Stumptown Coffee Cold Brew: A Step-by-Step Guide for Smooth Results

By Miles Sinclair

Updated November 2026

Stumptown coffee cold brew is a concentrated, low-acid style of coffee steeped in cold water for many hours. This guide walks you through choosing beans, setting a ratio, grinding, steeping and filtering so you can make a smooth, chocolate-forward cold brew at home. You will also learn how to adjust strength and avoid the mistakes that make cold brew taste flat or muddy.

What Makes Stumptown-Style Cold Brew Different

Cold brew is not simply iced coffee that has been left in the fridge. Hot brewing extracts acids and bitter compounds quickly, while cold water pulls out sugars, body and certain aromatics more slowly and selectively. The result is a drink that tastes sweeter and rounder, with less sharpness. Stumptown Coffee Roasters is known for its cold brew, and many home brewers try to recreate that profile. For context on the brand’s commercial version, see Stumptown Coffee Roasters Cold Brew Review: Is It Worth It?

If you are still unclear on the basics, What Is Cold Brew Coffee? How It Differs From Iced Coffee explains why the method produces a different cup entirely.

Equipment and Ingredients You Need

You do not need specialized equipment to make good cold brew, but a few tools make consistency much easier.

• A medium-dark to dark roast coffee, whole bean, roasted within the last few weeks
• A burr grinder capable of a coarse setting
• A digital scale accurate to 1 gram
• A large jar, pitcher or dedicated cold brew vessel
• Cold, filtered water
• A fine-mesh strainer, paper filter or cloth filter for finishing
• A sealable container for storage

Step-by-Step: Making Stumptown Coffee Cold Brew at Home

Step 1: Pick Your Ratio

Cold brew is usually made as a concentrate and diluted before drinking. A common starting point is a 1:8 ratio, meaning 1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight. For a concentrate you plan to dilute, 1:5 or 1:6 works well. Weigh everything rather than measuring by volume, since coffee density varies widely.

Step 2: Grind Coarse

Set your grinder to a coarse setting, similar to coarse sea salt or breadcrumbs. Fine grounds over-extract during a long steep and create silty, bitter coffee that is hard to filter. If you are unsure, read about Coarsely Ground Coffee for Cold Brew: 6 Best Picks Compared (2026) for guidance on pre-ground options that suit this method.

Step 3: Combine and Stir

Add the grounds to your vessel, pour in the cold water, and stir gently until every particle is wet. Dry pockets extract unevenly. Cover the container loosely.

Step 4: Steep for 12 to 16 Hours

Steep at room temperature for about 12 hours for a lighter, brighter cup, or up to 16 hours for a bolder, more chocolatey profile. Refrigerated steeping takes longer, often 18 to 24 hours, and produces a milder result. Beyond roughly 24 hours, most brewers find the coffee turns woody or sour.

Step 5: Filter Carefully

Strain the concentrate through a paper filter, a cloth filter or a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Pour slowly and let gravity do the work. Squeezing the grounds pushes out bitter fines and cloudiness. For a detailed walkthrough of a similar process, see How to Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Step 6: Dilute and Serve

Mix the concentrate with water, milk or a milk alternative to taste. Start with equal parts concentrate and water, then adjust. Serve over ice. Store the concentrate in a sealed container in the refrigerator, where it keeps for about one to two weeks.

Adjusting Strength, Sweetness and Body

Once you have a working recipe, small changes shift the cup noticeably. The table below summarizes common adjustments.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Grinding too fine. This is the most common cause of muddy, bitter cold brew.
• Measuring by volume. Weighing gives repeatable results batch to batch.
• Steeping too long. Past 24 hours, woody and sour notes often dominate.
• Skipping the rinse of your filter. Paper and cloth can impart papery or dusty flavors if not rinsed first.
• Using stale beans. Coffee roasted months ago loses aromatics, so the cold brew tastes flat.
• Diluting too early. Keep the concentrate strong until serving so you can control strength.

Tips for Better Cold Brew

1. Use filtered water. Chlorine and mineral imbalances change the flavor noticeably.
2. Keep a log of ratio, grind setting and steep time so you can repeat your best batch.
3. Taste the concentrate before diluting. If it is thin, reduce water or increase coffee next time.
4. For a comparison of cold brew and iced coffee methods, see Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee (2026): Which Is Better for You?
5. If you want a faster or different method, Bizzy Cold Brew Coffee: 3 Best Picks Compared for Home Brewers covers alternatives.

Recommended gear

A burr grinder gives the uniform coarse grind that cold brew depends on. Look for a model with a dedicated coarse setting and minimal retention. View on Amazon

A digital kitchen scale accurate to one gram lets you repeat ratios exactly from batch to batch. View on Amazon

A dedicated cold brew pitcher with a built-in filter simplifies steeping and straining in one vessel, which reduces mess. View on Amazon

FAQ

Can I use Stumptown beans for cold brew?

Yes. Stumptown sells whole-bean and ground coffees suited to cold brew. Choose a whole bean and grind it coarse yourself for the best results, since freshness matters more for steeping.

How long does stumptown coffee cold brew last in the fridge?

Concentrate stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator generally stays good for about one to two weeks. Diluted cold brew is best within a few days.

Should I steep cold brew in the fridge or on the counter?

Both work. Room-temperature steeping for 12 to 16 hours is faster and tends to produce a bolder cup. Refrigerated steeping takes 18 to 24 hours and gives a milder, smoother result.

Why is my cold brew cloudy?

Cloudiness usually comes from fine particles passing through the filter. Use a coarser grind, filter more slowly, or filter a second time.

Does cold brew have more caffeine than hot coffee?

It depends on the ratio and dilution. Concentrate made at a strong ratio can contain more caffeine per serving than a standard hot cup, but diluted cold brew often ends up comparable. Check the specific ratio you use and consult a professional if you have caffeine sensitivity or a medical condition.

Can I heat cold brew?

You can, though heat changes the flavor and can bring out bitterness. Many people prefer to dilute concentrate with hot water to make a smoother hot coffee, or warm a small portion gently.

Do I need a special cold brew maker?

No. A large jar and a fine strainer work well. Dedicated systems mainly add convenience and a built-in filter.

Conclusion

Making stumptown coffee cold brew at home comes down to a few controllable variables: a coarse grind, a measured ratio, a steep of 12 to 16 hours and careful filtering. Adjust those factors one at a time and keep notes so you can repeat the batches you like best. Once you find your ratio, the process becomes quick and reliable.

About Miles Sinclair

Miles Sinclair is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our coffee beans & brewing methods guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.