Cold Brew Concentrate (Plain, No Protein)

This is the base cold brew technique on its own — no protein powder, no shaker bottle, just the concentrate. (Want it as a protein drink instead? See our Proffee recipe, which starts from this exact concentrate.) It’s also the least gear-intensive recipe on the whole site: no dripper, no kettle, no heat source at all — a jar and a strainer you probably already own.

The Recipe

Ratio: 1:4, coffee to water, by weight. For a standard batch, that’s about 85g (1 cup) of coarse ground coffee to 4 cups (32oz) of cold water.

1. Combine the grounds and water in a large jar or pitcher, stirring so everything’s saturated.
2. Cover and let it steep 12-24 hours, in the fridge or at room temperature — this is entirely hands-off. Start around 12-16 hours and steep longer next time if you want a stronger concentrate.
3. Strain twice: first through a fine-mesh strainer to catch the bulk of the grounds, then a second time through a coffee filter or cheesecloth-lined strainer for a clear, sediment-free finish.
4. Store the concentrate in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
5. To serve, pour over ice and dilute 1:1 — an equal part water for straight black cold brew, or an equal part milk (dairy or a milk alternative) if you want it creamier. Either is a genuinely good way to drink this; it’s plain, coffee-forward black coffee either way, just diluted differently.

A batch this size makes about 7 servings at 4oz concentrate each, diluted to an 8oz drink.

This batch, coffee only (7 servings)$3.00 total

Per 8oz diluted serving$0.43

Bottled ready-to-drink cold brew (single bottle)$3.99

Café cold brew, 16oz$4.95

Savings per drink: about $3.56 versus bottled, about $4.52 versus café. No equipment cost beyond a jar you already own and a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth — there’s no dripper or kettle purchase to earn back here at all.

Assumptions: 85g (1 cup) coarse ground coffee at $16/lb specialty-bean pricing (grocery-store beans work just as well for cold brew — priced here at the same convention used sitewide for an apples-to-apples comparison), 4 cups water, yielding about 7 servings after the double strain. Bottled and café prices are current market averages and will vary by brand and city — the gap holds either way. At 5 cold brews a week over the site’s standard 48-week year (240 drinks), that’s roughly $854/year saved versus bottled, or about $1,085/year versus café.

Getting It Right

• Coarse grind only. Anything finer turns muddy and hard to strain clean, and can make the concentrate taste over-extracted and bitter.
• The double strain is what makes this drinkable, not just brewed. Skipping the second, finer strain leaves visible sediment in the glass.
• Longer steep, stronger coffee — not stronger caffeine’s the tradeoff most people notice, it’s flavor and body. If it tastes weak after diluting, steep longer next time rather than diluting less.
• Dilute to taste. 1:1 is a solid starting ratio for both water and milk, but coarser grinds or a shorter steep can call for slightly less dilution.

Recipe Card Summary

Cold Brew Concentrate (Plain)

• 1 cup (85g) coarse ground coffee, 4 cups (32oz) cold water
• Ratio: 1:4, coffee to water
• Steep: 12-24 hours, hands-off
• Strain twice: fine-mesh, then a filter or cheesecloth
• Serve: 1:1 with water (black) or milk (creamier), over ice
• Cost: ~$0.43/serving vs. ~$3.99 bottled or ~$4.95 café equivalent

FAQ

Do I need special equipment for this?

No — a large jar or pitcher and a fine-mesh strainer (or cheesecloth) are all it takes. No cold brew maker, dripper, or kettle required.

Is 12 hours enough, or should I go all the way to 24?

Either works. 12-16 hours gives a milder concentrate; 20-24 hours gives a stronger, slightly more bitter one. Try the middle of the range first and adjust from there.

Can I drink this without diluting it?

You can, but it’s built to be diluted — straight concentrate is quite strong and bitter. Diluting 1:1 with water or milk is what gets you a normal-strength cup.

How is this different from the Proffee recipe?

This is the same base concentrate, served plain over ice, diluted with water or milk. Proffee takes this exact concentrate and blends in protein powder and milk for a meal-adjacent drink — same coffee, different destination.