How to Make Cold Brew in Large Batches

The Toddy System is what's used for making cold brew coffee at a large scale. It's the go-to choice for the majority of independent coffee shops.

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In this guide:

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How it works

The Toddy consists of a large, cylindrical container for steeping the coffee grounds, a mesh and a paper filter filter for separating the grounds from the brewed coffee, and a spigot for dispensing the finished product.

Sidenote: There's a Toddy Jr in case you're not trying to overkill.

Shopping list

You will also need this 12 Qt Cambro to store the liquid when it's done. There you will store your cold brew concentrate.

Additionally, get  this smaller Cambro container if you want to store ready-to-drink cold brew.

Coffeeshop Recipe

You want to use a robust medium roast blend. No need to use high end stuff. Go for roaster blends, some roasters even offer blends specifically for cold brew.

Note: espresso blends almost always make for great cold brew.

• 5 lbs of coffee beans
• 14 quarts room temperature water

Grind size: coarse, slightly coarse than for French Press.
Steep time: 24 hours in room temperature.

Directions

In the Toddy Brewer:

1. Insert fine mesh filter (this protects the paper bag)
2. Insert the large paper filter.
3. Add 5 lbs of ground coffee (7 setting in the grinder)
4. Slowly add 7 qt of room temperature water over the coffee grounds.
5. Wait 1 minute for grounds to stop bubbling.
6. Tie the paper filter with the included string.
7. Add another 7 qt of room temperature water over the bag.
8. Gently massage the bag into the water to make sure all the grounds are soaked.
9. Cover, let steep for 24 hrs at room temperature.
10. Open spout and pour into large Cambro.
11. Store concentrate in refrigerator.

Cutting it

What you brew in the Toddy is a coffee concentrate. This will need to be cut down with water to make drinkable cold brew.

At the shop, we combine:

• 2 parts water
• 1 part cold brew concentrate

**Adjust ratio according to taste.

For example, in the small Cambro, pour 4 quarts of filtered water. Then add 2 quarts of cold brew concentrate. The combined liquid should be at the 6 quart mark.

Extra Points

Buy a case of these growlers, fill them up with cold brew and distribute to your friends. You will become their god. If they don't kneel, you can always give them the boot...