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Cold brew is the one format where removing caffeine and removing acidity happen at the same time - making decaf cold brew genuinely useful for anyone who loves coffee but is sensitive to either. Cold brew is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold or room-temperature water for 12 to 24 hours. No heat is involved at any point. The result is either a concentrate (diluted before drinking) or a ready-to-drink brew, depending on your ratio. The absence of heat is what defines cold brew - it is not just iced coffee.

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Why Does Grind Size Matter So Much for Cold Brew?

Cold brew requires an extra-coarse grind, coarser than French press and significantly coarser than drip. Finer grinds create two problems: over-extraction (producing bitterness) and difficult filtration (grounds clog filters and make the brew murky). An extra-coarse grind gives water enough surface area to extract over a long steep while remaining easy to strain cleanly. Colipse Decaf Cold Brew Grounds are pre-ground to an extra-coarse size optimised for cold brew extraction, so you do not need to grind at home or adjust a setting.

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What Ratio Should You Use?

The right ratio depends on whether you want a concentrate or a ready-to-drink brew. For concentrate (recommended): Use a 1:4 to 1:5 ratio of coffee to water by weight. For example, 100g of coffee to 400-500ml of water. A concentrate is stronger than you would drink directly - dilute 1:1 with water or milk before serving. Concentrate keeps longer in the refrigerator and gives you more flexibility. For ready-to-drink: Use a 1:8 to 1:10 ratio. This is weaker during brewing but ready to pour over ice without further dilution.

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How Long Should You Steep?

  • Room temperature: 12 to 16 hours. Extraction is faster at room temperature.
  • Refrigerator: 18 to 24 hours. Colder water extracts more slowly, requiring a longer steep.
Do not exceed 24 hours at any temperature. Beyond that point the brew becomes bitter and flat as undesirable compounds accumulate with continued extraction.

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How Do You Filter Cold Brew?

Strain the steeped brew through a fine mesh strainer lined with a paper filter, or use a dedicated cold brew filter bag during the steep itself. For the clearest result, double-filter: strain once through a mesh, then again through a paper filter. This removes fine particles that make the brew cloudy and affect the texture in the glass.

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Is Decaf Cold Brew Lower in Caffeine Than Regular Cold Brew?

Yes - but not for the reason most people assume. Regular cold brew is often higher in caffeine than hot-brewed coffee, not lower. Because you use more grounds and a much longer contact time, more caffeine dissolves into the water. A standard cold brew concentrate can contain as much caffeine as an espresso shot or more. Decaf cold brew removes this concern entirely. Colipse uses Swiss Water® Process decaffeination, which is solvent-free and removes 99.9% of caffeine. The steep time and coffee-to-water ratio no longer affect your caffeine intake - every cup contains the same 2-15mg typical of any Swiss Water® decaf format.

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Why Is Decaf Cold Brew Especially Good for Acid Sensitivity?

Cold brew is already the lowest-acid coffee format available. Research published in Scientific Reports (Rao and Fuller, 2018) found that cold brew has a pH of approximately 6.31, compared to approximately 5.48 for hot-brewed coffee. That is a meaningful difference in acidity for people who experience reflux, GERD, or irritable bowel syndrome triggered by acidic foods and drinks. Decaf cold brew combines both benefits: the lower acidity of cold extraction and the near-zero caffeine of Swiss Water® Process. For anyone who has felt they need to give up coffee entirely due to digestive sensitivity, decaf cold brew is often the format that brings them back.

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How Long Does Cold Brew Keep?

Cold brew concentrate keeps for up to two weeks in the refrigerator when stored in a sealed container. Ready-to-drink cold brew is more dilute and should be consumed within one week. Always refrigerate after brewing - cold brew left at room temperature will deteriorate quickly and can become a food safety concern after 24 hours.

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Which Colipse Decaf Coffee product works best for cold brew?

Decaf Cold Brew Grounds - Pre-ground extra-coarse, Swiss Water® Process, optimised for cold extraction. Available in one grind size designed specifically for cold brew.