Cold Brew Dilution Calculator

About this calculator

Cold brew is typically steeped as a concentrate far stronger than drinking strength — commonly around a 1:4 to 1:8 coffee-to-water steeping ratio — and meant to be cut with water, milk, or ice before drinking, usually in a roughly 1:1 concentrate-to-water ratio for a balanced cup, though some prefer it stronger or lighter. This calculator takes your concentrate amount and target dilution ratio and returns exactly how much water to add.

Getting the dilution wrong leaves cold brew either harshly bitter and over-caffeinated or thin and watery, so nailing the ratio matters as much as the steep itself. Home coffee brewers and café baristas use a dilution calculation like this to serve a consistent cup every time, whether they're pouring one glass or scaling up a batch for a whole pitcher.