Last Updated on January 13, 2025 by Karen

Discover how to craft your own Blue Bottle Cold Brew Coffee at home and enjoy a smooth, rich coffee with lower acidity than regular brews using the cold brewing method with just two ingredients: coffee and water!

Are your mornings as hectic as mine? I like to plan ahead, especially when it comes to simplifying my morning routine with delicious cold brew coffee. The first time I had cold brew coffee, it was from Blue Bottle Coffee when it opened its first store in NYC. Have you been to Blue Bottle cafes? If not, you’re missing out on an amazing coffee experience. Whether you’re a fan of cold brewed coffee or prefer a piping hot cup of java, Blue Bottle’s freshness and flavor shines through in every sip.

Blue Bottle is especially known for their cold brew coffee. In fact, they now sell their cold brew coffee in cans at the grocery store. But guess what? There’s an easy way to recreate that magic at home!

All you need are coffee beans, cold water, a French press, and a mason jar—just two ingredients and simple steps!

I like to prepare it the day before, so the next morning, my cold brew is ready and can be used to create various specialty drinks, like the viral Tiktok Blue Bottle’s New Orleans-style iced coffee.

What is cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee is a method of coffee preparation where coffee grounds are steeped in cold or room temperature water for an extended period of time, typically 12 to 24 hours. Unlike traditional coffee brewing methods that use hot water and produce a more acidic and bitter flavor profile, cold brew coffee is known for its smooth, mellow taste with lower acidity. The cold brewing process extracts the flavor compounds from the coffee beans slowly, and the end result is a coffee concentrate that can be diluted with water, milk, or cream to achieve the desired strength and flavor.

What makes Blue Bottle Cold Brew different?

The dilution ratio for Blue Bottle Cold Brew is 1:11 by weight (1 part coffee to 11 parts water), which is a stronger brew compared to the typical concentrate ratios used in cold brew coffee. For me, I like to use 1 cup of coffee grounds and 3.5 cups of water. It’s important to note that the ideal ratio can vary based on personal preference. Experimenting with different ratios allows you to tailor the strength and flavor of your cold brew to suit your taste preferences.

Blue Bottle sells the Hario system in their cafes. If you’re really serious about your cold brew, then get their system, but otherwise, just a regular pitcher/mason jar and coffee filter or an infuser-style mason jar works just as well.

What is the most popular blue bottle coffee?

Blue Bottle Coffee offers a variety of popular blends, with some of their best-known offerings being:

The Blue Bottle Blend – A well-balanced medium roast that combines bright acidity and a rich, smooth body. This is also the Blue Bottle coffee best seller.
Giant Steps – A popular dark roast blend known for its deep, chocolatey notes and full-bodied flavor.
Single-Origin Coffees – Blue Bottle often features different single-origin coffees, such as those from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala, showcasing unique flavors and profiles.
Bella Donovan – A fan-favorite blend with a smooth, chocolatey flavor profile and hints of fruitiness, ideal for a balanced cup.
Cafe de la Vaca – A creamy, sweet coffee with milk-forward flavors, perfect for those who enjoy a richer, smoother brew.

These blends are favorites among customers for their distinct, high-quality flavors, and Blue Bottle’s commitment to fresh, sustainably sourced coffee beans.

Is cold brew coffee healthier?

Cold brew coffee has gained popularity with many coffee aficionados for being a gentler option on the stomach compared to hot brewed coffee, making it a favorite among those with sensitive digestive systems or who simply prefer a smoother coffee experience.

Does cold brew have more caffeine than espresso?

Cold brew coffee can have more caffeine than espresso, but it depends on the concentration. Cold brew is typically brewed with a higher coffee-to-water ratio, making it more concentrated than regular brewed coffee. However, cold brew is often diluted with water or milk before serving. In general, a standard serving of cold brew (about 8 ounces) can contain 150–200 milligrams of caffeine, while a single shot of espresso (about 1 ounce) contains around 63 milligrams of caffeine. So, while espresso has a higher caffeine content per ounce, cold brew can have more overall caffeine if consumed in a larger serving.

Follow these simple steps to make your own Blue Bottle-style cold brew at home:

Prepare Your Ingredients: Start with fresh ground coffee beans. For the best results, use organic whole beans and grind them to a coarse setting in a grinder. You dont want the grind size to be too fine, otherwise, it will create bitter coffee.
Combine Coffee and Water in a 1:11 ratio: Place coffee grounds into a large French press, pitcher, or mason jar. Use filtered water at room temperature to ensure a clean taste. The best way is to pour the water over the coffee grounds (instead of the other way around) and stir gently with a wooden spoon.
Steep the Cold Brew: Cover the French press or mason jar and let the coffee steep at room temperature for about 12-24 hours. This slow brewing process extracts the coffee’s flavors without bitterness.
Strain the Concentrate: After steeping, press down the French press plunger slowly, or if you use a mason jar, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh filter basket lined with cheesecloth or paper filters into another container. This step ensures you get a smooth, potent concentrate.
Store and Enjoy: Transfer the cold brew concentrate into a clean container and store it in the fridge. It has a longer shelf life than regular coffee and can be diluted with water or milk when serving.

What coffee should I use to make this Blue Bottle Cold Brew recipe?

Preferably Blue Bottle’s Balanced Medium Roast or your favorite medium-dark roast works too.

Can you use espresso beans for cold brew?

Yes, you can use espresso beans for cold brew, but there are a few things to consider. Espresso beans are typically roasted darker than beans (like the Blue Bottle Espresso Dark Roast) used for cold brew, which could result in a more intense, bold, and slightly bitter flavor profile. Cold brew coffee is usually made with coarser grounds to avoid over-extraction, so using espresso beans, which are ground finely for espresso shots, may lead to over-extraction if you don’t adjust the grind size. For the best cold brew, it’s recommended to grind your espresso beans coarsely and brew them slowly over a longer period (12–24 hours) to extract the smooth, rich flavors without excessive bitterness.

How to enjoy your cold brew coffee:

Serve as Cold Coffee: Pour your cold brew coffee over ice for a refreshing chilled drink. This is a classic way to enjoy cold brew, perfect for hot summer days or whenever you need a cool pick-me-up.

Serve as Hot Coffee: Start by heating your cold brew coffee on the stove or in the microwave until it reaches your desired temperature. Cold brew concentrate can be quite strong, so dilute it with an equal amount of hot water or milk to achieve your preferred strength.

Add Milk or Cream: Customize your cold brew by adding a splash of milk, cream, or dairy-free alternatives like almond milk or oat milk. This enhances the creamy texture and can mellow out the coffee’s strength if desired.

Sweeten to Taste: Cold brew’s smooth flavor pairs well with sweeteners like simple syrup, honey, or flavored syrups such as vanilla or caramel. You can also use zero-calorie sugar substitutes such as monkfruit sweetener, Stevia, and Swerve.

Experiment with Flavors: Get creative with flavor additions! Consider adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or try a dash of cocoa powder for a mocha twist.

Create Specialty Cold Brew Coffee Drinks: Use your cold brew as a base for specialty drinks like Best Starbucks Copycat Irish Cream Cold Brew Recipe and Starbucks Copycat Chocolate Cream Cold Brew.

Blend into Smoothies: Blend your cold brew with ice, a banana, and a splash of milk for a coffee-flavored smoothie. This adds a caffeinated kick to your morning routine.

Cold brew coffee is versatile, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different serving styles and flavors to find your favorite way to enjoy this delicious beverage!

Can cold brew coffee go bad?

Yes, cold brew coffee can go bad over time. While cold brew concentrate has a relatively long shelf life compared to hot brewed coffee, it will eventually spoil. Here are some signs that cold brew has gone bad:

Off smell: If it develops a sour or rancid odor, it’s a sign that the cold brew has spoiled.
Taste change: If the taste becomes overly bitter, sour, or off in any way, it’s time to discard it.
Mold growth: If you notice any mold floating on the surface, it should be thrown away immediately.
Separation or cloudiness: While some separation is normal with cold brew concentrate, significant cloudiness or an unusual layer on top could indicate spoilage.

To maximize freshness, store cold brew in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume it within 1 to 2 weeks.

How to make Blue Bottle New Orleans-style coffee with chicory?

You just have to add ground roasted chicory when you make the cold brew. So to the pitcher, add 1 cup of ground coffee (preferably New Orleans-style coffee beans), 3.5 cups of water, and 1.5 tablespoons of ground chicory. This recipe yields a flavorful and smooth cold brew with a hint of chicory, perfect for hot summer days or anytime you crave a unique coffee experience at home.

Making Blue Bottle-style cold brew coffee at home is simple and rewarding. With just a few ingredients and minimal effort, you can enjoy a delicious cold brew with a smoother taste and stronger kick.

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Blue Bottle Cold Brew Coffee

Servings 2

Ingredients

1 cup ground coffee coarsely ground
3.5 cups room temperature water

Instructions

Pour ground coffee into a French press, pitcher, or mason jar, and pour water over the grounds.
Stir well and cover the pitcher with plastic wrap. Let it steep at room temperature for at least 12 hours, up to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the cold brew.
Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into another pitcher or container, and keep in the fridge until you're ready to use.
To serve, add cold brew concentrate and cold water into a glass with ice. The ratio of concentrate to water depends on how strong you like your coffee.