Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@vivekkupadhyay
Last active February 9, 2025 10:33
Show Gist options
  • Save vivekkupadhyay/4d0da21616279e55bb193cd71f67873e to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Save vivekkupadhyay/4d0da21616279e55bb193cd71f67873e to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
How to Cold Brew 101 with measurements and Bonus Drink

Cold Brew 101 with measurements and Bonus Drink

This guide has been curated for 800ml of Cold Brew, you can adjust the figures according to your requirements.

In terms of equipment, I am using a glass jar and to enclose it I wrapped a breathable cotton cloth with a rubber band.

Option 1: For Light Roasts (Bloom Method)

1. Coffee-to-Water Ratio

  • Use a 1:10 ratio (by weight) so for 800 ml total water, use 80 gms of coffee.

2. Bloom Phase

  • Use hot water at about 80–90°C.
  • Measure out 1.5 times the coffee weight in water for blooming:
    • For 80 gms of coffee, that’s 120 ml of hot water.
  • Pour the 120 ml hot water over the coarse grounds and let them bloom for about 30 seconds.

3. Adding the Remaining Water

  • After blooming, add enough cold water to bring the total water volume to 800 ml.
  • That means adding 680 ml of cold water (since 800 ml – 120 ml = 680 ml).

4. Brew Time

  • Stir briefly after adding all the water, then cover and let the mixture brew in the refrigerator for 16 hours.
  • Stir once more before pressing (if using a French press) or straining.

Option 2: For Medium-to-Dark Roasts (No Bloom Required)

1. Coffee-to-Water Ratio

  • Again using a 1:10 ratio, use 80 gms of coffee with 800 ml of cold water.

2. Brewing Instructions

  • Place the coffee grounds in your French press or brewing container.
  • Add 800 ml of cold water over the grounds.
  • Stir thoroughly (about 10–15 stirs) to ensure even saturation.

3. Brew Time

  • Cover and let the brew sit in the refrigerator for 16 hours.
  • Give it another stir before plunging or straining.

Additional Tips

Adjusting Strength

  • The method mentions a ratio range of 1:8 to 1:10. If you prefer a stronger concentrate, you could opt for a 1:8 ratio. For 800 ml water, that would mean using 100 g of coffee.
  • For light roasts using the bloom method, the bloom water would then be about 150 ml (1.5×100 g) followed by 650 ml of cold water.

Experimentation

  • Feel free to adjust the brew time or the ratio within that range based on your taste preference. Personally, I prefer 22 hours of cold brewing time, although it varies for different types of coffees so I guess keep experimenting.

Bonus Cocktail

Cold brew coffee is an excellent cocktail agent, especially with Gin & Tonic OR just Tonic Water maybe, that's also a good starting point.

Alrighty, so in my opinion roughly this should be good ratio for a G&T Cold Brew Coffee Cocktail / Martiniwithout olives:

  • 50 ml gin
  • 30 ml cold brew coffee
  • 100 ml tonic water

This 1 : 0.6 : 2 ratio lets the gin’s botanical character and the coffee’s rich, smooth bitterness play nicely against the sparkling, slightly bitter tonic.

Suggested Method

  • Build the Cocktail: In a chilled glass filled with ice, pour 50 ml of your preferred gin.
  • Top with Tonic Water: Top with 100 ml of tonic water.
  • Add the Cold Brew: Gently add 30 ml of cold brew coffee, preferably pouring it over the back side of a spoon to create a separated, crystal-clear effect. Trust me, you're gonna love that.
  • Garnish (Optional): A twist of lemon or an orange peel can add a bright citrus note that complements both the gin and the coffee.

Considering cocktails can be very personal and the coffee’s intensity can vary based on roast and brew method, so feel free to tweak these amounts, maybe use 30 ml of gin, 100 ml tonic, and 50 ml coffee, if you want a stronger coffee note or adjust the tonic for more refreshing fizz.

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment