Making cold brew made easy

Cold brew is coffee that's been extracted cold over several hours. All you need is ground coffee, cold water, a refrigerator, a container for extraction, and a fine filter. It's particularly easy to prepare in the Hario Cold Brew Bottle . But first, let's look at the basics you should keep in mind when preparing it. You can find a cold brew recipe in our Brew Guides .

The type of coffee is crucial for the taste

Since the potential for error is smaller when preparing cold brew than, for example, when preparing espresso, choosing the right coffee is all the more important. Along with the grind, the roast level of the coffee is one of the most important factors for the flavor of the cold brew.

Dark roasts for espresso are generally too bitter for cold brewing. Due to the long contact time between the water and the coffee, the roasted aroma is intensified, resulting in a bitter taste.

Light roasts that have been roasted specifically for filter coffee are more suitable. With these light roasts, the roasted aroma is very subtle, which better preserves the coffee's true characteristics. The coffee's sweetness and fruity notes are still noticeable.

The right grind for cold brew

Due to the long contact time between the water and the coffee, a coarse grind is essential. If you grind too finely, the coffee will overextract after just a few hours, resulting in a bitter cold brew. A coarse grind allows for a slow cold extraction over 12-24 hours without any bitterness.

The grind for cold brew is coarser than for filter coffee, and also slightly coarser than the coffee ground for a French press. The grind can be compared to coarse sea salt, although there is a wide range here. The coffee particles should be coarse and uniform in size. Differently sized coffee particles always lead to uneven extraction due to over- and under-extraction. Investing in a high-quality coffee grinder makes a big difference in taste.

The contact time during extraction

Cold brew requires at least 12 hours of contact time at an ambient temperature between 2°C and 6°C. Extraction can take up to 24 hours. In our experience, however, the optimal extraction time is between 14 and 16 hours. This time allows sufficient sweetness to be extracted from the coffee beans without the cold brew becoming bitter. This, of course, assumes the optimal grind and a suitable coffee variety.

We recommend tasting the cold brew after 12 hours. If the cold brew still tastes too light, not sweet enough, and watery, you should refrigerate it for another two hours. We generally recommend tasting the cold brew every two hours after 12 hours and stopping the extraction before the cold brew starts to taste bitter and is in danger of over-extraction.

The versatility of cold brew

Cold brew served cold over ice is a great caffeinated refreshment, not just for summer. However, you can also use cold brew in many coffee mixes. For example, chocolatey cold brew pairs perfectly with iced milk and cream in iced coffee. Sweet berry or floral extracts are ideal for adding to tonic, orange juice, or other juices. With cold brew, your creativity knows no bounds, and you can achieve great results with simple ingredients.

In our Brew Guides, you'll find a basic recipe for preparing cold brew . Experimenting pays off!