crushed sea salt flakes.

Ratio: 1 part coffee to 4 parts cold water (e.g. 100g coffee + 400ml water)

Steep Time: 18~24 hours in the fridge

Process:

1. Add your coarse ground coffee to the Toddy brewer
2. Pour cold, filtered water over slowly
3. Stir gently to saturate all grounds
4. Cover and place in the fridge for 18~24 hours
5. Release the stopper and let it filter into the carafe
6. Pour into a clean jar or bottle, seal it tight, and refrigerate

Shelf life: Up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
🌐 Visit Toddy Cold Brew Machine 

Black Cold Brew

The purest way to enjoy cold brew. No milk, no sugar just smooth, clean cold coffee that lets the bean speak for itself.

Ratio        : Dilute your concentrate 1:1 with cold water
Grind Size: Coarse
Steep Time: 18~24 hours in the fridge
Process:

1. Brew your concentrate using your preferred method
2. Dilute 1:1 with cold, filtered water
3. Pour over ice and serve immediately

If you've never had black cold brew made with great specialty coffee beans, this will genuinely surprise you.

🌐 Visit Drip Tower Collections 

Nitro Cold Brew

This one is something else entirely. Nitro cold brew is cold brew infused with nitrogen gas served on tap like a draft beer, but coffee. The nitrogen creates a velvety, creamy texture with a beautiful cascading effect in the glass. No milk. No sugar. Just nitro coffee doing something extraordinary.

Ratio          : 1 part coffee to 4 parts cold water (concentrate)
Grind Size  : Coarse
Steep Time: 18~24 hours in the fridge
Process:

1. Brew a strong cold brew concentrate
2. Chill completely in the fridge
3. Charge with nitrogen using your nitro system
4. Serve straight from the tap no ice needed

🌐 Visit SparklingWater & Nitro Coffee Makers 

Cold Brew with Milk or Oat Milk

Simple, creamy, and completely satisfying. Oat milk is a crowd favourite its natural sweetness pairs beautifully with cold brew concentrate.

Grind Size: Coarse
Ratio    : Dilute concentrate 1:1 with your milk of choice
Process:

1. Brew your cold brew concentrate
2. Fill a glass with ice
3. Pour concentrate over ice
4. Top with oat milk, regular milk, or your preferred alternative
5. Stir gently and enjoy
   

🌐 Visit Ice Maker Machines 
🌐 Visit Some Glass Cups collection for Iced & Cold Coffee 
Before You Brew, Keep These in Mind

• Always use filtered water — tap water minerals affect the flavour more than you'd expect
• Don't rush the filter — let gravity do the work, don't press or squeeze
• Label your bottle — write the date so you know when it was made
• Experiment with ratios — everyone's preference is different, find yours

Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee

Found this page while searching for iced coffee? This part's for you.

Cold brew and iced coffee get mixed up all the time, But they're two very different drinks, and once you know why, you'll never confuse them again.

If you've been making iced coffee at home by brewing hot and pouring over ice that works. But cold brew is a different experience. Smoother, naturally sweeter, and no watered down flavour from melting ice.

Try it once. You'll understand !

Now Time To Make It

Cold brew is simpler than it looks and better than you expect. Great beans, coarse grind, cold water, and patience that's really all it takes.

Explore our specialty coffee range and find your perfect cold brew bean today.