Electric grinder

Cold brew grind setting for the Rancilio Rocky

41–46

That is where to start with a light roast. It should come out looking like coarse sea salt. Medium roasts go to 43–49 and dark roasts to 46–52.

Rancilio Rocky, 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 0 to 55.

RoastSettingLooks likeSteep in the fridge
Light roast41–46coarse sea salt18–22 h
Medium roast43–49coarse kosher salt14–18 h
Dark roast46–52raw sugar10–14 h

Where the number comes from

People who own one report 37–55. Our starting point is 46 for a medium roast, and it moves with the roast.

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

How to use it

  1. Set it. Set the dial to 41–46. 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 6 at a time.

Let the app keep track.

Cold Brew Studio shows the dial created for your Rancilio Rocky 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 Rancilio Rocky?
Start at 41–46 for a light roast, 43–49 for a medium roast and 46–52 for a dark roast.
How long should I steep cold brew ground on the Rancilio Rocky?
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.