Cold brew coffee powder: what to buy, and how to make it
Use a coarse grind, with 1 part coffee to 8 parts cold water, and steep it in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours.
This gives a smooth concentrate that you dilute with water or milk. It keeps in the fridge for up to about two weeks. Instant coffee is a different drink: it makes quick iced coffee, not cold brew.
By Nirikshith, Founder, Navees Farm & Roastery.Updated 9 November 2026.
Which coffee should you use?
You like: Chocolate and depth, great with milk
100% Robusta, cold brew grind
Cocoa nibs, molasses, hints of citrus
You like: Lighter and more refreshing, black over ice
100% Arabica, cold brew grind
Floral, citrus and nutty
You like: A bit of both
Premium Blend, cold brew grind
Floral notes with a chocolaty body
All three come in 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg packs.
Why our Robusta suits cold milk coffee
Cold water pulls out less acidity and bitterness than hot water, so cold brew tastes of the coffee’s body and sweetness.
Our Robusta is fermented for 72 hours without air, dried in the sun as a natural, and roasted dark, which gives it notes of cocoa nibs and molasses. Those flavours come through clearly when it is brewed cold and topped with milk. Its product page lists cold brew among its best uses. If you drink cold brew black, the washed 100% Arabica gives a lighter, more citrusy glass.
How to make it
For about 400 ml of concentrate:
- Add 50 g of coarse coffee to a jar or French press.
- Pour in 400 ml of cold, filtered water, and stir so that all the grounds are wet.
- Cover, and steep in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. Start at 12; steep longer for a stronger, more chocolaty concentrate.
- Strain through a fine filter, a clean cloth, or a French press.
- Serve 1 part concentrate with 1 or 2 parts water or milk, over ice.
We grind every pack to order, coarse for cold brew, from coffee roasted in small batches every two days. A coarse grind is what keeps the concentrate clear and easy to strain.
How long does cold brew keep?
- Concentrate, plain, covered in the fridge: best within a week, and keeps for up to about two weeks.
- Once mixed with milk or sweetened: drink it within a day or two.
- Keep sugar and milk out of the jar, and add them to each glass instead.
If it does not taste right
| It tastes | Try |
|---|---|
| Weak | Use more coffee, or steep for longer |
| Bitter | Steep for less time, or use a coarser grind |
| Cloudy or gritty | Strain it again through a finer filter, and check the grind is coarse |
Common questions
Does cold brew have more caffeine?
Often per serving, because it uses a lot of coffee, but it depends on the ratio and how much you dilute it. Robusta generally has more caffeine than Arabica; see which coffee has the most caffeine.
Can I use filter coffee powder for cold brew?
It is too fine, and it turns cloudy and hard to strain. Chicory blends also change the taste. Use a coarse grind without chicory.
Can I use my French press?
Yes. Steep the coffee in it in the fridge, then press the plunger down to strain. The French press grind works too; see our French press guide.
Can I use hot water to make it faster?
That makes regular coffee, chilled. It is a different taste. Cold water is what gives cold brew its smoothness.
By Nirikshith, Founder, Navees Farm & Roastery. Updated 9 November 2026.