COLD BREW GUIDE

Better than a lemonade on a hot summer day, cold brew is a delicious ice cold nectar we can’t get enough of. While it’s convenient to buy cold brew at a nearby store, making it at home is simple and can be done with a French Press, any large jar and filter, or our favorite brewer, the Toddy. Here we share how to make a smooth and delicious concentrate with a Toddy or a French Press, which can be enjoyed with your favorite milk, cream, water, or over ice. 

Toddy French Press AeroPress


How to Make Toddy Cold Brew Concentrate

Brew Time: 18-22 hours
Coffee: 12 oz
Water: 7 cups (add water for a less concentrated cold brew)
Grind: Coarse/Rock Salt/Baratza Encore #40

What you need:

  • Fridge
  • Toddy
  • Filtered Water
  • Measuring Cup
  • Large Spoon
  • Glass with Ice
  • Recommended: Burr Grinder

Instructions:

  • Step 1: Pre-soak felt filter for 30 seconds and place it in Toddy with plug. Add one cup of cold water to the Toddy.
  • Step 2: Measure 12 oz of coffee and coarsely grind it to the consistency of rock salt; we like to use the Baratza Encore grinder at setting #40, although 35-40 is a great target range. Every grinder is different and it may take a couple attempts to find your preferred grind.
  • Step 3: Add 6 oz of coffee to the Toddy. Pour 3 cups of water over the coffee grounds. Do not mix or stir.
  • Step 4: Add 6 oz of coffee to the Toddy and slowly pour the remaining three cups of water over the grounds.
  • Step 5: You will see dry grounds floating on the top. Slowly push them down, ensuring all grounds are submerged. Do not stir or mix.
  • Step 6: Cover and steep in the fridge for 18-22 hours. For a brighter coffee, steep for less time. For a richer coffee, steep for longer. We don’t recommend exceeding 24 hours as it may taste bitter. 
  • Step 7: Place Toddy brewer over the carafe and pull the plug to drain. Serve over ice, add milk, cream, or water and enjoy. Store the cold brew in a sealed container the fridge for up to 7 days.

Pro Tips: 

  1. For a less concentrated cold brew, add more water. 
  2. When deciding how long to brew remember that the cold brew will be brighter with a shorter brew time, and richer with a longer brew time. We recommend not brewing longer than 24 hours as it may taste bitter and over extracted. 
  3. You can brew at room temperature in less time (12-16 hours), although for food safety reasons, make sure your brew equipment is fully cleaned. 
  4. There are lots of great ways to make cold brew. If you don’t want to purchase a Toddy, you can make cold brew in a large jar using a filter like a cheesecloth, nut milk bag, or your normal drip machine or V60 filter.

How to Make French Press Cold Brew Concentrate

Brew Time: 18-22 hours
Coffee: 6 oz
Water: 3.5 cups
Grind: Coarse/Rock Salt/Baratza Encore #40

What you need:

  • French Press (34 oz or larger)
  • Filtered Water
  • Measuring cup
  • Plastic Wrap
  • Glass with Ice
  • Recommended: Burr Grinder

Instructions:

  • Step 1: Measure 6 oz of coffee and coarsely grind it to the consistency of rock salt; if you have a Baratza Encore grinder, we like setting #40. Note: every grinder is different and it may take a couple attempts to find your preferred grind.
  • Step 2: Add 1 cup of cold water to the brewer. Add 6 oz of coffee; slowly pour 2.5 cups of water over coffee trying to evenly wet coffee.
  • Step 3: Gently press down grounds just enough so all grounds are wet, but do not stir. Remove press and cover with plastic wrap; place in the fridge for 18-22 hours.
  • Step 4: Remove from the fridge and gently press down the plunger. Store the cold brew in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 7 days.

HOW TO MAKE AEROPRESS COLD BREW

Brew Time: 1 minute
Coffee: 1 rounded scoop
Grind: Fine/Espresso

What you need:

Instructions:

  • Step 1: Grind 1 scoop of coffee to a fine grind, slightly finer than table salt. It may take a couple attempts to fine your preferred grind. We like settings #7, 8, and 9 on the Baratza Encore.
  • Step 2: Assemble AeroPress with funnel and place it on the counter inverted with funnel end up. Add coffee.
  • Step 3: Add room temperature water to halfway between #4 and #3 on the brewer.
  • Step 3: Stir for one minute.
  • Step 4: Add filter to cap and screw onto brewing chamber. Flip over, plunge over ice, and enjoy.

HOW TO MAKE AEROPRESS COLD BREW (INVERTED METHOD)

Brew Time: 2 minutes
Coffee: 20g (or 1 AeroPress scoop)
Water: 200g (or near marker 1 when inverted) at 200℉
Ice: 200g, or a full 16oz shaker
Grind: Medium-Fine/Table Salt/Baratza Encore #12

What you need:

Inverted Instructions:

  1. Step 1: Heat filtered water to about 200℉ or 30 seconds off boil when the water is simmering.
  2. Step 2: Grind 20g or 1 scoop of coffee to medium-fine, the consistency of table salt. It may take a couple attempts to find your preferred grind. We like setting #12 on the Baratza Encore.
  3. Step 3: Assemble AeroPress with funnel and place it inverted with funnel end up. Add coffee.
  4. Step 4: Add filter to cap and rinse with hot water.
  5. Step 5: Start two minute timer; fill chamber halfway with water and stir. Add the rest of the water and screw cap onto the brewing chamber.
  6. Step 6: After two minutes, flip Aeropress upside-down on top of cup* with ice. Plunge. Mix and enjoy.

*Pro Tip: Press into a cocktail shaker, then shake and strain over ice for an extra cold, rich cup.