How to get rid of residue in your cold brew

One of the common cold brew woes we see is the annoying layer of residue that collects at the bottom of your drink. Some people don’t seem to mind it as much, but to others, it’s something they would rather not have.

Residue in your cold brew, while harmless, can make your coffee muddy and bitter. Far from the “clean, smooth” description associated with cold brew, right? But rest assured, there are ways around that. Keep reading to find out how!

Use Coarse ground

First of all, make sure you are using coarse ground coffee. Not only will it taste less bitter, but the grains will be large enough to not fall through the filter. If you have a grinder at home, be sure to set it to “coarse” (or anything that would achieve coarse ground). If you’re unsure, coarse ground coffee should look like sea salt. 

No way to grind your own coffee beans? You can also purchase ground coffee at stores or online. Bonus points if you can get ground coffee specifically made for cold brew! Here are some of our favorites:

Bizzy Smooth & Sweet | Medium Roast

Community Coffee New Orleans Blend

Cameron’s Specialty Coffee Cold Brew Blend

Related: Why your cold brew is weak

Proper filtering

If you’re not using a proper filtering system, chances are, you’ll still end up with some residue even if you’re using coarse ground coffee. To get a smooth residue-free cold brew, you’ll need a filter with fine, even holes that will catch as much residue as possible. Some of the common DIY methods include cheesecloth and paper coffee filters. This can be a bit messy and time-consuming, but it definitely has the lowest barrier to entry into the cold brewing world.