Cold brew is pretty simple. Coffee, water, time. That's about it.
But the coffee you use still makes a difference. If you've ever made cold brew at home and ended up with something bitter, weak, or just kind of flat, the problem might not be your recipe. It could be the coffee.
So what is the best coffee for cold brew?
There isn't one specific roast or bean that you have to use. But some coffees tend to work better depending on the flavor you want.
What coffee should you use for cold brew?
A medium or dark roast coffee is a good place to start with cold brew.
Cold water extracts coffee differently than hot water, and the longer brewing time creates a different flavor profile. Medium and dark roasts can give you a fuller, smoother cup that works well over ice.
That doesn't mean you can't use a light roast. You absolutely can. Light roast cold brew can have more noticeable acidity and brighter flavors, which some people prefer.
The best coffee for cold brew really comes down to what you like drinking.
Whole bean or ground coffee?
If you have a grinder, whole bean coffee is a good option because you can grind it fresh right before making your cold brew.
For cold brew, you'll generally want a coarse grind. If the coffee is ground too fine, it can make the finished drink more bitter and can also make filtering it a pain.
If you're buying pre-ground coffee, look for something ground specifically for cold brew or a coarse grind that works with your brewing method.
Can you use dark roast for cold brew?
Yes.
Dark roast coffee works well for cold brew if you like a stronger, heavier coffee with deeper roast flavors.
A dark roast can also hold up well when you're adding milk, cream, or anything else to your cold brew.
If you like your coffee black and want more of the coffee's origin and natural character to come through, a medium or light roast might be more your thing.
Can you use medium roast for cold brew?
Also yes.
Medium roast is probably the easiest place to start if you're making cold brew for the first time.
It gives you a good balance between the coffee's natural characteristics and the deeper flavors that come from roasting. Depending on the coffee, you can end up with anything from a smooth, chocolatey cup to something brighter and more fruit-forward.
Our Nightmare Roast and Crypt Roast are both medium roasts, but they're very different coffees.
Nightmare Roast is our house breakfast blend with a consistent, smooth profile, making it an easy everyday option.
Crypt Roast is a single-origin coffee from Peru with a specialty-grade profile and a little more character from its specific origin.
Both can work for cold brew. It just depends on what you want out of the cup.
How to make cold brew at home
You don't need a complicated setup.
Start with a coarse coffee grind and cold or room-temperature water. A common starting point is around a 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio for a ready-to-drink cold brew, although you can adjust that depending on how strong you want it.
Combine the coffee and water and let it steep for roughly 12 to 18 hours. Once it's done, strain out the coffee grounds.
Pour it over ice and you're done.
If the result is too strong, add some water. If it's too weak, use more coffee or let it steep a little longer next time.
There isn't much reason to overcomplicate it.
What is the best First Rite coffee for cold brew?
Honestly, it depends on what you like.
Nightmare Roast is a good option if you want a smooth, straightforward cold brew that you can drink every day.
Crypt Roast is a better choice if you want to taste more of the coffee's origin and prefer something with a little more character.
The Sable is our dark roast house espresso blend, so it's a good option if you like your cold brew darker and stronger.
All three are available as whole bean or ground coffee, so you can use whichever format works best for your setup.
Cold brew doesn't need to be complicated. Find a coffee you actually like, use a coarse grind, give it enough time, and adjust from there.
That's pretty much it.
COFFEE WORTH THE RITE.
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