Cold Brew Coffee Makers Australia — Smooth, Low-Acid Coffee at Home & Café

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold or room-temperature water for 12–24 hours without any heat. The result is a naturally smooth, sweet, and low-acid concentrate. Iced coffee, by contrast, is simply hot-brewed coffee that has been cooled and poured over ice — which often results in a bitter, acidic, and watered-down drink as the ice melts. Cold brew is fundamentally different in both flavour and chemistry. The cold extraction process produces approximately 67% less acidity than hot brewing, and the resulting concentrate is richer, sweeter, and far more pleasant to drink over ice or with milk.

Both methods brew coffee with cold water, but the process and result are different. Cold brew (immersion) involves steeping ground coffee in cold water for 12–24 hours, then filtering — producing a heavy, full-bodied, sweet concentrate. Cold drip involves ice-cold water dripping slowly through ground coffee at a controlled rate over 6–12 hours — producing a lighter, more aromatic, and more delicate cup with greater clarity and complexity. Cold drip is more technically involved and generally more expensive, but the flavour reward is significant for specialty coffee lovers. Both methods are well represented in Di Pacci's range.

For cold brew immersion (Hario pot, Toddy, Bruer), use an extra-coarse grind — coarser than French press. The long steep time means that finer grinds will over-extract and produce a bitter, harsh concentrate. An extra-coarse grind allows a slow, even extraction over 12–24 hours without bitterness. For cold drip towers (Tiamo, Hario Cold Dripper), a medium-coarse grind is typically used — slightly finer than immersion cold brew to match the shorter contact time as water drips through. Di Pacci stocks a full range of home and commercial coffee grinders to pair with any cold brew setup — contact our team for a recommendation.

Cold brew concentrate stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator stays fresh for up to two weeks — one of its major practical advantages over hot-brewed coffee. Diluted cold brew (ready to drink) is best consumed within 3–5 days. The key is to store it in an airtight glass or food-safe container in the coldest part of your fridge. Cold drip (tower-brewed) coffee is slightly more delicate and is best consumed within 3–5 days for optimal flavour, even when refrigerated. Always filter your cold brew completely before storing to prevent continued extraction in the fridge.

A standard starting ratio for cold brew concentrate is 1:8 (1 part coffee to 8 parts water by weight) — for example, 100g of ground coffee to 800ml of water. This produces a concentrate that is typically diluted 1:1 before serving. For a stronger concentrate suited to iced lattes or coffee cocktails, try a 1:5 or 1:6 ratio. For a ready-to-drink (RTD) cold brew without dilution, a 1:10 or 1:12 ratio works well. Using a precision scale like the Hario V60 Drip Scale makes it easy to dial in consistent ratios batch after batch. Experiment with ratios and steep time to find what suits your taste.

For cafés producing cold brew concentrate in volume, the Toddy Commercial Brew System is the most widely used and trusted option — producing a smooth 2.8L batch with consistent results and easy filtration via the included wool felt filters. For specialty cafés wanting a striking visual element on the bar, the Tiamo 25-cup cold drip tower ($649) produces a small-batch refined cold drip product that customers can watch brew in real time. For high-volume batch brewing beyond cold brew — including filter coffee, cold brew, and pour over at scale — Marco's SP9 and Jet 6L represent the professional commercial benchmark. Contact our Di Pacci team to discuss the right cold coffee system for your café's volume and service style.

Yes. Di Pacci stocks Toddy Cold Brew Filters (pack of 2) for the Toddy Commercial and home brew systems, Hario V60 filter papers in sizes 01, 02, and 03 (in both white and natural, 40-pack and 100-pack options), and the Ten Mile Coffee Disc Filter as a reusable metal alternative to paper filters. All filter products are available with fast Australia-wide delivery. Contact our Sydney team if you need guidance on which filter size or type suits your specific cold brew setup.