Electric grinder

Cold brew grind setting for the Cuisinart DBM-8

8–10

That is where to start with a light roast. It should come out looking like coarse sea salt. Medium roasts go to 9–11 and dark roasts to 10–12.

Cuisinart DBM-8, set for a light roast

The setting, by roast

Lighter roasts are harder to pull flavor out of, so they grind a little finer and steep longer. Darker roasts go the other way. The dial runs from 1 to 18.

RoastSettingLooks likeSteep in the fridge
Light roast8–10coarse sea salt18–22 h
Medium roast9–11coarse kosher salt14–18 h
Dark roast10–12raw sugar10–14 h

Where the number comes from

People who own one report 6–12. Our starting point is 10 for a medium roast, and it moves with the roast.

Owner reports: honestcoffeeguide.com, coldbrewqueen.com, reddit.com

How to use it

  1. Set it. Set the dial to 8–10. That is the light roast setting. Use the table above for anything darker.
  2. Grind and look. You want pieces about the size of coarse sea salt.
  3. Steep. Give it 18–22 hours in the fridge, or 12–14 on the counter.
  4. Taste and adjust. Too bitter? Go coarser next time. Too sour? Go finer. Move about 2 at a time.

Let the app keep track.

Cold Brew Studio shows the dial created for your Cuisinart DBM-8 with the setting marked, sizes the batch to your brewer, and moves the dial for you when you rate how it tasted.

Free on iPhone and the web. No account needed.

Quick answers

What grind setting should I use for cold brew on the Cuisinart DBM-8?
Start at 8–10 for a light roast, 9–11 for a medium roast and 10–12 for a dark roast.
How long should I steep cold brew ground on the Cuisinart DBM-8?
18–22 hours in the fridge for a light roast, 14–18 for medium and 10–14 for dark. On the counter it goes faster: 12–14, 9–12 and 7–9 hours.
What should the grounds look like?
Coarse. About the size of coarse sea salt for a light roast, coarse kosher salt for medium and raw sugar for dark.