Cold Brew Calculator
Plan the batch. Dilute the glass.
Scale cold brew by weight for concentrate or ready-to-drink coffee, then use the second mode after filtering to calculate dilution from the concentrate you actually collected.
150 g coffee + 750 g water · 1:5
750 g water ÷ 5 = 150 g coffee.
Filtered yield will be lower than the brew water you start with because the grounds retain water. This calculator does not estimate that loss.
8 fl oz concentrate + 8 fl oz diluent = 16 fl oz total
Ice melt is not included. Add less diluent if a lot of melting ice will be part of the final drink.
Cold brew ratio starts with one decision
Decide whether you are making concentrate or a ready-to-drink brew before comparing recipes. Toddy's cold-brew evaluation protocol lists 1:5 as concentrate, 1:10 as strong ready-to-drink, and 1:14 as typical ready-to-drink reference points. Those are useful starting categories, not universal taste rules.
Why this calculator separates brewing from dilution
Brewing ratio describes dry coffee compared with brew water. Dilution happens after filtration and should use the concentrate you actually collected. Keeping those two stages separate avoids pretending that every brewer, filter, grind, and coffee retains the same amount of water.
How much should concentrate be diluted?
There is no single standard. Toddy's home recipe suggests starting around 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water or milk, while OXO suggests roughly 1 part concentrate to 2 or 3 parts water or milk for its concentrate recipe. Start with a measured amount, taste, and adjust.
Cold brew calculator FAQ
What ratio should I use for cold brew concentrate?
A practical concentrate starting point is around 1:5 coffee to water by weight. Toddy also publishes 1:5 as a concentrate reference. Treat it as a starting point rather than a universal recipe.
What ratio should I use for ready-to-drink cold brew?
Toddy publishes 1:14 as a typical ready-to-drink reference and 1:10 as a stronger ready-to-drink reference. Start with the strength you want, then adjust by taste.
How do I dilute cold brew concentrate?
Measure the concentrate you actually have after filtering, then add water or milk by volume. Common starting points include 1 part concentrate to 1 or 2 parts diluent, but recipes vary widely.
Why does filtered cold brew volume look lower than the brew water I added?
Ground coffee retains some water during immersion and filtration. This calculator does not pretend to know your exact retained-water loss because it changes with grind, coffee, filter, vessel, and draining method.
References:Toddy Cold Brew Cupping Protocol·Toddy Home brewing guide·OXO Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe