Alright, let’s talk about one of the smoothest, most refreshing coffee experiences out there: cold brew. If you’ve ever paid a premium for a cup at your local cafe, you know that velvety, low-acid magic. The big question we get all the time here at Coffee Maker Best is, “Can I skip the fancy gear?” Specifically, people want to know how to make cold brew with a coffee maker they already have sitting on their counter. The short answer is yes, you absolutely can… but probably not in the way you’re thinking. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through the right way to do it, a few common pitfalls to avoid, and the best methods for a truly spectacular result.
First, Let’s Clear the Air: Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee
Before we dive into the “how-to,” we need to get one crucial thing straight. They are not the same thing, not by a long shot.
- Iced Coffee is simply regular hot coffee—brewed with hot water using a drip machine, pour-over, or any standard method—that has been cooled down and poured over ice. This often results in a beverage that can be a bit acidic or watered down.
- Cold Brew is a completely different beast. It’s made by steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water for an extended period, typically 12 to 24 hours. The heat is replaced with time. This slow, gentle extraction process pulls out the sweet, chocolatey, and smooth flavors from the beans while leaving behind many of the bitter compounds and acids.
“Think of it like this: hot brewing is a sprint, grabbing flavors quickly and intensely. Cold brewing is a marathon. It’s a slow, patient process that coaxes out a different, smoother flavor profile from the very same beans.” – Clara Sterling, Head Barista and Coffee Consultant
Understanding this difference is key to understanding why you can’t just put grounds in your drip machine, fill it with cold water, and press “On.” The machine’s heating element is the enemy of true cold brew.
So, Can You Really Use a Drip Coffee Maker for Cold Brew?
Yes, but you’ll be using it as a simple steeping vessel and a filtering station, not as an automated brewer. Do not turn the machine on! I repeat, do not plug it in or press the brew button. The heating element will instantly ruin your cold brew experiment. We’re just going to borrow its parts: the carafe and the filter basket.
How to Make Cold Brew with a Coffee Maker (The Drip Method)
This is more of a clever hack than an intended use, but it works surprisingly well in a pinch. It’s a great way to try your hand at cold brew without buying any new equipment.
What You’ll Need:
- A standard drip coffee maker (carafe and filter basket)
- Whole bean coffee
- A coffee grinder
- Filtered, cold water
- A spoon or stirrer
- Paper coffee filters
Here is your step-by-step guide:
- Grind Your Beans: This is arguably the most important step. You need a very coarse grind. Think of the consistency of coarse sea salt or breadcrumbs. A fine, espresso-like grind will over-extract, creating a muddy, bitter concentrate. Aim for about 1 cup of whole beans.
- Combine Coffee and Water: Place your coarse coffee grounds directly into the glass carafe of your coffee maker. Add 4 cups of cold, filtered water. This gives you a 1:4 ratio of coffee to water, which is a great starting point for a strong concentrate.
- Give It a Gentle Stir: Use a long spoon to gently stir the grounds and water together, ensuring all the grounds are fully saturated. Don’t go crazy here; just a quick, gentle mix is all you need.
- The Waiting Game (Steeping): Cover the top of the carafe with plastic wrap or a small plate. Now, let it sit. You can leave it on your counter at room temperature or put it in the refrigerator. Let it steep for at least 12 hours, but 18-24 hours is often the sweet spot for a rich, full-bodied flavor.
- Time to Filter: Once your steeping time is up, it’s time to separate the grounds from your precious concentrate. Take the (clean) filter basket from your coffee maker and place a paper filter inside it. Position the basket on top of a separate large jar, pitcher, or another container.
- Slow and Steady Pour: Slowly pour the coffee-and-ground mixture from the carafe into the filter basket. Don’t dump it all at once, or you’ll have a coffee ground overflow disaster. The liquid will slowly drip through, leaving the spent grounds behind. This may take a while, so be patient. You may need to do this in batches.
- Dilute and Serve: Congratulations, you’ve made cold brew concentrate! It’s strong. To serve, pour it over a glass full of ice, and dilute it with water or milk. A good starting point is a 1:1 ratio of concentrate to water/milk. Adjust to your personal taste from there.
The Better Way: Using a French Press for Cold Brew
While the drip machine method works, a French press is a far superior tool that you might already own. Its design is practically made for cold brew. The large steeping chamber and built-in plunger filter make the entire process cleaner and more efficient.
The steps are even simpler:
- Add your coarse-ground coffee to the bottom of the French press.
- Add your cold water, using the same 1:4 ratio.
- Stir gently to saturate the grounds.
- Place the lid/plunger assembly on top, but do not press it down. Just let it rest on the surface to cover the brew.
- Let it steep for 12-24 hours.
- When ready, press the plunger down slowly and steadily. This will push all the grounds to the bottom, leaving you with filtered cold brew concentrate on top.
- Pour, dilute, and enjoy!
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Our Picks for the Best Coffee Maker in 2025
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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| Num | Product | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker, Programmable, Washable Basket Filter, Sneak-A-Cup, Auto Brew, Water Window, Keep Hot Plate, Black |
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| 2 | Amazon Basics Coffee Makers, 12-Cup Coffee Machines with Reusable Filter, Coffee Pots, Black & Stainless Steel |
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| 3 | BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Coffee Maker with Easy On/Off Switch, Easy Pour, Non-Drip Carafe with Removable Filter Basket, Vortex Technology, Black |
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| 4 | Keurig K-Duo Hot & Iced Single Serve & Carafe Coffee Maker, MultiStream Technology, 72oz Reservoir (Gen 2) |
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| 5 | BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Digital Coffee Maker, Programmable, Washable Basket Filter, Sneak-A-Cup, Auto Brew, Water Window, Keep Hot Plate, Black |
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| 6 | BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Coffee Maker with Easy On/Off Switch, Easy Pour, Non-Drip Carafe with Removable Filter Basket, Vortex Technology, Black |
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| 7 | Keurig K-Express Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, 3 Brew Sizes, Strong Button Feature, 42oz Removable Reservoir, Black |
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| 8 | Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Coffee and Espresso Maker by De\'Longhi, Samra Origins by The Weeknd Vertuo Buna Yellow Aeroccino3 milk frother |
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| 9 | Mr. Coffee Black Coffee Maker, 12 Cups, with Auto Pause and Glass Carafe, Perfect for Home and Office Use |
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| 10 | Mini Hot and Iced Coffee Maker Single Serve, for K Cup and Ground, 6 to 14 Oz Brew Sizes, with Recipe Book, for Home, Travel, RV, Office and Dorm, Classic Black (2.0 Version) |
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Pro Tips for Perfect Cold Brew Every Time
Whether you use a drip machine hack or a French press, these core principles will elevate your brew from good to great.
The Coffee to Water Ratio is Key
The 1:4 ratio (1 part coffee to 4 parts water by volume) creates a strong concentrate that holds up well to ice and dilution. For a ready-to-drink version, you can try a much weaker ratio, like 1:8 or 1:10, but you’ll lose some of the signature bold flavor. Experiment to find what you love!
Grind Size is Everything
I can’t stress this enough. A coarse grind is non-negotiable. If you use a medium or fine grind:
- Your brew will be bitter and over-extracted.
- It will be “muddy” or “sludgy.”
- It will be incredibly difficult to filter, clogging paper filters and even pushing through French press mesh.
Steeping Time: Find Your Magic Window
- 12 hours: Produces a lighter, brighter cold brew with more of the coffee’s origin notes.
- 18 hours: A great middle ground, well-balanced and smooth.
- 24 hours: Creates a very rich, bold, and chocolatey concentrate.
Steeping for much longer than 24 hours can start to introduce woody or bitter flavors, so be careful not to forget about it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the best type of coffee for cold brew?
A: Medium to dark roasts are generally preferred for cold brew. They tend to have notes of chocolate, nuts, and caramel that are highlighted by the cold brewing process. That said, you can use any bean you enjoy! Single-origin light roasts can produce a fascinatingly complex and fruity cold brew.
Q: Can I use pre-ground coffee to make cold brew?
A: You can, but it’s not ideal. Most pre-ground coffee is a medium grind, which is too fine for cold brew. It can result in a cloudy and slightly bitter brew. If it’s your only option, try reducing the steep time to around 10-12 hours to compensate.
Q: How long does cold brew concentrate last in the fridge?
A: Stored in a sealed container like a glass jar or bottle, your cold brew concentrate will stay fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The flavor will slowly degrade over time, but it’s much more stable than hot-brewed coffee.
Q: Why is my cold brew bitter?
A: The most common culprits for bitter cold brew are a grind that is too fine or a steeping time that is too long. Try using a coarser grind or shortening your steep time to 16-18 hours and see if that helps.
Q: Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?
A: Yes and no. The cold brew concentrate has a very high coffee-to-water ratio, making it much stronger than a typical cup of drip coffee. However, you almost always dilute it with water, milk, or ice. A final, prepared glass of cold brew often has a caffeine content similar to, or slightly higher than, a standard cup of coffee.
Your Cold Brew Adventure Awaits
So there you have it. While your automatic drip machine can’t brew it with the push of a button, you now know how to make cold brew with a coffee maker by using its components in a clever new way. It proves that you don’t always need expensive, single-purpose gadgets to explore the world of specialty coffee. Whether you try the carafe hack or dust off your French press, you’re now equipped to create that smooth, refreshing, and incredibly satisfying coffee experience right in your own kitchen. Go ahead, give it a try and discover your perfect brew.