If you're figuring out how to make cold brew at home, here's the short version: it's easy, forgiving, and mostly about patience. But there's a reason cold brew coffee at home tastes different from your usual iced coffee, and it isn't just the temperature. It's the coffee itself, how it was roasted, where it came from, and how it responds when you slow everything down.
Most people reach for whatever's in the pantry when they make cold brew at home. We'd love for you to reach for something chosen on purpose instead. Finding the best coffee for cold brew isn't complicated, but it does mean picking a bag that was made with a cold steep in mind — the right coffee doesn't just survive the process, it's made better by it.
What Actually Makes Cold Brew Different
Cold brew isn't just iced coffee. Iced coffee is brewed hot, then cooled down. Cold brew skips the heat entirely — the grounds steep in cold water for hours, sometimes up to a full day.
That slower extraction changes which flavor compounds come through. Heat pulls out acidity and brightness quickly. A long, cold steep is gentler and more selective, it favors sweetness, body, and the deeper notes in a coffee, while leaving a lot of the sharpness behind. That's why a cold brew can taste smoother and rounder than the same coffee brewed hot, even before you add ice.
It also means the coffee you start with matters more, not less. A cold steep won't manufacture flavor a coffee doesn't have. It just brings forward what's already there. So we thought we'd point you toward two blends that were made for exactly this.
Why Fitzroy Works So Well for Cold Brew
Fitzroy is one of our most loved blends, and it's a natural fit for cold brew. If you're after cold brew with dark roast character but without the bitterness dark roasts can sometimes bring this is the one. It's our lightest dark roast, sourced from farms across Central and South America, with notes of chocolate and sweet molasses that carry a balanced, medium body.
Over ice, that chocolate stays right up front, the finish stays clean, and the whole cup feels refreshing rather than heavy. It's also patient — cold brew concentrate made from Fitzroy holds up in the fridge for up to two weeks, so it's an easy one to keep on hand all summer.
Fitzroy Cold Brew Concentrate Recipe
What you'll need:
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1 bag (12 oz) of coarse ground Fitzroy Blend
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7 cups of cold water
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Milk of your choice, if desired (cow, oat, almond, or soy)
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Ice as needed
How to make it: Mix one 12 oz bag of coarse ground Fitzroy Blend with 7 cups of water. Let it sit at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. Keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks. When you're ready to drink, start with one part cold brew, concentrate on one part cold water or milk, and serve over ice. From there, adjust the ratio to your own taste — some mornings call for something stronger. This cold brew concentrate recipe makes enough to last, so once you've made a batch, Fitzroy cold brew is ready whenever you are.
Why Summer Blend Is Worth Trying Before It's Gone
Summer Blend was built with warm weather in mind, and cold brew is where it really opens up. It leads with bright orange, settles into rich cacao, and finishes with a touch of honey — and a cold steep draws out that sweetness first, so the whole arc comes through in order: citrus, then cacao, then honey lingering at the end.
It's a seasonal release, which means it won't be around much longer. Summer Blend retires Labor Day weekend, so if you've been curious about it or you want one more bag before it's gone, now's the time.
Recipe: Coconut Cloud Cold Brew (Summer Blend)
What you'll need:
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25g coconut syrup for the cold brew
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15g coconut syrup for the cold cream
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40g heavy cream or plant-based milk
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Summer Blend cold brew, plus water to fill
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Ice as needed
How to make it: Fill a 16 oz glass with ice. Stir 25g of coconut syrup into your Summer Blend cold brew, then pour it over the ice. In a separate jar, combine 40g of heavy cream (or a plant-based alternative) with 15g of coconut syrup, and stir until lightly thickened. Spoon it slowly over the cold brew so it settles on top.
A Quick Note on Timing
Summer Blend retires Labor Day weekend, so if this one's on your list, this is a good week to order it. Fitzroy, on the other hand, isn't going anywhere, it's a year-round staple, so there's no rush there beyond your own cup.
Ready to Brew?
Both blends are available online and at our cafes. Shop Fitzroy for an easy, everyday cold brew, or shop Summer Blend while it's still here. You can also browse our full lineup on the blends page.
If you're in Seattle, stop by our Greenlake cafe — Summer Blend is pouring there, along with Kirkland and University, for as long as the season lasts.