The Grind CalcFree online tool
Cold brew ratio
The most common cold brew ratio is 1:8 for concentrate — 125 g coffee per 1 L water. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk for a ready-to-drink cup near 1:16 strength.
Cold brew
Coffee to water ratio
Coffee
20 g
4 tbsp
Water
160 ml
5.4 fl oz
Cups
0.68
US cups
Ratio
1:8
by weight
How the cold brew ratio works
Cold brew ratios are still coffee-to-water by weight, but most recipes brew a concentrate you dilute later. At 1:8, every gram of coffee gets 8 ml of water during the steep. After a 1:1 dilution, drinking strength lands near a normal hot-coffee 1:16. Use coarse grounds, steep 12–18 hours cold, then filter.
Cold brew concentrate vs ready-to-drink ratio
Concentrate (default on this calculator): brew at 1:8 — 125 g coffee per 1 liter water, or about 63 g per 500 ml. Dilute with equal parts water or milk before drinking (1 part concentrate + 1 part liquid).
Ready-to-drink (no dilution): brew closer to 1:15 — about 67 g coffee per 1 liter water. Use the ratio slider above if you want a single-strength batch instead of concentrate.
Recipe ratios you see online usually mean concentrate unless they say “ready to drink.” When in doubt, start at 1:8 and dilute to taste.
Cold brew tips
- Steep 12–18 hours in the fridge using coarse ground coffee.
- Filter through paper or a fine mesh for a cleaner cup.
- Concentrate keeps refrigerated for about a week.
Cold brew ratio chart — how much coffee?
Concentrate batches at the standard cold brew ratio of 1:8. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk before drinking.
| Batch size | Coffee | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Small batch (500 ml) | 62.5 g (12.5 tbsp) | 500 ml (2.11 cups) |
| 1 liter | 125 g (25 tbsp) | 1000 ml (4.22 cups) |
| 2 liters | 250 g (50 tbsp) | 2000 ml (8.44 cups) |
| 1 US gallon | 473.1 g (94.6 tbsp) | 3785 ml (15.97 cups) |
For ready-to-drink cold brew (no dilution), brew at about 1:15 instead — use the ratio slider above.
Compare every method in the coffee to water ratio chart or check the grind size chart for Cold brew.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cold brew ratio?+
The standard cold brew ratio for concentrate is 1:8 — 125 g coffee per 1 liter water. Dilute 1:1 with water or milk before drinking for a strength similar to hot coffee.
Cold brew coffee ratio in grams?+
For 1 liter of concentrate at 1:8, use 125 g coffee. For a smaller batch of 500 ml water, use about 63 g coffee. Steep 12–18 hours refrigerated.
How much coffee for a gallon of cold brew?+
One US gallon is about 3,785 ml. At 1:8 concentrate ratio, use roughly 473 g coffee. Scale down in the calculator if you brew smaller batches.
Cold brew concentrate vs ready-to-drink ratio?+
Concentrate is usually 1:8 and diluted before serving. Ready-to-drink cold brew (no dilution) is closer to 1:15. After a 1:1 dilution, concentrate lands near typical hot-coffee strength (~1:16).