Can You Make Cold Brew With Fine Ground Coffee?

Cold brewed coffee is typically made using coarse grounds because they're easier to strain and help keep sediment down during a long steep.

The grounds are usually kept on the coarse side so the long steep doesn't turn into a muddy, hard-to-filter brew.

Quick Answer: Can you make cold brew with fine ground coffee?

You can make cold brew with fine ground coffee, but it usually takes a bit more patience to filter. A finer grind extracts faster, so you may want to steep for less time (or filter more carefully) to avoid a harsh, bitter taste.

|Start with your usual coffee-to-water ratio and tweak from there.

You can accomplish this in various ways, which I’ll cover in this article.

Let’s begin!

Cold brew with fine ground coffee; does it taste good?

Cold brew with fine ground coffee can taste great. The finer the grind of the coffee, the greater the surface area for the coffee to come into contact with water, and therefore, the quicker it will release its flavor.

This means that a finer grind will give you a more robust coffee flavor. However, if you use a finer grind than is necessary, it can also lead to over-extraction and a bitter flavor.

Another thing to consider is that changing grind size can change how quickly things extract, but the caffeine level in your cold brew depends mostly on your recipe (coffee-to-water ratio, steep time, and any dilution).

You can make a delicious cold brew with fine ground coffee, but it’s necessary to keep track of your brew and use the right technique for it to turn out amazing.

What is the best coffee-to-water ratio for this cold brew?

A 1:10 ratio of coffee to water will yield a delicious, yet not too strong, cold brew coffee. This will give you a rich and smooth flavor.

You can use higher coffee-to-water ratios, such as 1:8 or even 1:6, for a more concentrated brew.

But I find that the resulting brew is too strong and bitter that way. Experiment to find the ratio that works best for you.

You can, however, dilute the cold brew coffee with cold tap water after it has finished steeping.

This is called making a cold brew concentrate, which is best achieved using more coffee in your brew.

I prefer making a batch of cold brew coffee that is drinkable without needing to dilute it, but this is just my preference.

How long do you steep this cold brew?

It depends on how strong you like your cold brew. I like to let mine steep for about 15 hours.

Some people prefer it a little weaker and will only steep for 12 hours, but I find that the flavor isn’t as strong.

Either way, you can have a taste every few hours until your cold brew has the desired strength for you.

As a finer coffee grind is used for this recipe, observing the cold brew and having a taste in between will be the best way to check that it’s not too overpowering for your taste.

The finer coffee grounds can easily over-extract, resulting in a less enjoyable flavor.

What kind of coffee beans work best for this recipe?

Medium and dark roasts are popular for cold brew because they often bring chocolatey, nutty flavors that come through well when served cold.

But any roast can work. Use what you like!

For a smoother cup, focus on dialing in your ratio, steeping time, and filtering method.

If you’re looking for some amazing coffee beans for cold brew, you can check out my recommendations here.

Additionally, ensure that you grind your coffee beans fresh just before brewing for optimal results.

You can use a burr grinder or an automatic grinder.

I like the Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill because it’s affordable and easy to use.

How to make cold brew with fine ground coffee

To make cold brew with fine ground coffee, you will need:

• Coffee. Use a coffee you enjoy with a fine grind.
• Water. Filtered water is best, but tap water will also work.
• A pitcher. I like to use a 32-oz pitcher for my cold brew.
• Cheesecloth. Optional but helpful if you want a clearer brew.
• A scale. Optional but helpful if you want to be precise with your measurements.
• A strainer. I prefer using a fine-mesh strainer, but more on filtering below.

There are a few ways to make cold brew with fine ground coffee. One way is to use a French press.

Another way is to use a mason jar or any other type of airtight container:

1. Add 100 grams of fine coffee grounds to your French press or container.
2. Add 1000 ml of cold water and stir well.
3. Put the lid on your French press or container and let it sit for 12-24 hours. I like to go for 15 hours.
4. After 12-24 hours, plunge the French press or pour the cold brew from the container into another container or pitcher, using a cheesecloth if needed to filter out any grounds.

Note: You can scale up the recipe to accommodate more people when making it. You can stick to the 1:10 ratio of coffee to water for a well-balanced taste. (And you can even make a decaf cold brew!)

Now that you know about the easy steps to make cold brew with fine coffee grounds, let’s talk about the best ways to filter out those fine coffee grounds that will inevitably be in your cold brew coffee.

How to filter fine coffee grounds from cold brew

Because a fine coffee grind will leave you with small bits of coffee in your cold brew, you want to remove them to enjoy a smooth coffee.

You can follow the steps listed below to filter your cold brew:

1. Pour the cold brew coffee into a fine-mesh strainer placed over a bowl or pitcher.
2. Gently stir the coffee grounds around with a spoon to help them release their liquid.
3. Let the coffee strain for at least 20 minutes or until all the liquid has been strained out of the grounds. You can also leave it to strain overnight in the fridge if you prefer.
4. Once done, discard the grounds and enjoy your delicious cold brew coffee!

If you feel that your coffee grounds are extremely fine and still remain in your cold brew, you can also opt to use a coffee filter, as shown above.

Rinse the coffee filter and place it in the designated coffee brewer (or pitcher) and bind it with a rubber band. Slowly pour the cold brew coffee on top.

Let the coffee run through until all the cold brew is filtered.

You’ll be left with a smooth, cold brew coffee that you can leave in the fridge for the coming days.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and learned something new about making cold brew with fine coffee grounds.

It’s a great addition to any home barista’s repertoire, so give it a try!

This brewing method will help you eliminate those pre-ground coffees that have been sitting in your cabinet for way too long.

If you’d like to use your homemade cold brew coffee for a delicious recipe, you can check out some of my favorites below!

Cold brew recipes to try

• How to Make a Cold Brew Latte at Home: The Ultimate Recipe
• Nutella Cold Brew: What Is It and How to Make It at Home?
• Spanish Latte Cold Brew: Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe to Try

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