Cold brew is an incredibly refreshing and versatile coffee brewing method that’s easy to make at home with just a bit of patience. By brewing cold, you extract a smooth, rich coffee concentrate with lower acidity and a sweeter, more balanced flavor.
Using the OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker, you can craft delicious cold brew concentrate in 12-24 hours, resulting in approximately 32oz of ready-to-drink cold brew. Here's how to make cold brew a regular part of your coffee routine!
☕ Who's it for?
This method is perfect for cold brew fans who love the smooth, low-acid profile of cold coffee and anyone looking for a refreshing coffee option on warm days. It’s also ideal for those who like a make-ahead brewing method that can be kept on hand for quick, ready-to-drink coffee.
Cold brew can be made with just about any coffee, so feel free to experiment with different origins or blends. For a perfect balance of sweetness and richness, try our year-round Cold Brew Blend.
📋 What You'll Need
- Freshly Roasted FreeForm Coffee
- OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker
- Burr Grinder
- Gram Scale (optional: a tablespoon will work in a pinch)
- Filtered Water
- Spoon or stirring tool
📖 Step-by-Step Recipe
- Prepare the Brewer: Assemble your OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker according to the instructions. For a cleaner brew, you can add an OXO Cold Brew Paper Filter, which helps prevent fine grounds and oils from reaching your final brew.
- Grind Coffee: Grind 130g of coffee on a coarse setting, similar to the consistency of sea salt. No scale? Fill the brewer with coffee grounds up to the marked coffee bean line.
- Add Water: Place the "rainmaker" lid on top of the brewer. Slowly pour filtered water through the rainmaker, wetting the grounds evenly. Add water until the volume of the coffee grounds and water reaches the oval OXO logo on the side of the brewer.
- Steep: Place the solid lid on top and let the cold brew steep for 12-24 hours. We recommend steeping in the fridge for 20-24 hours for a smooth, rich concentrate. If you're short on fridge space, room temperature brewing for 12-16 hours also works well.
- Drain the Brew: After steeping, place the brewing vessel on top of the glass carafe (don’t forget to remove the cork lid!). Allow the cold brew concentrate to drain completely through the filter into the carafe.
- Serve: Pour the concentrate over ice, diluting with filtered water to taste. We recommend a 1:1 ratio—50% cold brew concentrate, 50% water—but feel free to adjust according to your preference. Stir and enjoy!
🔑 Key Notes
- Concentrate vs Ready-to-Drink: This recipe produces cold brew concentrate, which should be diluted to taste before serving. A 1:1 water-to-concentrate ratio is a great starting point.
- Grind Size: Coarse grind (similar to sea salt) is best for cold brew. Too fine a grind may lead to over-extraction and bitterness.
- Grind Fresh: Freshly ground coffee is crucial for cold brew. Grinding just before brewing ensures maximum flavor extraction.
- Filtered Water: Using filtered water improves the clarity and taste of your cold brew.
⚠️ Troubleshooting & Tips
- Too Weak? Reduce your dilution ratio or brew for a longer time for a stronger concentrate.
- Too Strong? Simply dilute with a little more water or milk to mellow the concentrate.
- Storage: Cold brew concentrate can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Store it in an airtight container for optimal freshness.
👍 Happy Sipping!
Cold brew is an easy way to keep a refreshing, ready-to-drink coffee option on hand. With the OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker, you can enjoy smooth, flavorful coffee any time you need a cool caffeine boost.