I have the cold brew Toddy set and have made a few very good brews but mostly I get super bitter undrinkable crap.

I have used all kinds of coffee, I grind it on the coarsest setting and have used varying brew times from 7 hours to 24 hours and its hit or miss.

Any tips to help me out?

Are you diluting it? I know most cold brewers make a concentrate.

When I got mine, it said to make sure the water is really cold. So I fill the carafe with water and let it sit in the fridge for a while before grinding up the coffee and putting it in the filter into the carafe.

also, and this is obvious. Play with how much coffee you use.

from my understanding, when cold brewing you need to use about double the amount o grounds.

I put a 12oz of ground coffee from the vacuum sealed bricks that you get at the supermarket into a half gallon pitcher, fill with cold water, and put it in the fridge for 24 hours. Then I pour the liquid through a coffee filter to separate the grounds out. When I use it, I dilute one part coffee concentrate to two parts water. Tastes great, and makes the best iced coffee ever.

Oh, and Maxwell house works fine. I like good coffee; even might be something of a coffee snob, but when it comes to cold brew, the cheap ground supermarket stuff works quite well.

I make mine in a french press just like I do when it's hot... same water, same grounds. I leave overnight in fridge. It's drinkable, almost pleasant if I am working out in my hot ass Mississippi garage.

quote:

Originally posted by tha1000:
I make mine in a french press just like I do when it's hot... same water, same grounds. I leave overnight in fridge. It's drinkable, almost pleasant if I am working out in my hot ass Mississippi garage.

This as well. I use the same quantity of espresso grounds.

quote:

Originally posted by tha1000:
I make mine in a french press just like I do when it's hot... same water, same grounds. I leave overnight in fridge. It's drinkable, almost pleasant if I am working out in my hot ass Mississippi garage.

I never thought of that. That's freggin genius. In the summer I generally french press it and just add ice in my Yeti. Keeps it cold for an hour or so before it's gone.

Cold brew coffee to water ratio is much higher than hot brewed.
Hot Brew = 16 to 17 : 1
Cold Brew = 5 to 7 : 1

Measure by weight not volume.

Curious - are you using filtered water, bottled water or water from the tap?

I got hooked on cold brew after a Disney cruise a few years ago. I bought several different units where you put ice and water in the top and let it drip to brew. Returned every one of them. I ended up with a Tekaya 1 Qt cold brew tea pitcher. It has a center cone filter that attaches to the lid.

I have experimented a couple ways and now actually "brew" twice with the same batch.

I like flavored coffee (mixed with regular - not full strength) and I Love coffee who makes coffee for Disney. I mix 1/4-1/2 Flavored with of one of their dark/bold Disney hotel blends. I used 8-9 coffee scoops in the filter, then fill the pitcher with cold water from my fridge (filter right out of the door). I sit it on the counter for 24 hours. I pour that brew into a pitcher and put it in the fridge. Then I add 3 more scoops of coffee into the filter and refill the pitcher and let it sit for 48 hours. The second batch is not at strong, but I mix it in with what is left from the first batch. I just keep the cycle going.

I love STRONG coffee, and usually don't dilute it, but if I add water it is a small amount.

I have been getting pretty consistent coffee since I started doing it this way.

I've made a few batches sous vide 1/2c french press grind in 4 cups water (2 hours @150F). with the mct and heavy cream, it's like a milkshake for breakfast

I use a ratio of 1 cup of cold water to 1/3 cup coarse ground coffee. I'll add more on occasion.

Steep for 12 hours on the counter and then filter into a pitcher or another jar. Dilute as needed.

quote:

Curious - are you using filtered water, bottled water or water from the tap?

Never say never but I'd never use tap water.
Filtered or bottled for most folks.
Something that most won't do that I use is distilled water with additive Third Wave Water for the exact perfect coffee water. YMMV