Cold brew coffee ratio

Cold brew steeps coarse coffee in cold water for 12–24 hours. A 1:5 ratio makes a concentrate you dilute about 1:1; a 1:8 ratio makes coffee you can drink straight. CoffeeRatio starts this page with a litre of water as concentrate.

Method and amount

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    That takes 200 g of coffee. The grounds hold back about 400 ml, so you strain off about 600 ml of concentrate, or roughly 1.2 litres of cold brew once diluted.

    How the coffee ratio calculator works

    A ratio of 1:N means 1 gram of coffee for every N grams of water, and 1 ml of water weighs 1 g. CoffeeRatio turns cups into water using the cup size (1 US fl oz = 29.57 ml), then divides the water by N to get the coffee, or multiplies the coffee by N to get the water. Tablespoons assume about 5 g of ground coffee per level tablespoon and 10 g per standard scoop. Brewed yield is the water minus about twice the coffee’s weight, because wet grounds hold roughly double their weight in water; for espresso the water figure is the shot weight itself.

    Coffee ratios by brew method

    MethodRatioCoffee per 12 oz mugCoffee per litre
    Pour-over / V601:1622.2 g63 g
    Chemex1:1523.7 g67 g
    French press1:1523.7 g67 g
    Drip coffee maker1:1720.9 g59 g
    AeroPress1:1229.6 g83 g
    Cold brew concentrate1:571 g200 g
    Cold brew, ready to drink1:844.4 g125 g

    Ratios are starting points. Grind size, roast, water and brew time all change the taste, so adjust one thing at a time: less water for stronger, more for lighter.

    Frequently asked questions

    How long should cold brew steep?

    12–18 hours in the fridge or 12 hours at room temperature; longer can taste woody.

    How much coffee for a quart of cold brew?

    About 190 g for concentrate (1:5) or 120 g ready to drink (1:8) per quart (946 ml) of water.

    How long does cold brew keep?

    Concentrate keeps about 1–2 weeks in a sealed jar in the fridge.

    Is CoffeeRatio free?

    Yes, with no sign-up or ads, and your settings stay in your browser.

    Can I change the ratio?

    Yes. Each method starts from a common ratio; type any ratio from 1:1 to 1:30 to make it stronger or weaker.

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