Coffee Calculators

Brew ratios & dosing

Cold Brew Dilution Calculator

Concentrate is a strong brew ratio sitting in the fridge; the drink is a milder ratio in the glass. If you steeped 1:8 and you want to drink 1:16, you add an equal mass of water (or milk). Weigh the concentrate, do not eyeball a ‘splash’.

Inputs

Units
g

Liquid concentrate you will dilute, after filtering.

1:x used when you steeped. Typical concentrate is 1:5–1:8.

1:x you want in the glass. Must be equal or milder than the concentrate.

Results

Water to add
200.0g
Final drink
400.0g

Recommended gear

Calculation method

The drink is milder than the concentrate by the ratio of the two brew ratios. Water to add is concentrate mass times (drinkRatio / concentrateRatio − 1). At 200 g of 1:8 going to 1:16 that is 200 g of water and 400 g in the glass. If drink ratio is not larger than concentrate ratio, there is nothing to dilute.

Exact formula

scale = drinkRatio / concentrateRatio. waterToAddG = concentrateG × (scale − 1), floored at 0 if drinkRatio ≤ concentrateRatio. finalDrinkG = concentrateG + waterToAddG. Limits: Ice melt, milk solids and leftover slurry in the filter omitted; ratios are mass:mass.

Concentrate is not espresso

A 1:8 cold brew is still a long extraction, not a 1:2 shot. Do not expect crema, and do not dial it with espresso TDS targets.

Frequently asked questions

Can I dilute with milk?

Use the water-to-add mass as milk mass if you want the same strength. Dairy adds solids, so the cup will taste richer than water at the same ratio.

What if I steeped by volume?

Convert to grams next batch. A 1:8 by volume is not 1:8 by mass once beans float. This page assumes you weighed coffee and water at steep.

Ice in the glass?

Ice is extra water as it melts. Either serve on ice and drink fast, or use the flash-brew tool when ice is a planned part of the recipe.

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