I make a lot of cold brew coffee and I often get the question “Should I brew my cold brew in room temperature or in the refrigerator?”. The answer is that you can do both.
Cold brew coffee gets its flavors from the long-brewing process, often 12-24hrs. The higher the coffee-to-water ratio and the longer brewing process, the stronger the coffee. But, the temperature matter as well. The warmer water, the more flavors, and acids are extracted from the coffee.
Cold Brew – Room Temperature vs. Refrigerator
Depending on your personal preference you might want to brew your cold brew at room temperature in order to get a more intense flavor. But if you brew it in the refrigerator you could probably get the same result from just letting it brew a little bit longer.
However, no matter in what temperature you prefer to brew your cold brew, make sure that the cold brew maker or container you use for brewing is closed. This will hinder any other smells from affecting the cold brew.
That said, when your fantastic freshly brewed cold brew is ready, it is important to remove the ground coffee and store the cold brew in your refrigerator. If possible, in an airtight container. This will make the coffee last way longer.
Can cold brew go bad?
Yes, it can. I wrote a blog post about it some days ago and you can find it here: “Does cold brew coffee go bad?”. But in short, cold brew coffee can go bad and if you store it at room temperature it will go bad pretty fast.
If you store it in a refrigerator, your coffee will probably hold for 1-2 weeks at least.
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Cold Brew Temperature FAQ
Room temperature or refrigerator for cold brew?
For brewing your cold brew, you can do either. Room temperature will give a slightly stronger taste. For storage, always refrigerator.
Will cold brew go bad if I don't store it at a refrigerator?
It will go bad faster. But it will probably hold for 1-2 days even if you store it at room temperature.
Can you drink room tempered cold brew?
Yes of course. Even though most people prefer their cold brew to be served over ice.
How should you store your cold brew?
In the fridge and preferably in an airtight container.