Klatch Coffee's Ultimate Guide to Cold Brew

As we head into the hot summer months and as the time for hot lattes has come and gone, it’s time for cold brews and iced coffees to truly shine. Being located in sunny Southern California, we like to believe that we here at Klatch Coffee are experts when it comes to cold brew. In fact, over 80% of drinks we sell in our store locations are iced, with a huge chunk of that being a variation of cold brew! Follow along below as we share some of our favorite coffees to use to make cold brew, how to make cold brew, drinks you can make with cold brew, and more.

What is the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?

Cold brew is an iced coffee, but iced coffee isn't necessarily cold brew! Iced coffee is often coffee that was brewed hot, but cooled down. Or, iced coffee can also be a blanket term referring to an iced latte, or even an iced pour over. By definition, cold brew is coffee made by steeping coarsely ground beans in cold or room-temperature water for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. Instead of using heat to extract flavor, this brewing method relies on time. With the slow processing method, the resulting coffee is highly caffeinated, naturally smooth, subtly sweet, and much less acidic than hot coffee.

How do you make cold brew?

Making cold brew is not a difficult process. In fact, most of the process is passive! All you need is coarsely ground coffee, a brewing vessel, cold or room-temperature water, and a filter to strain out those coffee grounds at the end. If you try something and find that you don't like it, don't be afraid to make an adjustment and try again. If you follow your roaster’s recommended recipe and think you would enjoy your cold brew more if it was a little stronger or a little lighter, change your recipe. Coffee is subjective and there are truly no right or wrong answers, as long as you enjoy it!

Our recommended starting recipe:

1. 1:5 ratio, with one part coffee and five parts water.
2. Grind your coffee as coarsely as possible.
3. For a single serving of cold brew, we recommend 50g of ground coffee and 250g of water.
4. Steep your 50g of ground coffee in 250g of cold water for 12-24 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the coffee will be.
5. After your time is up, use a toddy filter to filter out your grinds. If you don’t have a toddy filter, you can use a cheese cloth or your pour over vessel! Chemex filters and other pour over filters work great to get rid of your cold brew grinds as well, especially since it is coarsely ground.
6. Serve, then enjoy within two weeks!

What brewer or vessel should I use to make cold brew at home?

We use and recommend the Toddy Home Cold Brew System! Toddy’s entire business is making cold brew equipment, and they do it well. You can also make use of what you have at home. We once held a cold brew competition to kick off summer in our roastery, and we had team members use Toddy makers, some use Mason jars, and some even use Chemex 6-cup brewers! As long as you have a vessel to steep your cold brew in and a proper filter to pull out those coffee grinds at the end, you can get creative.

What coffee should I use to make my cold brew?

As always, this depends on preference! If you enjoy lighter roasts, fruitier flavors, and tea-like qualities, coffees from Panama and Ethiopia can be really great options! If you prefer darker roasts or chocolatey, smooth cold brews that pair well with milk, you may want to use a coffee from Brazil or Guatemala instead. Aside from single origin coffees, however, blends can also make for well-balanced cold brews! Here at Klatch Coffee, for example, we have specific blends that we use to make our favorite cold brews. For the light and fruity, our Lion's Pride or WBC are our coffees of choice. For dark and chocolatey, we recommend our Crazy Goat or Organic Rainforest. For those that enjoy something right in between, our Mocha Java is a great option as well, with some slight fruitiness and some chocolatey sweetness.

Okay, I made my cold brew. How do I enjoy it?

There are so many drinks you can make to enjoy with your cold brew! Of course, you can always drink it black, but not everyone likes straight black coffee, and that’s OK. Whether you’re using your cold brew to make a mixed drink or just topping it with a foam, there truly is no right or wrong way to enjoy it. As long as you like it, that’s all that matters! We’ve put together five different recipes for five different ways you can enjoy your cold brew below.

1. Cold Brew with Vanilla Cold Foam

Cold foam can elevate any drink with its simplicity and additional texture. Enjoy a chocolatey cold brew with a smooth vanilla foam. Just a touch of milk (or an alternative) to soften the cold brew, and just a touch of sweetness to really bring it together!

1. Fill your 16oz iced cup with ice.
2. Add 10oz of your cold brew.
3. Add 1oz of vanilla syrup to the cup and stir.
4. In a separate container, add 0.5oz of vanilla syrup and 2oz of heavy whipping cream or your dairy alternative.
5. Use a handheld frother to froth this mixture up into a nice, thick vanilla cold foam.
6. Once your cold foam has stiffened to a texture of your liking, pour it into your cup, creating a nice layer on top of your coffee.
7. Drink from the cup rather than with a straw, and enjoy!

Recommended coffee for this cold brew: Crazy Goat or Organic Rainforest.

2. Cooling Coconut Lime

A vibrant cold coffee that embodies summer on the beach. It's tropical and refreshing, a little bit creamy, and a little bit zesty.

1. Fill your 12oz iced cup with ice.
2. Add 1oz of simple syrup to the cup and stir.
3. Add 4oz of your cold brew on top slowly, adding a little layering effect.
4. In a separate container, add 2oz of coconut cream or coconut milk.
5. Use a handheld frother to froth this mixture up into a nice, thick coconut foam.
6. Once your foam has stiffened to a texture of your liking, pour it into your cup, creating a nice layer on top of your coffee.
7. Add a squeeze of lime and garnish with your lime slice.
8. Drink from the cup rather than with a straw, and enjoy!

Recommended coffee for this cold brew: Crazy Goat or Mocha Java.

3. Bee’s Knees Iced “Latte”

Honey and vanilla go together just as well as you’d think! Enjoy an iced latte even without an espresso machine. Smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet.

1. Line the inside of your 16oz iced cup with honey, then fill with ice.
2. Add 7oz of your cold brew.
3. Add 1oz of vanilla syrup to the cup and stir.
4. Add 4oz of your choice of milk to the cup and stir.
5. Enjoy!

Recommended coffee for this cold brew: Brazil Klatch Diamond Reserve or Belle.

4. Cold Brew Lemonade

This classic favorite tastes similar to an Arnold Palmer, only it has that extra caffeine kick to fuel your adventure. Refreshingly bright yet strong, this drink is well-balanced and easy to sip.

1. Fill your 16oz iced cup with ice.
2. Add 8oz of your cold brew.
3. Add 4oz of lemonade.
4. Top with a fresh or dried lemon slice for garnish.
5. Enjoy!

Recommended coffee for this cold brew: WBC or Lion’s Pride. Bonus: Try it with our 2026 Route 66 celebration coffee, Centennial, or our summer 2026 summer seasonal blend, Out Of Office!

5. Cold Brew Popsicle

We know this isn’t a drink, but it’s just as refreshing on a hot summer day! Enjoy your cold brew as an ice cold popsicle, or even pop this popsicle into your coffee in place of ice so it melts into some extra caffeine for the day.

1. In a measuring cup, stir 16oz of your cold brew with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
2. In a separate measuring cup, whisk together 6 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and 2 tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk.
3. Slowly combine the two mixtures into an ice pop mold.
4. Insert popsicle sticks, cover, and put into the freezer.
5. Leave in the freezer for 4-6 hours minimum.
6. When you’re ready to enjoy, dip your mold briefly into warm water to release.
7. Enjoy!

Recommended coffee for this cold brew: Crazy Goat.

Whether you're a longtime cold brew enthusiast or just making your first batch at home, summer is the perfect time to explore everything this brewing method has to offer. From smooth, chocolatey coffees to bright, fruit-forward blends, cold brew provides endless opportunities to experiment easily and discover your new favorite drinks. Don't be afraid to try different coffees, adjust your recipes, and get creative with flavors and toppings along the way. After all, the best cold brew is the one you enjoy most. Here's to staying cool and caffeinated with some great coffee by your side, all summer long!