Can you make coffee with cold water?

Everybody knows you make coffee with hot water, right? But can you make coffee with cold water? You may be surprised to learn that it is actually possible. And lots of people do!

You can make coffee with cold water either by dissolving instant coffee into cold water or by steeping coffee beans in cold water for 12 hours or more.

Cold brewed coffee is delicious, and it has gone from a specialty cafe staple to one of the fastest-growing coffee categories in the US. Ready-to-drink cold brew is now widely available in supermarkets, and making it at home is easier than ever.

The trick is to know how to make cold coffee properly.

Fortunately, we’re here to share the secret to making tasty coffee with cold water.

---

Instant Coffee and Cold Water

You may be surprised to learn that you can mix cold water and instant coffee granules to make a delicious cup of coffee.  

Making instant coffee with cold water is similar to brewing with hot water.

The main difference is that the granules will take a bit longer to dissolve when you make instant coffee with cold water. 

The water temperature will not affect the flavor; some even say that cold water results in a fresher taste.

How to make it:

1. Pour cold water into a glass
2. Add instant coffee to the mix
3. Stir the mix until the coffee grounds dissolve
4. Add some ice or enjoy it as is!

It should only take about 3-5 minutes to make your coffee. Just remember to stir thoroughly to ensure the coffee granules dissolve and avoid a grainy drink.

---

What Is a Cold Brew Coffee?

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping suitable ground cold brew coffee beans in water at room temperature for around 12-18 hours. This process slowly extracts the caffeine and its flavors from the beans into the cold water.

Cold brew has become a mainstream staple rather than a niche alternative. It is now one of the fastest-growing ready-to-drink coffee categories in the US, with major brands selling it in grocery stores nationwide. That said, homemade cold brew is fresher, cheaper, and easy to customize to your taste.

Some people prefer cold brew coffee to hot coffee as it has a lower acidity level and is less bitter. The reason is that the cold water doesn’t extract the acids that taste bitter in a hot brew. 

---

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

1. Grind the beans

The first step is to grind. Start by grinding about 3/4 of a cup of coffee beans for four cups of water. The ratio will depend on your taste, how strong you want it to be, and how full of flavor you like it. Not all beans are created equal here — lighter, higher-quality roasts tend to shine in cold brew, so it’s worth exploring your options. Check out our guide to the 4 types of coffee bean to find a variety that suits your palate.

We recommend starting with the above and experimenting to find the best ratio.

You need to grind the coffee beans very coarsely and test by rubbing the grind between your fingers – the texture should be scratchy, as you will end up with cloudy or watery coffee if the grind is too fine.

2. Soak the grounds

Soak the ground coffee and let it sit. 

Place your ground coffee in a jar or container; this container should be big enough to hold the water and coffee and light enough so that you can pick it up to strain it.

Make sure that all of the coffee grounds are soaked so that they can moisten. 

Use a cheesecloth to cover the container, and let it stand for around 12 hours at room temperature. This is essential for correct extraction.

3. Press your coffee

Now it is time to press! Use the cheesecloth to cover a fine-mesh sieve, and start pouring the coffee out over the sieve.

Once this is done, you can throw away the cheesecloth and leftover bits. 

4. Add your chosen extras

Now the more exciting part, you can spice up your cold brew coffee with some extra flavors.

You can use caramel or vanilla syrup with cold brew, and we recommend adding some ice and milk. 

---

Iced Coffee vs. A Cold Brew

Iced coffee and cold brew are similar but not the same.

Iced coffee is made by brewing hot coffee and pouring it over some ice cubes or refrigerating it. 

Cold brew involves steeping ground coffee granules for a few hours at room temperature. For a deeper dive into different preparation styles, see our breakdown of types of coffee drinks.

---

Final Thoughts

Making coffee with cold water opens up a whole new world of flavors. Whether you are using instant coffee or going the full cold brew route, the results can be just as satisfying as a hot cup.

The two main ways to make cold coffee are to add instant coffee to cold water then stir for much longer than usual until all the coffee is dissolved, or steep quality cold brew beans in cold water for 12 hours or more. If you enjoy using a French press for your daily brew, you might also want to explore the best coffee for French press — many of those beans work brilliantly in cold brew too.

Whichever way you make your cold coffee, add some cool milk, ice cubes, and perhaps some extra flavoring, and you’ll have a deliciously refreshing drink that is perfect for a hot day.

---