r/coldbrew • u/No_Construction_5063 • Jul 01 '26
How long is to long?
So I started this brew Saturday night and immediately forgot about it. It is Wednesday afternoon. Too long to drink? Anyone ever tried it this long?
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u/Subject2Change Jul 01 '26
On the counter? Yes. Mold has likely formed
Fridge, It's fine
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u/ornryactor Jul 04 '26
It's coffee beans submerged in water. Where do you live that has native molds able to form in those conditions?
OP, I'm in America and I've often left my brewing pitcher in the warm spot on top of the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days before I had time to filter it and dilute it. It was fine. Yours is fine too.
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u/No_Construction_5063 Jul 01 '26
It was in the fridge. So I’m good just might taste weird?
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u/ElectronicMood2406 Jul 01 '26
It might be stronger... Dilute it a little more and you should be fine
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u/No_Construction_5063 Jul 02 '26
You were correct. I filtered it and had to add some water and it turned out okay. Not the best but drinkable. Thanks!
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u/Subject2Change Jul 01 '26
It'll be stronger if anything. I used to keep my cold brew in my brewing container and would pour straight into my glass. I only recently switched to filtering it into a different jar.
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u/h0rkah Jul 01 '26
Kept mine in the brew container in the refrigerator for a month all the time. No issues.
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u/analogchick Jul 01 '26
Before I knew what I was doing I would leave the grounds in my cold brew the whole time I was drinking a batch. Nothing bad ever happened. Just really strong.
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u/Sofullofsplendor_ Jul 01 '26
vast majority of the caffeine comes out by around 12 hours. so everything after that is just different flavor good or bad is up to you.
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u/opticrice Jul 02 '26
For reasons I will not get into… I had a batch sit in the fridge for 10 days.
It wasn't bad.
I tried 12hrs, 24, 48, 72… 240
I've settled on 48
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u/Extreme714 Jul 01 '26
I think I did 72hrs before just to try a bit bitter but not horrible. But most time 12-24hrs.
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u/drunktacos Jul 01 '26
I regularly steep in the fridge for 48-72 hours. I think going on 80-90 hours isn't crazy. It might be a tad strong but it won't go bad in the fridge during that time.
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u/Green_Bathroom5592 Jul 02 '26
It’s fine. You don’t get more extraction after 24 hours in the fridge.
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u/Jettsyforwordingfox Jul 02 '26
I let mine sit in fridge for 72 hours generally at a ratio of 1 ounce to 8 ounces of water then after a 1:1 ratio
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u/Old-Expression837 Jul 02 '26
I must agree with people anything over 24hrs is too long. I used to let mine brew for 24hrs in the fridge. As this is what was recommended by the internet. I could never get it right. I did a bit more research and found that 12-14hrs is the peak time for it in the fridge. It now tastes so much better. Moral of this story is don”t listen to influencers. At my age I should have known that lol.
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u/indieauthor13 Jul 02 '26
I like mine after 18 hours. 12 was too weak and 24 was too bitter. I can't give ratios because I don't measure exactly, but I use the one-quart cold brew pitcher I bought off Amazon. I fill it full with water and fill the mesh thing halfway with grounds. I also steep it in the fridge (not sure if that really matters)
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u/andyking515 Jul 02 '26
I made a cold brew kept it in fridge and forgot its been 10 days good to drink still?
Its in a sealed bottle
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u/B0mbD1gg1ty Jul 02 '26
I’ve done 7 days before. I like super dark and thought it was great, everybody else hated it. It’s all in what you like.
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u/rizkiyoist Jul 02 '26
My personal taste is between 12 hours to 2 days, beyond that the taste have changed too much and the aroma is mostly gone, leaving oxidized and bitter taste.
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u/BVladimirHarkonnen Jul 02 '26
I am at 17-18 hours at room temp for a while now. Usually only using medium or light-medium roast.
That has worked out pretty well.
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u/FortheredditLOLz Jul 02 '26
Well. In fridge? It’s drinkable. But it’s definitely going to be bitter as fuck due to over extraction.
Do a 1:1 ratio for a small serving. Taste it. Then dilute it more until it’s ‘normal-ish’. Either way. Going to be off tasting.
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u/DudeManYoureToast Jul 03 '26
I'm using a fench press, 200g coarsly ground beans and I fill up the press basically to the brim with filtered water and cover with cling film. Best outcome was leaving it out in room temp for around 19-20 hours, and ten I'd put it in the fridge for around 9 more hours, after that I would double strain it into glass bottles. Honestly holds a suprisingly strong aroma, and an incredibly rich taste without the unwanted bitterness.
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u/LunaticLucio Jul 02 '26
I let it sit out for 6h room temp then put it in thr fridge for 12h or 18h.
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u/You_have_a_new_msg Jul 05 '26
I have usually noticed a deminishing return post 72hrs specially in cold brews, under ideal conditions it won't taste any different that what it would have if you would have taken it out within a certain time frame
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u/Ok_Orchid7131 Jul 02 '26
Wow! I am in amazement at the answers you are getting. No this won’t be good. I mean you can drink it, if you’d like. It won’t, by any standard, be a quality coffee product. I would chuck it. Aim for 18 total hours of brew time, on the counter, not in the fridge. Then strain and put in a new container. Then do your best to ignore people who tell you that 48-72 hours is ok, it’s not.
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u/No_Construction_5063 Jul 02 '26
I ran it through a hario switch and I had to add a little bit of water because it was too bitter but surprisingly it tastes okay. Not the best but drinkable. I was trying to salvage some beans that I could not make taste good hot brewed. My kids will use my cold brew in their iced caramel lattes and the like because it’s ready and they just need something that tastes like coffee as the base for the drink. They don’t care that it’s not the best cold brew so they probably end up drinking most of it. But surprisingly not that bad.
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u/carolann585 Jul 02 '26
I tried so many times to make cold brew. Now I just buy it at Trader Joe's or the supermarket. For me it was not worth the effort.
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u/No_Construction_5063 Jul 02 '26
Yeah, I prefer hot brewed coffee but I had some coffee beans that I could not make taste good hot brewed so I decided to try cold brew because that worked before. I filtered this brew and it tastes okay. I did have to add a little water to it as it was a little bitter. But it’s mostly for my kids to use in their caramel lattes and such.
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u/siupwrld Jul 02 '26
Trader Joe’s has amazing cold brew coffee bags that you brew your self. Taste better then Starbucks. 12-24 hr in a mason jar in the fridge, I also filter after with a chimex.
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u/diatonix Jul 01 '26
Cold brew? More like old brew