Start With the Right Coffee
House Blend Ground · 2.5lb Shop Now |
Dark French Roast Ground · 2.5lb Shop Now |
Mocha Java Ground · 2.5lb Shop Now |
Making cold brew at home is easier than most people think — and significantly cheaper than buying it pre-made. A bag of quality coffee, a large jar, cold water, and a strainer is all you need. The real question isn't how to make it. It's which coffee you start with — because that's the only variable that actually determines whether your cold brew is genuinely low acid.
The Science: A peer-reviewed study in Scientific Reports (Rao & Fuller, 2018) found cold brew pH (4.96–5.13) is statistically comparable to hot brew (4.85–5.10). The brew method does NOT lower acid. The roasting method does. Start with Puroast — verified at pH 5.74–5.82 — and your cold brew will be genuinely low acid.
|
5.82 Puroast pH — genuinely low acid |
5X More antioxidants than leading coffees |
~$0.40 Per serving — vs $5–7 store-bought |
The Master Cold Brew Ratio
| Type | Coffee | Water | Steep Time | Serve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Strength | 1 cup (85g) | 8 cups (1.9L) | 12–16 hrs | As-is over ice |
| Concentrate | 1 cup (85g) | 4 cups (950mL) | 18–24 hrs | Dilute 1:1 before serving |
| Extra Strong | 1 cup (85g) | 3 cups (710mL) | 20–24 hrs | Dilute 1:2 before serving |
Step-by-Step: How to Make Cold Brew at Home
What you need: Coarsely ground coffee · Large jar or pitcher (32oz+) · Cold filtered water · Fine mesh strainer + cheesecloth or paper coffee filter · Storage container
Step 1 — Grind coarsely. Use a French press or coarse grind setting. Fine grounds over-extract and produce a bitter, muddy result.
Step 2 — Combine coffee and cold water. Add your measured coffee to the jar first, then pour cold filtered water over it. Stir gently to saturate all the grounds.
Step 3 — Steep in the refrigerator. Cover and refrigerate. Steep 12–24 hours depending on strength. Do not steep at room temperature for more than 12 hours.
Step 4 — Strain thoroughly. Pour through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a paper coffee filter. Strain twice if needed. Discard grounds.
Step 5 — Store and serve. Transfer to a sealed glass jar or pitcher. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks (concentrate) or 3–5 days (ready-to-drink). Serve over ice, diluted to taste.
Pro Tip — The Refrigerator Always Wins: Cold brewing in the fridge produces a cleaner, smoother, less bitter result every time compared to counter-top steeping. The slower extraction rate at refrigerator temperatures limits over-extraction of bitter compounds. Set it before bed, strain it in the morning.
Equipment Guide: Mason Jar vs. Toddy vs. OXO vs. French Press
| Method | Cost | Batch Size | Clarity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Jar + Cheesecloth | $0–5 | 16–64oz | Good | Beginners, budget brewing |
| French Press | $20–50 | 12–34oz | Moderate (some sediment) | Small batches, dual-purpose |
| Toddy System | $40–50 | 12 cups | Excellent | Serious home brewers, large batches |
| OXO Good Grips | $35–45 | 32oz | Very Good | Clean design, easy straining |
| Pitcher + Coffee Filter | $5–15 | Any size | Excellent (slowest) | Crystal-clear cold brew, patience required |
5 Cold Brew Recipes to Try at Home
1. Classic Low Acid Cold Brew
1 cup Puroast House Blend (coarse) · 8 cups cold water · Steep 14 hrs refrigerated · Strain · Serve over ice. Clean, smooth, perfect baseline.
2. Cold Brew Concentrate Latte
Make 1:4 concentrate with Puroast Mocha Java · Steep 20 hrs · Dilute 1:1 with oat milk · Add ice · Optional: 1 tsp vanilla extract. Rich, chocolatey, barista-quality at home.
3. Puroast Cold Brew Tonic
3oz Puroast Dark French Roast concentrate · Top with tonic water · Ice + orange slice. The bitterness of tonic perfectly counterbalances the smooth bold coffee. Zero sugar, refreshing.
4. Brown Sugar Cold Brew
Cold brew concentrate · 1 tbsp brown sugar simple syrup (1:1 brown sugar + water, microwave 60 sec) · Splash oat milk · Ice. Dupe for the Starbucks classic — without the acid or the price tag.
5. Cold Brew Protein Shake
4oz Puroast concentrate · 1 scoop vanilla protein powder · 8oz oat milk · Blend with ice. Pre-workout fuel with genuine low acid coffee — no stomach issues during exercise.
Best Puroast Varieties for Cold Brew
Ugandan Single Origin Puroast's most select bean · Exceptional cold brew depth Shop Now |
Mocha Java Chocolatey, complex — perfect cold Shop Now |
Dark French Roast Bold, full-bodied — ideal for concentrate Shop Now |
Troubleshooting Your Cold Brew
Too bitter? Grind is too fine, or steep time too long. Use coarser grind and reduce steep time to 12 hours.
Too weak? Increase coffee ratio or extend steep time by 4–6 hours.
Cloudy? Strain a second time through a paper coffee filter.
Tastes acidic despite cold brew method? This is expected — the brew method doesn't change pH. Per Rao & Fuller (2018), cold brew and hot brew have statistically comparable pH. Switch to Puroast Low Acid Coffee for genuinely low acid cold brew.
The True Cost of Homemade vs. Store-Bought
| Option | Cost per 16oz | Verified Low Acid? | Antioxidants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starbucks Cold Brew (cafe) | $5.25–6.50 | ❌ No | Standard |
| Stumptown RTD Cold Brew | $3.50–4.50 | ❌ No | Standard |
| Chameleon Cold Brew (bottle) | $2.50–3.50 | ❌ No | Standard |
| Homemade Puroast Cold Brew | ~$0.40–0.60 | ✅ LACCSA Certified | 5X More |
Frequently Asked Questions
For regular-strength cold brew, use 1 cup of coarsely ground coffee to 8 cups of cold water. For concentrate (to dilute before serving), use 1:4. Steep 12–24 hours refrigerated.
12–16 hours for regular strength. 18–24 hours for concentrate. Always steep in the refrigerator for the cleanest, smoothest result. Do not exceed 24 hours — over-steeping produces bitterness.
Not inherently. The acidity of cold brew is determined by the coffee you start with, not the brew method. Research (Rao & Fuller, 2018) confirms cold brew pH is comparable to hot brew. Use Puroast Low Acid Coffee — verified at pH 5.74–5.82 — for genuinely low acid cold brew.
Properly strained cold brew concentrate lasts up to 2 weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Ready-to-drink cold brew (already diluted) is best within 3–5 days.
Coarse grind — similar to French press. Fine or medium grinds over-extract in cold water and produce a bitter, sometimes muddy result.
Yes — a French press works excellently for cold brew. Add coarsely ground coffee and cold water, don't press the plunger, and refrigerate for 12–16 hours. Press the plunger slowly before serving. The built-in filter is convenient, though you may want to pour through a paper filter for extra clarity.
Cold brew made from standard coffee is NOT significantly better for acid reflux than regular coffee. Per Rao & Fuller (2018), cold brew pH (~5.0) is comparable to hot brew. For acid reflux, the critical variable is the coffee itself — not the brew method. Use Puroast (pH 5.74–5.82), which is 5X less acidic than standard coffee.
The Only Coffee That Makes Cold Brew Genuinely Low Acid
LACCSA Certified · UC Davis Studied · pH 5.74–5.82 Verified · 5X More Antioxidants
Shop Puroast Low-Acid CoffeeSources: Rao & Fuller — Scientific Reports 2018 | Moon, Yoo & Shibamoto — JAFC 2009 | Ibrahim et al. — NC A&T 2024
Puroast does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified health professional with any questions or concerns about your physical health.
