Cold Brew Steep Time: How Long Is Long Enough?

Steep time is where cold brew earns its flavour, and it is the step in our cold brew guide that people most often guess at. A few hours either way can change the drink a lot.

The usual window

Most cold brew steeps for somewhere between 12 and 24 hours. Within that range, here is roughly what to expect:

• 12 hours: lighter and brighter, sometimes a little thin or grassy.
• 16 to 18 hours: the sweet spot for most coffees. Full, smooth and chocolatey.
• 24 hours: heavy and bold. Can start to taste woody or bitter.

Past 24 hours, most batches go downhill. More time does not mean more flavour, just more of the flavours you do not want.

Fridge or counter

Temperature changes everything. Brewing at room temperature extracts faster, so 12 to 16 hours is often enough. Brewing in the fridge is slower and usually needs 18 to 24 hours.

Fridge brewing tends to taste cleaner and is safer if you are leaving it a long time. Counter brewing is quicker and gives a slightly fuller body.

Whichever you pick, do the same each time so your results stay consistent.

Adjusting for beans and grind

Darker roasts extract faster and can turn bitter sooner, so start at the shorter end. Lighter roasts need longer. A finer grind also speeds things up, though it makes straining harder.

Steep time and strength

A longer steep makes cold brew taste stronger, but only up to a point. If you want a stronger drink, it is usually better to use more coffee than to steep longer. That is also how most people make cold brew concentrate, with a heavy ratio and a normal steep.

When it is done, strain it

Do not leave the grounds sitting in the coffee once it is ready. Strain through a fine sieve, then through a paper filter or cloth for a cleaner cup. Leftover grounds keep extracting and will turn the batch bitter in the fridge.

Proper straining also makes a big difference to shelf life, which we cover in our notes on cold brew storage.

Set a reminder

It sounds obvious, but the most common steep time mistake is forgetting the jar. Set a timer on your phone when you start the batch.

A simple test

Make one large batch, then strain a small cup at 12, 16, 20 and 24 hours. Taste them side by side. You will quickly learn where your beans taste best.

Keep reading

• Flavoured cold brew: steeping spices alongside your coffee
• Beans for cold brew: how roast changes the ideal steep