Cold Brew Coffee Ratio Calculator
Get the right coffee-to-water ratio for cold brew coffee. Whether making a concentrate (1:4–1:6) or regular-strength brew (1:8–1:12), enter your coffee and water amounts to see the ratio, yield, servings and estimated caffeine.
g
ml
Brew type
Concentrate — dilute 1:1 with water or milk before serving
- 1
Brew yield
800 × (1 − 0.15) = 680Coffee grounds absorb roughly 15% of the water volume during steeping. - 2
Diluted serving yield
680 × 2 = 1,360 - 3
Servings (240 ml each)
1,360 ÷ 240 = 5.7 - 4
Coffee-to-water ratio
800 ÷ 100 = 8
How does this calculator work?
Divide water by coffee to get the ratio (e.g. 800 g water ÷ 100 g coffee = 1:8). Grounds absorb ~15% of the water so yield ≈ water × 0.85. Brew at 1:5 for concentrate (dilute before serving) or 1:10 for regular-strength cold brew ready to drink straight.
Formula
How this is calculated
Cold brew coffee steeps coarsely ground coffee in cold or room-temperature water for 12–24 hours, then filters out the grounds. The key variable is the coffee-to-water ratio by weight. A concentrate (roughly 1:4 to 1:6 coffee-to-water by weight) is strong enough to be diluted 1:1 with water or milk before serving, doubling the yield. A regular-strength brew (1:8 to 1:12) can be drunk straight over ice.
Because coffee grounds absorb water — typically about 15% of the water added — the actual liquid yield is less than the water you put in. The calculator applies a fixed 15% absorption estimate; results vary with grind size and steep time. Caffeine extraction in cold brew runs approximately 1 500 mg per 100 g of ground coffee (a rough midpoint — the actual figure depends on bean variety, grind, and steep time), so treat that figure as an estimate.
For best results, use a 1:5 ratio for concentrate or a 1:10 ratio for a ready-to-drink brew, steep in the refrigerator for 18–24 hours, and filter through a fine-mesh sieve or paper filter.
Frequently asked questions
A 1:5 ratio (100 g coffee per 500 ml water) makes a strong concentrate that you dilute 1:1 before serving. For a brew you drink straight, use around 1:10 (100 g per 1 000 ml). Both produce smooth, low-acid coffee.
Coffee grounds soak up water during steeping — typically around 15% of the water weight. So 800 ml of water will yield roughly 680 ml of cold brew after filtering. Coarser grinds and shorter steeps absorb slightly less.
A cold brew concentrate brewed at 1:5 is considerably stronger than a drip coffee (which is roughly 1:15–1:17). Even at regular strength (1:10) cold brew can be quite potent. Always dilute a concentrate before drinking.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Cold Brew Coffee Ratio Calculator [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cold-brew-ratio-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Cold Brew Coffee Ratio Calculator." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cold-brew-ratio-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Cold Brew Coffee Ratio Calculator," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cold-brew-ratio-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_cold_brew_ratio_calculator, title = {Cold Brew Coffee Ratio Calculator}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/cold-brew-ratio-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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