What is the coffee to water ratio for cold brew

1 cup of grounds to 4 cups of water, or about 4 cups of coffee per gallon. That makes a concentrate you dilute before drinking.

How long should cold brew steep

12 to 18 hours in the fridge. Twelve hours gives a medium brew; eighteen gives a stronger, darker concentrate. Going much past eighteen starts to pull bitter notes.

How do I strain it without a filter

A fine mesh strainer into a pitcher works for a quick first pass. A second pass through a nut-milk bag or coffee filter removes the fines for a cleaner cup.

Is a gallon bag too big for cold brew

Cold brew works at scale; the gallon size is exactly right for a week's worth of concentrate that you dilute as you go. A smaller batch means mixing more often.

Gallon Cold Brew Coffee

Name: Gallon Cold Brew Coffee
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 12 h
Yield: about 1 gallon
Ingredients: 4 cups coarse-ground coffee; 1 gallon cold filtered water

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Batch Prep

Gallon Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew in a gallon bag works because the bag holds a gallon of water plus four cups of grounds, squishes to saturate the coffee, and then lays flat in the refrigerator while it steeps. After 12 to 18 hours, you strain through the bag opening into a pitcher. No mason jar big enough, no French press, no complicated equipment. The Clear bag lets you watch the concentrate darken through the steep and check the color before you strain.

Steep12-18 h

Active10 min

Makes~1 gallon

Bag1 gallon

What you need

4 cups coarse-ground coffee (about 1 pound)
1 gallon cold filtered water
Fine mesh strainer or nut-milk bag, for straining
1 XXL Silicone Food Storage Bag (Clear)

Directions

Add 4 cups of coarse-ground coffee to the Clear bag. Pour in 1 gallon of cold filtered water at a 1 to 4 ratio of coffee to water.
Squish the bag from the outside to wet all the grounds and make sure none are clumped dry at the bottom.
Press out the extra air, seal the zipper, and lay the bag flat in the fridge.
Steep 12 to 18 hours. Longer gives stronger and darker concentrate.
Hold the bag over a large pitcher and open one corner. Squeeze gently to strain through a fine strainer or nut-milk bag.
Filter a second time through a coffee filter or fine cloth if you want a cleaner cup. Refrigerate the concentrate and serve over ice; dilute with water or milk to taste.

Tips and notes

Coarse-ground coffee strains faster and produces less sediment than finely ground; use the French press or cold brew setting on your grinder.
The 1:4 ratio (coffee to water) makes a concentrate. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk for drinking, or use it stronger over ice.
Keep the finished concentrate refrigerated and use within two weeks for best flavor.
The See-through Clear bag lets you check the color and decide when the steep is deep enough before you commit to straining.

Get the XXL Silicone Bag

The Clear XXL bag holds a full gallon of cold brew to steep overnight and squishes flat in the fridge. The see-through silicone lets you watch the concentrate darken so you can pull it at exactly the strength you want.

See the Clear Bag

Albino Monkey XXL Silicone Food Storage Bag (Clear)

Common questions

What is the coffee to water ratio for cold brew: 1 cup of grounds to 4 cups of water, or about 4 cups of coffee per gallon. That makes a concentrate you dilute before drinking.
How long should cold brew steep: 12 to 18 hours in the fridge. Twelve hours gives a medium brew; eighteen gives a stronger, darker concentrate. Going much past eighteen starts to pull bitter notes.
How do I strain it without a filter: A fine mesh strainer into a pitcher works for a quick first pass. A second pass through a nut-milk bag or coffee filter removes the fines for a cleaner cup.
Is a gallon bag too big for cold brew: Cold brew works at scale; the gallon size is exactly right for a week's worth of concentrate that you dilute as you go. A smaller batch means mixing more often.