Cold Brew Concentrate vs Ready-to-Drink: Which to Make

Once you have a few batches under your belt, you will face a choice that our cold brew guide only touches on: brew a strong concentrate and dilute it, or brew at drinking strength from the start. Both work. They just suit different routines.

What concentrate is

Cold brew concentrate is brewed with a lot of coffee, usually around 1:4 or 1:5 coffee to water by weight. The result is too strong to drink straight. You mix it with water, milk or ice before serving.

What ready-to-drink is

Ready-to-drink cold brew uses less coffee, around 1:10 to 1:12. You strain it, pour it over ice and drink it. No mixing needed.

Why choose concentrate

• Saves fridge space. A small jar makes many drinks.
• Flexible. You can make a strong black coffee, a milky iced latte or a long drink with sparkling water from the same batch.
• Good for hot drinks. Mix concentrate with hot water for a quick, low-acid cup.
• Better for flavouring. Syrups and spices hold up well against a strong base.

Why choose ready-to-drink

• Simple. Pour and go.
• Consistent. No guessing the dilution each morning.
• Easier on beans. It uses less coffee per drink overall, though not as much less as you might think.

How to dilute concentrate

Start at 1:1, equal parts concentrate and water or milk. Taste and adjust:

• Too strong: add more water or milk.
• Too weak: use less water or milk, or more coffee in your next batch.

Remember that ice melts. If you pour over a full glass of ice, you can go a little stronger.

Shelf life

Concentrate tends to keep slightly better than ready-to-drink, because the stronger brew is less prone to tasting flat as it ages. Either way, keep it sealed and cold. Our cold brew storage article covers containers and how long each type lasts.

Flavouring

Concentrate is the better base if you like sweet or spiced drinks. A shot of vanilla or a cinnamon syrup gets lost in a weak brew but stands out against concentrate. We have a handful of ideas in our flavoured cold brew recipes.

Our take

If you drink cold brew a few different ways, make concentrate. If you drink the same glass every day, brew it ready to drink and keep life simple.

Keep reading

• Beans for cold brew: picking a coffee that suits concentrate
• Cold brew ratio: concentrate and drinking-strength starting points