How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate at Home (Ratio, Recipe, Dilution & Calories)
By [Your Name] | Last updated: October 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy against the Starbucks calorie calculator data
Quick Answer
To make cold brew concentrate, mix coarsely ground coffee with cold water at a 1:5 ratio by weight (for example, 100 g coffee to 500 g water). Steep it 12 to 18 hours at room temperature or 16 to 24 hours in the fridge, strain it through a paper filter, and store it in a sealed jar for up to 7 to 10 days. Dilute it 1:1 with water or milk when serving.
Plain homemade concentrate has under 10 calories per serving. Calories only climb once you add syrup, cream or sweet foam. To see what a Starbucks cold brew order costs you, use our Starbucks calorie calculator.
What Is Cold Brew Concentrate?
Cold brew concentrate is coffee steeped in cold or room-temperature water for many hours using far more coffee per cup of water than a normal brew. The result is a thick, smooth, strong coffee base that you dilute before drinking. It has no heat in the brewing step, so it tastes rounder and less sharp than hot coffee.
Concentrate vs Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew
| Cold Brew Concentrate | Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratio (coffee:water by weight) | 1:4 to 1:5 | 1:8 to 1:10 |
| Taste straight | Very strong, syrupy | Smooth, drinkable |
| Dilution needed | Yes (1:1 or more) | No |
| Fridge space | Less (one jar makes many drinks) | More |
| Best for | Daily iced coffee, lattes, batching | Drinking as is |
Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee vs Espresso Concentrate
- Cold brew: brewed cold for hours, smooth and low in perceived bitterness.
- Iced coffee: brewed hot, then chilled or poured over ice. It can taste sharper and gets watery as ice melts.
- Espresso or “Javy-style” coffee concentrate: made with hot, pressurized or fast extraction. It is not true cold brew, though people use it the same way.
Cold Brew Concentrate Ratio Chart
The most searched question is “how much coffee to water for cold brew.” Here is a practical chart.
| Strength | Ratio (by weight) | Example Batch | Dilute With | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-drink | 1:8 to 1:10 | 100 g coffee : 900 g water | Nothing | Drinking black |
| Standard concentrate | 1:5 | 1 cup grounds (~90 g) : 2 cups water | 1:1 | Daily use |
| Strong concentrate | 1:4 | 1 cup grounds : 1½ cups water | 1:2 | Lattes, cocktails |
A kitchen scale makes this far more consistent than measuring cups, because grounds vary in density. If you are asking “how many grams of coffee for cold brew,” start with 90 to 100 g per 500 ml water for a standard concentrate.
What You Need
Best Coffee for Cold Brew Concentrate
Medium to dark roasts give chocolatey, nutty, low-acid flavor, which is why Starbucks-style cold brew leans dark. Light roasts work too and taste fruitier, but they can come out sour if under-steeped. You can use regular coffee. There is no special “cold brew bean.”
Grind Size
Use a coarse grind, like coarse sea salt. Fine grounds over-extract, turn bitter and clog filters. If you only have pre-ground coffee, see the pre-ground method below.
Water and Equipment
- Filtered water, since water quality changes flavor
- A large jar, French press or pitcher with a lid
- Paper filters, a fine mesh sieve or a cold brew bag
- A kitchen scale (recommended)
Step-by-Step Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe
Yield: about 2½ to 3 cups of concentrate, which makes 5 to 6 drinks.
Prep: 5 minutes. Steep: 12 to 24 hours.
- Weigh 180 g (about 2 cups) coarse grounds.
- Add them to a large jar.
- Pour in 950 ml (4 cups) cool, filtered water.
- Stir gently until all grounds are wet. Do not leave dry clumps on top.
- Cover and steep at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours, or in the fridge for 16 to 24 hours.
- Strain through a mesh sieve to remove the bulk of the grounds.
- Filter again through a paper filter. This removes sediment and gives a cleaner cup.
- Store in a sealed jar in the fridge.
- Dilute 1:1 to serve over ice.
Different Methods
Mason Jar
The easiest method. Follow the recipe above. It needs no special equipment, and a wide-mouth jar makes stirring and straining simple.
French Press
Add grounds and water, stir, put the lid on without pressing, and steep. Press the plunger slowly at the end. This is popular because the built-in mesh does the first straining for you. Always filter again through paper, since French press mesh lets fine sediment through.
Pre-Ground Coffee
Yes, you can make cold brew with ground coffee. Standard supermarket grind is finer than ideal, so:
- Shorten steeping to 10 to 12 hours.
- Use a paper filter for the final strain.
- Expect a slightly more bitter cup than with coarse grounds.
Instant Coffee
Instant coffee dissolves in cold water without steeping, so it is a shortcut, not true cold brew. A starting point is 2 tablespoons of instant per cup of cold water. Stir until dissolved, adjust to taste, and serve over ice. The flavor is thinner than real cold brew, but it takes under two minutes.
Cold Brew Tea Concentrate (Bonus)
For cold brew iced tea, use 8 to 10 g of loose tea or 6 to 8 tea bags per liter of cold water. Steep in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours, remove the tea, and dilute to taste. Green tea can turn bitter past 8 hours, so keep it shorter.
How Long to Steep
| Steep Time | Result |
|---|---|
| 8 to 10 hours | Light, a bit weak, can taste sour |
| 12 to 16 hours (room temp) | Balanced, smooth, sweet-chocolatey |
| 16 to 24 hours (fridge) | Full body, Starbucks-style depth |
| 24+ hours | Risk of woody, bitter, flat taste |
Starbucks steeps its own cold brew for 20 hours, which falls in the fridge sweet spot above.
How Much Cold Brew Concentrate to Water? (Dilution Guide)
| Drink | Concentrate | Add | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iced black cold brew | 1 part | 1 part water + ice | Standard starting point |
| Strong iced coffee | 1 part | ½ part water + ice | For heavy coffee drinkers |
| Iced latte | 1 part | 1 to 1½ parts milk + ice | Taste, then adjust |
| Hot coffee | 1 part | 1 part hot water | Heat the water, not the concentrate |
| Sweet cream cold brew | 1 part | 1 part water + ice, top with sweet cream | See below |
| Espresso martini base | start with 1½ oz | per recipe | Adjust to taste |
Rule of thumb: if it tastes too strong, add water first, not ice. Ice dilutes while you drink.
How to Use Cold Brew Concentrate
- Iced coffee: pour over ice and dilute 1:1.
- Lattes: concentrate, cold milk and ice.
- Hot coffee: mix with hot water for a smoother cup.
- Sweet cream cold brew: shake ½ cup heavy cream, ½ cup 2% milk and 3 tablespoons vanilla syrup. Pour about 2 tablespoons over a diluted glass.
- Cooking and drinks: use it in tiramisu, coffee smoothies, ice cubes or cocktails.
Planning a copycat? Check the calories in our Starbucks syrups guide first, because the syrup is usually where the calories come from.
Storage
- Keep concentrate in an airtight glass jar in the fridge.
- It stays best for 7 to 10 days.
- Discard it if it smells sour, fermented or off.
- Freeze it into coffee ice cubes to avoid watered-down iced coffee.
- Always use clean jars and utensils.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Bitter | Over-steeped or grind too fine | Shorten steep, use coarser grounds |
| Sour or weak | Under-steeped or too little coffee | Steep longer, use the 1:5 ratio |
| Muddy or gritty | Single, rough strain | Add a paper filter step |
| Flat taste | Old coffee or old concentrate | Use fresher beans, discard after 10 days |
| Too strong | Not diluted enough | Dilute 1:1, then adjust |
Homemade vs Starbucks Cold Brew Concentrate
| Homemade | Starbucks Bottled Concentrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength control | Fully adjustable | Fixed |
| Cost per drink | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Time | 5 min prep + steeping | Open and pour |
| Flavor | Your choice of coffee | Consistent Starbucks cold brew flavor |
| Calories (plain) | Under 10 per serving | Check the bottle label |
If you buy the bottled version, follow the dilution instructions printed on the label, since they differ by product. Availability varies by store, including big retailers.
Starbucks Nutrition Guide: Cold Brew Drinks
Approximate Grande (16 fl oz) values. Starbucks updates recipes, so confirm in our Starbucks calorie calculator.
| Drink | Calories (approx.) | Caffeine (approx.) | What Adds the Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Brew (plain) | ~5 | ~205 mg | Almost none |
| Nitro Cold Brew | ~5 | ~280 mg | Almost none |
| Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew | ~110 | ~185 mg | Sweet cream |
| Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew | ~220 | n/a | Syrup + cream + foam |
| Chocolate Cream Cold Brew | ~250 | n/a | Mocha sauce + cream |
Takeaway: plain cold brew is nearly calorie-free. Most of the calories come from syrup, cream and cold foam. A black cold brew at home or in-store is the lowest-calorie option.
Calorie Breakdown of Homemade Cold Brew
Per serving, one diluted glass of plain concentrate is about 2 to 10 calories. Add-ins change that quickly:
| Add-In | Amount | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy cream | 1 tbsp | 50 |
| Half-and-half | 1 tbsp | 20 |
| Whole milk | ¼ cup | 37 |
| 2% milk | ¼ cup | 31 |
| Oat milk | ¼ cup | 30 |
| Unsweetened almond milk | ¼ cup | 8 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp | 49 |
| Honey | 1 tbsp | 64 |
| Maple syrup | 1 tbsp | 52 |
| Sweetened condensed milk | 1 tbsp | 62 |
| Vanilla sweet cream (copycat) | 2 tbsp | 75 to 80 |
Example: 4 oz concentrate + 4 oz water + ¼ cup 2% milk + 1 tbsp sugar is roughly 85 calories. Swap to unsweetened almond milk and skip the sugar, and it drops to under 15.
Caffeine in Cold Brew Concentrate
Caffeine depends on the coffee, ratio, grind and steep time, so these are estimates, not lab results. A standard 1:5 concentrate is roughly 20 to 35 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, so a 1:1 diluted 8 oz drink is often around 100 to 140 mg.
For context, the FDA says up to 400 mg a day is generally not linked to negative effects for most healthy adults, and pregnant people are usually advised to stay under 200 mg a day. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure.
Is Cold Brew Low Acid?
Cold brew often tastes smoother and less acidic, and many people find it gentler on their stomach. The measured pH difference compared to hot coffee is small, though, so do not expect a medical effect. If acidity bothers you, use a dark roast, steep 16 to 20 hours, and dilute more.
My Testing Notes
(Replace brackets with your real results.)
I tested [number] batches using [coffee brand/roast] and a [jar/French press]. My best results came from a 1:[ratio] ratio, steeped [hours] hours in the [fridge/counter]. At [ratio] the coffee tasted [note], and past [hours] hours it turned [note]. I diluted [ratio] and compared the taste with a Starbucks Grande Cold Brew from [date/store]. I also logged the calories of my [add-in] version using the calculator on this site.
About the author: [Name] runs this site and builds its Starbucks calorie data from published nutrition information. This article is educational and not medical advice.
FAQs
1. How do you make cold brew concentrate?
Mix coarse grounds and cold water at about 1:5 by weight, steep 12 to 24 hours, strain through a paper filter and dilute before drinking.
2. How much cold brew concentrate to water?
Start at 1:1 (one part concentrate to one part water or milk). Go 1:2 for a lighter cup or 1:½ for a stronger one.
3. How much cold brew concentrate to use?
About 4 oz per 8 to 12 oz drink for a standard 1:5 concentrate.
4. How do you use cold brew concentrate?
Dilute it for iced coffee, lattes or hot coffee, or use it in sweet cream cold brew, desserts and cocktails.
5. What is the best coffee to water ratio for cold brew?
For ready-to-drink, 1:8 to 1:10. For concentrate, 1:4 to 1:5 by weight.
6. How many grams of coffee for cold brew?
About 90 to 100 g per 500 ml of water for concentrate, or about 55 to 65 g per 500 ml for ready-to-drink.
7. Can you make cold brew with ground coffee?
Yes. Steep for 10 to 12 hours and use a paper filter. Fine pre-ground coffee over-extracts faster.
8. Can I make cold brew with regular coffee?
Yes. Any roast works. Medium and dark roasts taste smoother and less sour.
9. How long does cold brew need to steep?
12 to 18 hours at room temperature, or 16 to 24 hours in the fridge.
10. How long to let cold brew steep in the fridge?
16 to 24 hours is the sweet spot. Past 24 hours it can taste bitter.
11. How do you make cold brew in a French press?
Add coarse grounds and water, stir, cover without pressing, steep, then press slowly and filter again.
12. Can you make cold brew with instant coffee?
You can make a cold coffee drink with it, but it is not true cold brew. Stir in 2 tablespoons per cup of cold water.
13. Can you brew coffee with cold water?
Yes. That is exactly what cold brew is. It just takes much longer than hot water.
14. What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?
Cold brew steeps cold for hours and tastes smoother. Iced coffee is brewed hot, then chilled.
15. Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?
Concentrate is much stronger. Diluted ready-to-drink cold brew is usually similar to or a bit higher in caffeine than hot coffee, depending on the ratio.
16. Is cold brew black coffee?
Yes, plain cold brew is black coffee with almost no calories.
17. What type of coffee is used for cold brew?
Coarse-ground medium or dark roast is the common choice, but any coffee works.
18. How do you strain cold brew?
Pour through a fine mesh sieve first, then through a paper filter or cold brew bag for a clean cup.
19. What can you add to cold brew?
Milk, cream, sweet cream, flavored syrup, oat milk or a splash of tonic or cocktail mixers.
20. How do you serve cold brew coffee?
Over ice, diluted to taste, in a tall glass. Top with milk or sweet cream if you like.
21. How long does cold brew concentrate last?
7 to 10 days in an airtight jar in the fridge. Discard if it smells off.
22. How do you make cold brew tea?
Steep tea in cold water in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours, remove it, and serve over ice.
23. How do you make cold brew without a machine?
Use a jar or pitcher and a sieve. No machine is needed.
24. How do you make Stok-style cold brew at home?
Brew a ready-to-drink style batch at 1:8 and sweeten or add milk to taste. For a shelf-stable bottled product, follow the manufacturer’s label.
25. How many calories are in Starbucks cold brew?
A Grande plain cold brew is about 5 calories. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew is around 110. Check exact values in our calorie calculator.
26. How do you order cold brew at Starbucks?
Say the size (Tall, Grande, Venti), whether you want it plain or with sweet cream or foam, and any syrup or milk changes.
Final Takeaway
Cold brew concentrate is cheap, fast to prep and easy to adjust. Use 1:5 by weight, coarse grounds and 16 to 20 hours in the fridge, then dilute 1:1. The coffee itself is almost zero calories, so the cream, syrup and foam you add are what matter. Use our Starbucks calorie calculator before you order or copy a Starbucks cold brew at home.
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