How to make cold brew decaf coffee

Stay cool

There are few drinks as rich, silky, and just downright cool as a cold brew! Cold-brew is not only tasty but it is super fun and super easy to make. It can be prepared a few different ways and like any brew styles, the fun lies in how you brew to your own specifications!

Table of Contents Show

Best Decaf Coffee For Cold Brew
☕Ingredients & Equipment
How To Make Decaf Cold Brew Coffee
Looking for Cold Brew Coffee with a Buzz? Try our Homemade Cold Brew Coffee.
Decaf Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
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Can cold brew coffee be made decaf?
Does decaf cold brew have caffeine?
Can you make Starbucks cold brew decaf?
Is cold brew decaf good?

The history of the cold brew is equally as fascinating. As the story goes, cold brew was first developed in the 1600-1700s in Holland. This is also the origins of Dutch Brew, but the general principles are more or less the same. The impetus behind developing cold brew came from the Dutch sailors wanting some caffeinated goodness on their long voyages around the world. Of course, hot coffee is a difficult resource to not only brew but also keep on a 17th-century wooden caravel!

So, the sailors decided to brew coffee with cold water, which allowed it to be kept for weeks at a time. It was also a bit easier to brew on a moving ship. The interesting thing too is the perfection of this art did not begin and end with the Dutch sailors but was actually adopted and perfected in Japan.

Japan was under Tokugawa rule at this time and was in a state of semi-isolation. The only foreigners allowed into Japan to trade were Joseon Korea, Ming China, and the Dutch. The Dutch introduced cold brewing to the Japanese who not only preserved this method but perfected it. Centuries later, as Kyoto Japan was emerging as a hidden and illustrious coffee Mecca, cold and Dutch brew both made their renewed debut.

But now let's see how cold brew can be brewed at home. And we have some good news, cold brew can be prepared with decaf coffee to make a delicious and chilly treat.

What you will need:

2 mason jars with their lids
Cheesecloth or a stainless steel mesh
Your chosen coffee bean (decaf coffee works great!)
Filtered or purified water

Step 1
Grind your decaf coffee beans to a medium-coarse grind. When in doubt go for a coarser grind because if you grind too finely your coffee will come out silty.

Step 2
Add your grinds to one of your jars. Add your water and stir the whole mixture. The ideal basic mixture for cold brew is 1 parts coffee for 5 parts water, but feel free to strengthen or weaken your coffee by adding more coffee or more water depending.

Step 3
Seal your jar and put it in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. The longer it brews for the stronger and thicker your final brew will be.

Step 4
Remove your jar and place your cheesecloth or strainer over the mouth of your other jar. Carefully pour in the brew and seal your second jar. This is your cold brew concentrate, and you can enjoy it straight or decant it if it is too strong. You can also keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.

A Cold Take

Cold-brew is fun to brew and leads to a silky, rich, thick, creamy, and delicious mode of decaf coffee. Because your brew is prepared with cold instead of hot water you can expect a brew that is free from bitterness and acidity. You can also enjoy cold brew throughout the week, making it a great drink for busy mornings where brew times can be a bit too time-consuming. Feel free to use your favorite decaf coffee to make some extraordinary cold brew today!

This simple method for making Homemade Decaf Cold Brew Coffee takes just a few easy steps to have the perfect cup of cold brew without the buzz.

Is there such a thing as decaf cold brew coffee? There are many people out there that have trouble tolerating caffeine but love the taste of coffee. In that case, we make our favorite coffee drinks in decaf form including cold brew!

Most specialty coffee shops do not sell decaf cold brew. This is because much less of the population drinks decaf coffee.

It’s also because one of the big benefits of cold brew is that it has more caffeine than a regular brew. Even without caffeine, coffee is a powerful antioxidant and has many health benefits!

To make your own decaf cold brew at home, all you’ll need is your favorite decaf coffee in whole bean form, filtered water, and a large jar, pitcher, or French press.

Best Decaf Coffee For Cold Brew

When choosing decaf coffee to make cold brew, you’ll want to follow these important guidelines.

Choose a whole bean coffee that was roasted in the last 30 days. This will ensure the freshest cup of decaf.
Don’t choose a light roast. Lighter decaf coffee doesn’t make a great cold brew as it can become watery with a really light taste. For best results, you’ll want to buy a quality dark roast decaf coffee.
Do not buy ground decaf coffee. For cold brew, you want to buy whole beans, then grind them until they are coarse. This helps keep the grinds from sifting through the strainer into the final product.
Choose swiss water process decaf. In most decaf coffee, the caffeine is removed using a chemical solvent. There are many decaf coffees you can buy that use a Swiss water process to remove caffeine safely. Even better if you use an organic decaf coffee!

☕Ingredients & Equipment

The best ratio for cold brew coffee varies by flavor and personal preference. We find that the perfect ratio is 8 ounces of coarse grinds to 3 cups of filtered water. This produces a concentrate that is strong and pairs well with many homemade specialty coffee drinks.

1 cup Decaf Coffee, coarse grind
3 cups Filtered Water

Equipment

French Press, Large Jar, or Pitcher
Strainer
Soft Cheese Cloth

How To Make Decaf Cold Brew Coffee

There are 3 easy ways you can make decaf cold brew coffee concentrate right at home. The mason jar method, French press, or a cold brew coffee maker pitcher. Even though these are all different devices, the instructions are the same, combine, steep, and strain.

1️⃣ Mason Jar Method: Add coarse decaf coffee grinds into the bottom of a large mason jar or pitcher, then slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir and let steep for 12-16 hours. Using a strainer lined with damp cheesecloth, slowly pour the coffee over the strainer into a pitcher or jar until all the grinds are separated and decaf concentrate is in the jar.

2️⃣ French Press Method: Add coffee grinds to the bottom of a French press and slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir, then let it steep without the plunger for 12-16 hours. When it’s ready, plunge the coffee away from the water and to the bottom revealing the decaf cold brew concentrate at the top.

3️⃣ Cold Brew Coffee Maker: This device has a separate compartment you can add your coffee grinds so they stay inside without floating into the coffee. Once you add your coffee to the compartment, add the water, then steep for 12-16 hours before removing the coffee compartment and serving. Decaf cold brew coffee lasts in the fridge for 7-10 days. Give it a quick stir every few days to redistribute the coffee flavor.

This recipe makes a strong-tasting decaf concentrate, but without caffeine. Feel free to taste the concentrate and see how strong it is before you add any water. Add one cup at a time until your desired coffee strength is met.

Looking for Cold Brew Coffee with a Buzz? Try our Homemade Cold Brew Coffee.

❓FAQ

How much caffeine is in decaf cold brew coffee?

Even though the word decaf suggests there is no caffeine, it’s nearly impossible to have a decaf coffee without a little bit. On average, one 8oz cup of decaf coffee can contain 10-18mg of caffeine which is about 1/4th of the amount of a regular cup of brewed coffee.

Does Starbucks sell decaf cold brew?

At this time, Starbucks, Dunkin, Peet’s, and most big-box specialty coffee shops do not sell decaf cold brew. This is because it does not last long and not a lot of people drink it.

How long does decaf cold brew coffee last?

If your coffee is stored in the fridge with an airtight lid, it will last up to 10 days and sometimes longer. Every few days, give it a stir.

Is decaf coffee safe to drink?

The safest decaf coffee to drink are ones that use the Swiss water process to remove caffeine instead of a chemical solvent. These coffees are a bit more expensive but worth it

Can I buy decaf coffee brew bags?

You can buy specific coffee bags to brew that are decaf. The most popular is by Grady’s coffee.

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Decaf Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate

Can't have caffeine? This simple method for making Homemade Decaf Cold Brew Coffee takes just a few easy steps to have the perfect cup of cold brew without the buzz.

Prep 5 mins

Steeping Time 16 hrs

French Press
Large Mason Jar
Cold Brew Maker

1 cup Dark Roast Decaf Coffee coarse grind
3 cups Filtered Water

Mason Jar Method

Add coarse decaf coffee grinds into the bottom of a large mason jar or pitcher, then slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir and let steep for 12-16 hours. Using a strainer lined with damp cheesecloth, slowly pour the coffee over the strainer into a pitcher or jar until all the grinds are separated and decaf concentrate is in the jar.

French Press Method

Add coffee grinds to the bottom of a French press and slowly pour in the water. Give it a gentle stir, then let it steep without the plunger for 12-16 hours. When it's ready, plunge the coffee away from the water and to the bottom revealing the decaf cold brew concentrate at the top.

Cold Brew Maker

This device has a separate compartment you can add your coffee grinds so they stay inside without floating into the coffee. Once you add your coffee to the compartment, add the water, then steep for 12-16 hours before removing the coffee compartment and serving.

Diluting Decaf Cold Brew Concentrate

This recipe makes a strong-tasting decaf concentrate, but without caffeine. Feel free to taste the concentrate and see how strong it is before you add any water. Add one cup at a time until your desired coffee strength is met.

Serving: 1cupSodium: 6mg

Can cold brew coffee be made decaf?

Yes, cold brew can be decaf. Decaffeinated coffee beans are roasted coffee beans from which the caffeine has been removed. Thus, you can use these coffee beans to make a decaffeinated cold brew. However, the flavor profile of cold brew decaf may not be as intense as regular cold brew coffee.

Does decaf cold brew have caffeine?

How much caffeine is in decaf cold brew coffee? Even though the word decaf suggests there is no caffeine, it's nearly impossible to have a decaf coffee without a little bit. On average, one 8oz cup of decaf coffee can contain 10-18mg of caffeine which is about 1/4th of the amount of a regular cup of brewed coffee.

Can you make Starbucks cold brew decaf?

Yes, there is decaf cold brew at Starbucks. Decaf cold brew is made with Starbucks' decaf coffee beans and cold filtered water. It is a refreshing and low-acid beverage. Decaffeinated iced coffee is available at Starbucks.

Is cold brew decaf good?

For the caffeine-sensitive or those who want to cut down on their caffeine intake, cold decaf or decaffeinated coffee is an excellent and great alternative. This is particularly so if you are not ready to give up on the delicious taste of coffee altogether.