No heat, all patience
How to Make Starbucks Cold Brew
A practical cold brew guide: what cold brew is, how it differs from iced coffee and nitro, the ratios that actually work, a step-by-step concentrate recipe for a jar or French press, and what Starbucks Cold Brew costs and contains.
Quick answer. Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for 16 to 20 hours instead of brewed with heat, which makes it smoother, sweeter and less acidic. At home, steep 1 cup of coarse grounds in 4 cups of water, strain and dilute 1:1. At Starbucks, a black Grande Cold Brew has 5 calories and about 205 mg of caffeine and costs about $5.72.
- Size in this answer: Grande
- Calories: 5
- Caffeine: 205 mg
- Average US price: $5.72
Checked October 2026. Prices are average US prices and vary by store.
What Is Cold Brew?
Hot water pulls flavor out of coffee in minutes; cold water takes hours. That slow, heat-free extraction leaves behind many of the bitter, acidic compounds, so cold brew tastes rounder and naturally sweeter, often with chocolatey notes. It is usually made as a strong concentrate, then diluted with water or milk.
Cold brew vs. iced coffee vs. nitro
| Cold Brew | Iced Coffee | Nitro Cold Brew | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it is made | Steeped cold for 12 to 24 hours | Brewed hot, then chilled over ice | Cold brew infused with nitrogen, served from a tap |
| Taste | Smooth, low acid, chocolatey | Brighter, more acidic | Creamy, velvety, naturally sweet-tasting |
| Starbucks Grande caffeine | About 205 mg | About 185 mg | About 280 mg |
| Starbucks Grande calories (black) | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Cold Brew Ratios That Work
| Goal | Coffee : water | Example | Serve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong concentrate | 1 : 4 (by volume) | 1 cup grounds + 4 cups water | Dilute 1:1 with water or milk |
| Extra-strong concentrate | 1 : 3 | 1 cup grounds + 3 cups water | Dilute 1:2 |
| Ready to drink | 1 : 8 | ½ cup grounds + 4 cups water | Pour over ice as is |
| By weight (concentrate) | About 1 : 11 | 85 g coffee + 950 ml water | Dilute 1:1 |
Best coffee and grind
- Coarse grind is essential. Pre-ground “for cold brew” bags work; regular drip grind turns cloudy and bitter.
- Medium and dark roasts give the classic chocolatey cold brew flavor; light roasts are fruitier.
- Decaf cold brew: use decaf beans the same way.
- Gear: a mason jar and sieve work fine. A French press, cold brew pitcher or dedicated cold brew maker just makes straining easier.
How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate
Ingredients
- 1 cup (85 g) whole coffee beans, ground coarse (like rough sand or breadcrumbs)
- 4 cups (32 fl oz / 950 ml) cold or room-temperature filtered water
- To serve: ice, water or milk, and sweetener if you like
Instructions
- Grind coarse. Grind the beans on the coarsest setting. Fine grounds over-extract and make muddy, bitter cold brew.
- Combine. Put the grounds in a large jar, pitcher or French press. Pour in the water and stir gently so all the grounds are wet.
- Steep. Cover and leave at room temperature for 16 to 20 hours (or 20 to 24 hours in the fridge). Longer is stronger; past 24 hours it turns woody.
- Strain. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a paper coffee filter or cheesecloth. With a French press, press the plunger slowly, then filter again for a cleaner cup.
- Dilute and serve. This makes about 3 cups of concentrate. Mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part water or milk over ice (for example, ½ cup concentrate + ½ cup water). Adjust to taste.
Tips, variations and storage
- Bitter? Grind coarser or steep less time. Weak? Use more coffee rather than steeping longer.
- Fridge vs. counter: fridge steeping is slower (20 to 24 hours) but gives a cleaner taste.
- Vanilla sweet cream cold brew: top with 2 tablespoons heavy cream, 1 tablespoon milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup stirred together.
- Cold foam: froth 3 tablespoons heavy cream with 2 tablespoons milk and a little syrup until thick, then spoon on top.
- Cold brew tea: steep 1 tablespoon loose tea (or 2 bags) per cup of cold water for 6 to 12 hours in the fridge.
- Storage: concentrate keeps up to 1 week sealed in the fridge; diluted cold brew is best within 2 to 3 days. Freeze leftovers as ice cubes so drinks do not water down.
Starbucks Cold Brew
Starbucks says it slow-steeps its cold brew in cool water for about 20 hours. A black Grande has about 5 calories and 205 mg of caffeine.
| Starbucks Cold Brew (black) | Avg. price |
|---|---|
| Tall (12 oz) | $5.17 |
| Grande (16 oz) | $5.72 |
| Venti (24 oz) | $5.99 |
The Starbucks cold brew lineup
| Grande | Topping | Calories | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Brew | None | 5 | 205 mg |
| Nitro Cold Brew | None (nitrogen-infused) | 5 | 280 mg |
| Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew | Vanilla sweet cream float | 110 | 185 mg |
| Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew | Vanilla sweet cream | 70 | 265 mg |
| Cold Brew with Nondairy Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam | Nondairy cold foam | 160 | 185 mg |
| Chocolate Cream Cold Brew | Chocolate cream cold foam | 240 | 190 mg |
| Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew | Salted cream cold foam + caramel | 240 | 185 mg |
| Pistachio Cream Cold Brew | Pistachio cream cold foam | 250 | 185 mg |
Dig deeper with our Chocolate Cream Cold Brew and dairy-free cold foam guides, or see every iced drink on the Starbucks cold drinks page. For hot brewed coffee, see the hot drinks menu.
Starbucks cold brew at the grocery store
Starbucks also sells ready-to-drink cold brew in bottles and cans and cold brew concentrates for home. These are different products from the café drink, so check each label for caffeine and calories.
Watch: How to Make Cold Brew Concentrate
Cold Brew FAQs
What is cold brew?
Cold brew is coffee made by steeping coarse grounds in cold or room-temperature water for many hours, then straining. With no heat, it tastes smoother, sweeter and less acidic than hot coffee.
Cold brew vs. iced coffee: what is the difference?
Iced coffee is hot-brewed coffee that is cooled and poured over ice. Cold brew is never heated; it steeps for 12 to 24 hours. Cold brew is smoother and usually stronger.
Does cold brew have more caffeine?
Usually, yes. At Starbucks, a Grande Cold Brew has about 205 mg of caffeine versus about 185 mg for a Grande Iced Coffee. At home, caffeine depends on your ratio and how much you dilute it.
What is the best ratio for cold brew concentrate?
For concentrate, use 1 cup of coarse grounds to 4 cups of water (about 85 g coffee to 950 ml water, roughly 1:11 by weight), then dilute 1:1. For ready-to-drink cold brew, use about ½ cup grounds to 4 cups water and skip diluting.
How long does cold brew last?
Concentrate keeps up to 1 week in a sealed container in the fridge; diluted cold brew is best within 2 to 3 days.
What is nitro cold brew?
Cold brew infused with nitrogen and poured from a tap, which gives it a creamy, cascading texture without milk. A Grande Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew has about 280 mg of caffeine and 5 calories.
How long does Starbucks steep its cold brew?
Starbucks says it slow-steeps its cold brew in cool water for about 20 hours.
How many calories are in Starbucks Cold Brew?
About 5 calories in a black Grande. Sweet cream, syrups and cold foam add the calories.
Starbucks nutrition, caffeine and prices are from starbucks.com and average US prices (October 2026). Homemade cold brew strength and caffeine vary with your beans, ratio and dilution. starbukmenu.com is not affiliated with Starbucks Corporation.
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