Decaf Cold Brew Coffee
This simple method for making Homemade Decaf Cold Brew Coffee takes just a few easy steps to have the perfect cup of cold brew without the buzz.
Is there such a thing as decaf cold brew coffee? There are many people out there that have trouble tolerating caffeine but love the taste of coffee. In that case, we make our favorite coffee drinks in decaf form including cold brew!
Most specialty coffee shops do not sell decaf cold brew. This is because much less of the population drinks decaf coffee.
It’s also because one of the big benefits of cold brew is that it has more caffeine than a regular brew. Even without caffeine, coffee is a powerful antioxidant and has many health benefits!
To make your own decaf cold brew at home, all you’ll need is your favorite decaf coffee in whole bean form, filtered water, and a large jar, pitcher, or French press.
Best Decaf Coffee For Cold Brew
When choosing decaf coffee to make cold brew, you’ll want to follow these important guidelines.
- Choose a whole bean coffee that was roasted in the last 30 days. This will ensure the freshest cup of decaf.
- Don’t choose a light roast. Lighter decaf coffee doesn’t make a great cold brew as it can become watery with a really light taste. For best results, you’ll want to buy a quality dark roast decaf coffee.
- Do not buy ground decaf coffee. For cold brew, you want to buy whole beans, then grind them until they are coarse. This helps keep the grinds from sifting through the strainer into the final product.
- Choose swiss water process decaf. In most decaf coffee, the caffeine is removed using a chemical solvent. There are many decaf coffees you can buy that use a Swiss water process to remove caffeine safely. Even better if you use an organic decaf coffee!
☕Ingredients & Equipment
The best ratio for cold brew coffee varies by flavor and personal preference. We find that the perfect ratio is 8 ounces of coarse grinds to 3 cups of filtered water. This produces a concentrate that is strong and pairs well with many homemade specialty coffee drinks.
- 1 cup Decaf Coffee, coarse grind
- 3 cups Filtered Water
Equipment
- French Press, Large Jar, or Pitcher
- Strainer
- Soft Cheese Cloth
How To Make Decaf Cold Brew Coffee
There are 3 easy ways you can make decaf cold brew coffee concentrate right at home. The mason jar method, French press, or a cold brew coffee maker pitcher. Even though these are all different devices, the instructions are the same, combine, steep, and strain.
1️⃣ Mason Jar Method: Add coarse decaf coffee grinds into the bottom of a large mason jar or pitcher, then slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir and let steep for 12-16 hours. Using a strainer lined with damp cheesecloth, slowly pour the coffee over the strainer into a pitcher or jar until all the grinds are separated and decaf concentrate is in the jar.
2️⃣ French Press Method: Add coffee grinds to the bottom of a French press and slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir, then let it steep without the plunger for 12-16 hours. When it’s ready, plunge the coffee away from the water and to the bottom revealing the decaf cold brew concentrate at the top.
3️⃣ Cold Brew Coffee Maker: This device has a separate compartment you can add your coffee grinds so they stay inside without floating into the coffee. Once you add your coffee to the compartment, add the water, then steep for 12-16 hours before removing the coffee compartment and serving. Decaf cold brew coffee lasts in the fridge for 7-10 days. Give it a quick stir every few days to redistribute the coffee flavor.
Diluting Decaf Cold Brew Concentrate
This recipe makes a strong-tasting decaf concentrate, but without caffeine. Feel free to taste the concentrate and see how strong it is before you add any water. Add one cup at a time until your desired coffee strength is met.
Looking for Cold Brew Coffee with a Buzz? Try our Homemade Cold Brew Coffee.
❓FAQ
Even though the word decaf suggests there is no caffeine, it’s nearly impossible to have a decaf coffee without a little bit. On average, one 8oz cup of decaf coffee can contain 10-18mg of caffeine which is about 1/4th of the amount of a regular cup of brewed coffee.
At this time, Starbucks, Dunkin, Peet’s, and most big-box specialty coffee shops do not sell decaf cold brew. This is because it does not last long and not a lot of people drink it.
If your coffee is stored in the fridge with an airtight lid, it will last up to 10 days and sometimes longer. Every few days, give it a stir.
The safest decaf coffee to drink are ones that use the Swiss water process to remove caffeine instead of a chemical solvent. These coffees are a bit more expensive but worth it
You can buy specific coffee bags to brew that are decaf. The most popular is by Grady’s coffee.
Decaf Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
Equipment
- French Press
- Large Mason Jar
- Cold Brew Maker
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dark Roast Decaf Coffee coarse grind
- 3 cups Filtered Water
Instructions
Mason Jar Method
- Add coarse decaf coffee grinds into the bottom of a large mason jar or pitcher, then slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir and let steep for 12-16 hours. Using a strainer lined with damp cheesecloth, slowly pour the coffee over the strainer into a pitcher or jar until all the grinds are separated and decaf concentrate is in the jar.
French Press Method
- Add coffee grinds to the bottom of a French press and slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir, then let it steep without the plunger for 12-16 hours. When it's ready, plunge the coffee away from the water and to the bottom revealing the decaf cold brew concentrate at the top.
Cold Brew Maker
- This device has a separate compartment you can add your coffee grinds so they stay inside without floating into the coffee. Once you add your coffee to the compartment, add the water, then steep for 12-16 hours before removing the coffee compartment and serving.
Diluting Decaf Cold Brew Concentrate
- This recipe makes a strong-tasting decaf concentrate, but without caffeine. Feel free to taste the concentrate and see how strong it is before you add any water. Add one cup at a time until your desired coffee strength is met.
