Hey there! It’s Dale, the brewed product lead here at P&R. I reckon if you clicked on this article, you’re a fan of cold brew coffee and if you’re not, I hope you are by the end of it!
Now, I am not here to give you a definitive recipe that will work perfectly every time because that’s impossible! Instead, I am hoping to help teach you all of the variables you can play around with so you can build your own perfect cold brew recipe that works for your tastebuds and available equipment. Don’t worry, I’ll still give you a good recipe as a jumping-off point, but I do hope you’ll play around to learn what you like and find YOUR best way to make cold brew at home.
What is cold brew coffee?
Traditionally, coffee is brewed with hot water and in a manner of seconds to minutes, you can extract all of the delicious flavours and caffeine (unless you prefer decaf!). As the name might imply, cold brew is a different approach to extracting all of the goodness from the beans into your cup. When removing the heat from the brewing equation, we compensate with time.
Why should you make cold brew at home?
Cold brew, done well, can yield excellent results with little effort. If you start with fresh local coffee and tweak your brew to your taste, you’ll be sipping delicious cold brew all summer long.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Easily batch-brewed so you can prepare days in advance
- Brew as a concentrate and dilute when needed
- Extremely repeatable
- No special equipment needed—use what you already have
- Gentler extraction means lower bitterness and acidity
- Often a sweeter and rounder profile
- If you’re not filtering through paper it retains excellent texture + body
- And it can be a new experience with your favourite coffee!
What equipment do you need for cold brew?
There are a few different ways you can approach cold brew in your own home. Some involve specialty tools, while others use simple household items.
Immersion vs. cold drip: which cold brew method is best?
Immersion cold brew
This method involves fully submerging coffee grounds in water and letting them steep for an extended period. Some easy at-home immersion tools include a French press, metal filter kit, really any vessel that can hold water; A large mason jar or similar glass container with a lid is ideal to keep flavours fresh. Next you'll need something to filter with such as; Filter papers, a sieve and cheesecloth, or something like the metal mesh in your french press.
Cold drip cold brew
Cold drip continuously refreshes the water in contact with the coffee grounds, preventing the brew chamber from reaching saturation. This method requires a specialised cold drip system that allows water to slowly pass through the coffee bed. Cold drip is generally faster than immersion but requires more attention and investment in equipment. For repeatability and ease, immersion cold brew is the best option for home brewers.
Cold brew brewing temperature: fridge vs. room temperature
One of the first decisions when making cold brew is where to steep it—on the benchtop (room temperature) or in the fridge.
- Room temperature (20°C): Shorter brew time (8-16 hours). Slightly brighter, more acidic profile, in rounded balance with the natural bitterness.
- Fridge (4°C): Longer brew time (12-24 hours, up to 36 in some cases). Smoother, sweeter, less acidic cup.
For consistency, fridge brewing is best since room temperature can fluctuate based on the season.
Should you bloom cold brew coffee?
Blooming involves adding a small amount of boiling water to coffee grounds before the full brew begins. This process releases trapped CO₂ gases, starts extraction faster and enhances acidity and complexity.
Hot bloom cold brew recipe addition
- Boil filtered water (use twice as much as your coffee weight).
- Grind coffee and add to the brew vessel.
- Add freshly boiled water, stir to incorporate and let sit for 45 seconds.
- Add the remaining brew water (chilled or room temp) and steep for 6-10 hours.
This method isn’t necessary but it can increase brightness and complexity. Try it out if you like a more vibrant cold brew.
The best cold brew coffee ratio
A good place to start is 1:10 coffee to water (e.g. 100g coffee to 1L filtered water). This is perfect for either drinking straight up or dilution.
Other cold brew ratios to try
- Concentrate → 1:5 ratio (stronger, requires dilution)
- Ready to drink → 1:15 ratio (lighter, milder, more refreshing)
If your cold brew is too strong, dilute it with water or milk to taste. As an alternative and for a complete, hassle free Coffee Concentrate solution, we can brew it for you with our range of coffee concentrates!
The best grind size for cold brew coffee
The ideal grind size for cold brew is medium-coarse, similar to sea salt.
- Too fine → Over-extracted, bitter coffee
- Too coarse → Weak, under-extracted coffee
If you’re using a burr grinder, set it to coarse filter or french press grind.
How long should you steep cold brew coffee?
In cold brew, we don’t have the benefit of the heat energy, so we extend contact time. Due to osmotic and diffusion forces, all of the soluble components of the coffee want to dissolve into the water, but without the energy that high temperature brings, everything moves a little slower.
General cold brew steep times
- In the fridge → 12-18 hours (smoother, sweeter, less acidic)
- At room temperature → 10-14 hours (brighter, slightly more acidic)
Exceptions: Some fridge brews can run up to 24 hours for a stronger taste, while hot summer days may only need 8 hours on the bench. All of the variables in this blog are intrinsically linked, if you alter one you likely need to change at least one other to compensate. Usually time can have the most impact and is the easiest to control.
If your coffee is a little too bitter / heavy, try shortening your next brew. If it’s too weak / acidic, try letting it steep a little longer.
Dark roast vs. light roast for cold brew
Beyond personal preference, roast level affects extraction time and flavour.
- Dark roasts → Easier to extract, shorter steep time, bold and rich flavours.
- Light roasts → Longer steep time, bright and fruity flavours, tea-like profile.
For milk-based cold brews, darker roasts work best. For black coffee lovers, light or filter roasts shine. Whilst none of P&Rs Coffees are “dark roasts” per se, our three core blends, Porter Street, Pioneer and Trailblazer are great bases for milk based cold concoctions.
Our seasonal Single Origin coffees offer some delicious options for lighter roasted coffees. We classify them as filter roasts, typically lighter than espresso roasts. You can check out our current offerings here.
Cold brew coffee recipe: step-by-step
Ingredients
- 100g of coarse-ground coffee
- 1000g (1L) of filtered water, either chilled or room temperature.
Method
- Grind the coffee – Medium-coarse, like sea salt.
- Combine coffee & water – Place grounds in a jar and add water.
- Stir well – Ensure full saturation.
- Steep – Cover and let sit for 14 hours in the fridge (or 10 hours at room temp).
- Strain – Use a fine mesh sieve, cheesecloth and/or paper filter.
- Store – Keep refrigerated for up to 10 days.
- Enjoy!
This should yield a balanced, smooth, sweet & clean cup, especially if you're using a high quality coffee! Indulge in a sweet spot where you can enjoy your brew straight up, or with light dilution.
Elevate your cold brew: best ways to serve
- Straight up – Crisp and refreshing
- Diluted 1:1 – With filtered water, milk, sparkling water, or tonic
- Enhanced – Maple syrup, vanilla, heavy cream, citrus peels, spices, etc.
Experiment with flavours that complement your coffee and find your perfect cold brew recipe.
Final thoughts
Cold brew is simple, forgiving and endlessly customisable. With the right grind, steep time and ratio, you can brew smooth, delicious cold brew at home, no barista skills needed. Please take this recipe, adapt it to your taste from what you’ve learnt in this blog and enjoy your hard work.
Of course, I recommend you use Pablo & Rusty’s coffee for the best results. Check out our coffee selection and start brewing today!
