Have you ever thought about making your own cold brew coffee at home? It’s actually really easy, and it’s a great way to save money since you won’t have to buy it from a cafe like an iced coffee.
But many people wonder if they can use fine ground coffee for cold brew. After all, most cold brew recipes call for medium/ coarse or medium/ fine ground coffee.
So, today we’re gonna take a look at whether or not you can use fine ground coffee for cold brew. We’ll also give you some tips on how to make the best cold brew possible!
How Does A Fine Grind Size Affect Cold Brew?
The grind size of your coffee beans will have a big impact on the flavor and quality of your cold brew.
When you grind your beans you essentially release all of the oils and flavors inside the coffee bean. The smaller the grind size, the more surface area of the bean is exposed and the more flavor you’ll get in your cup.
However, if you grind your beans too finely, in some cases, you will notice an astringent or bitterness in your coffee. This isn’t far from the truth for cold brew.
If you use a fine grind for your cold brew, you’ll likely notice that the coffee is more bitter than if you had used a coarser grind, and because cold brew is steeped for around 12 hours, that bitterness will be amplified.
So while you can technically use a fine grind for cold brew coffee, it’s not recommended because you’ll end up with a cup that is overly bitter and not very enjoyable. But if you want to experiment, go for it! Just know that you might not be happy with the results.
How Can You Use Fine Ground Coffee For Cold Brew?
Now, if you still want to use fine ground coffee for cold brew, there are a few things you can do to help offset the potential bitterness.
First, try using a higher ratio of coffee to water. A standard cold brew recipe is 1:16, but if you use a finer grind you might want to try a 1:12 or even 1:8 ratio. This will make your cold brew more concentrated, and thus less diluted and less bitter.
You can also try brewing your cold brew for a shorter period of time. Don’t let the coffee steep for 24 hours, do it only for 12-16. This will also make your cold brew more concentrated and less bitter.
Another idea is to cold brew in a French press. This will give you more control over the grind size, and the plunger will help filter out some of the grinds.
Does it Taste Good?
It really depends on your taste. A lot of people actually prefer the taste of cold brew made with finely ground coffee, because it has a more intense flavor. It all comes down to the water you will use, the type of coffee you choose, and the brewing time.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!
Fine Grind Cold Brew Recipe
A cold brew recipe is all about the ratio of coffee to water. You can use it anywhere from 1:12 to 1:16.
There are many ways to make cold brew coffee with a fine grind setting, but they all rely on one simple principle – time. The longer you let it steep, the more flavorful and less acidic your coffee will be.
Here is my favorite way of doing it:
- Start with a ratio of 1:12 coffee to water then let it sit overnight. For me, that is 30g of coffee grounds to 420g of water.
- Then I usually split the coffee into two jars – one for 8 hours and another one for 16.
- When you’re done steeping, use a paper coffee filter (or a cheesecloth) to get all the grounds out of your brew.
The great thing about this recipe is that you can choose which one better suits your taste or if you like both you can alternate between the two.
The resulting coffee is very strong and tastes less acidic than hot-brewed, but it also has a bitter aftertaste. You can reduce it by adding a little bit of water and sugar. If you want to make it sweeter without reducing the flavor, use brown or demerara sugar.
Cold-brew coffee goes well with milk, but the flavor is lost in it. You can add a bit of vanilla or molasses to make it shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to Buy Coarse Ground Coffee for Cold Brew?
If you want to buy coarse ground coffee for cold brew, you can find it in most grocery stores. Your best bet though is to find a local coffee shop that sells whole beans and buy from them. If you can find specialty coffee shops, they will have a more diverse selection of beans to choose from.
How to Filter Fine Coffee Grounds For Cold Brew?
Since fine ground coffee is more likely to clog a coffee filter, you might want to use a different method of filtering. One option as we discussed earlier is to use a French Press. Another option is to use a coffee cone with filter paper.
The sad reality is that you can’t filter every last bit of coffee out of your cold brew concentrate. That’s why we recommend using a French press to make cold brew. The mesh filter on a French press does an admirable job of keeping coffee grounds out of your final product.
How to Grind Coffee For Cold Brew?
If you have a burr grinder, you can grind your coffee beans to a fine grind. If you don’t have a burr grinder, you can use a blade grinder. Just be sure to pulse the grinder so you don’t overdo it. Once the beans are ground, put them in a filter and brew according to your cold brew recipe.
If you don’t have any type of grinder, you can use pre-ground coffee. Just make sure to get coffee that is labeled as “fine” or even “extra fine.”
Can I use Espresso Coffee for Fine Grind Cold Brew?
This is a question that actually makes a lot of sense. After all, espresso uses a very fine grind. So, can you use espresso coffee for cold brew?
The answer is yes, but you need to be careful. Espresso coffee is designed to be brewed under pressure. When you use it for cold brew, you need to be sure to use less coffee. If you don’t, your cold brew will be very strong and bitter.
We recommend using about 1/3 less espresso coffee than you would for a regular cold brew recipe. So, if your recipe calls for 3 cups of coffee, use 2 cups of espresso.
Last Thoughts
So there you have it – you can make cold brew with fine ground coffee. It’s not the ideal way to do it, but if that’s all you have on hand then it will work in a pinch. Just make sure to use more coffee grounds than you would for drip or hot brew and give it plenty of time to steep.
Don’t forget to get our free grind size cheat sheet to make sure you’re using the right grind for your coffee brewing method.
Happy Brewing!
Evelina
Evelina’s passion for coffee could never been hidden. Having worked as a barista, she learned the true value of the coffee bean and its secrets. As she continued to evolve as a barista, so did her knowledge, techniques on making different coffee blends and most importantly how to operate every kind of gear when it comes to coffee. Having a degree in biomedicine and being a barista, allows her to provide our community with in-depth knowledge surrounding the topics of coffee.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!
