Best Toddy Cold Brew Hack Every Beginner Should Try

INTRODUCTION:

Want smooth, rich cold brew coffee without spending hours trying to figure out ratios and methods? You’re not alone. The Toddy Cold Brew System has become a favorite for beginners and coffee lovers who want café-quality drinks at home. But there’s one secret hack that makes your brew even better—saving you time, improving flavor, and maximizing your coffee’s strength.

In this post, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about making the best cold brew with the Toddy system, including:

• What makes Toddy unique
• The one hack that changes everything
• Pro-level techniques to avoid rookie mistakes
• How to elevate your brew with simple add-ons

☕ Whether you’re brand new to cold brew or ready to level up, this guide will blow your mind.

1. Understanding the Toddy Cold Brew System

1.1 What Is the Toddy System?

The Toddy Cold Brew System is a coffee maker designed for immersion-style brewing. Unlike drip or pour-over methods, it brews coffee in cold water for 12–24 hours, creating a smooth, low-acid concentrate.

Why people love it:

• Smooth taste: No bitterness, just bold coffee flavor.
• Versatility: Can be used for both coffee and tea.
• Concentrate magic: Make iced or hot coffee from one brew.

1.2 Why It’s Perfect for Beginners

If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by measuring, steeping times, or grind size, Toddy removes all that confusion:

• Pre-measured design
• Easy-to-clean parts
• Detailed instructions included

Still, most people don’t realize there’s a game-changing hack to make it even easier and better. More on that in a minute.

1.3 What Comes in the Toddy Kit

Your starter set typically includes:

• Brewing container with handle
• Glass decanter with lid
• 2 reusable felt filters
• 1 rubber stopper
• Paper filter bags (optional but highly recommended)

Pro Tip: Get extra filters and stoppers. Trust us—you’ll want to keep brewing once you get the hang of it.

2. The Toddy Cold Brew Hack That Changes Everything

2.1 The Game-Changer: Use Paper Filter Bags

Here’s the hack: Use Toddy-compatible paper filter bags inside your brew container.

Why it’s a game-changer:

• No mess: Clean-up takes seconds—just lift out the bag and toss.
• No clogs: Keeps grounds out of your felt filter, extending its life.
• More flavor control: Promotes even extraction and stronger concentrate.

These bags are made to fit perfectly into the Toddy brewer, and they dramatically simplify the whole brewing process.

2.2 How to Use Filter Bags Properly

It’s simple:

1. Place one filter bag in the brewing container.
2. Add 12 ounces (340g) of coarse-ground coffee.
3. Slowly pour in 7 cups (1.65L) of cold, filtered water.
4. Stir gently to ensure all grounds are saturated.
5. Let sit for 12–24 hours (covered).
6. Pull out the bag and discard it.

No scraping. No clogging. And no rinsing slimy grounds.

2.3 Bonus Hack: Double the Bag

For an ultra-clean brew, some baristas double-bag the coffee, which:

• Reduces sediment to near-zero
• Helps prevent overflow
• Gives you crystal-clear concentrate

This tip is especially useful if you’re grinding beans at home and can’t get the grind perfectly coarse.

3. Step-by-Step Cold Brew Recipe Using Toddy (With the Hack)

3.1 Ingredients You’ll Need

• 12 oz (340g) of coarse-ground coffee
• 7 cups (1.65L) of cold, filtered water
• 1 paper filter bag
• Optional: vanilla, cinnamon, or sweet cream for flavor

3.2 Instructions

1. Insert the paper filter bag into the Toddy container.
2. Add your coffee grounds to the bag.
3. Slowly pour in water, letting it soak evenly.
4. Gently stir inside the bag to fully saturate the grounds.
5. Seal and let brew for 12–24 hours at room temperature.
6. Remove the bag, and let remaining coffee drain.
7. Transfer your concentrate to the glass decanter.

Pro Tip: Longer brews (up to 24 hours) = stronger, richer flavor. Shorter brews = lighter, milder taste.

3.3 How to Serve Cold Brew

Use your concentrate like this:

• Iced: 1 part coffee to 2 parts cold water or milk, over ice.
• Hot: Add boiling water to concentrate.
• Sweetened: Mix with sweet cream, flavored syrups, or oat milk.

4. Pro Tips for Getting the Best Out of Your Toddy

4.1 Use Filtered Water

Water makes up 98% of your drink. Always use cold, filtered water to avoid chlorine aftertaste or mineral bitterness.

4.2 Pick the Right Beans

Best beans for Toddy:

• Medium to dark roast: Brings out chocolaty, nutty notes
• Single origin or blend: Choose based on your flavor goals

Avoid pre-ground coffee—it’s usually too fine. Instead, grind fresh with a burr grinder on the coarse setting.

4.3 Store It Smart

Your cold brew concentrate can last up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Store in an airtight glass container to keep flavor fresh. Avoid plastic, which can absorb smells and flavor.

Want to keep it cold longer? Use coffee ice cubes—frozen concentrate that won’t water down your brew.

5. Common Mistakes Toddy Beginners Make (And How to Avoid Them)

5.1 Overfilling the Container

Too much coffee = overflow. Stick to the 12 oz rule unless using a larger model. Overflow can clog the filter and make your brew bitter.

5.2 Wrong Grind Size

Too fine = cloudy, sludgy brew. Too coarse = watery coffee. Go for something like Kosher salt texture.

5.3 Ignoring the Brew Time

Impatience kills the flavor. Toddy cold brew is all about slow extraction. Let it sit at least 12 hours (overnight) for good results—up to 24 for a bolder taste.

5.4 Forgetting the Hack

Don’t skip the paper bag. Without it, clean-up is a pain, and filters get ruined fast. It’s the one tweak that improves everything.

Bonus: How Much Does the Toddy Cold Brew System Cost?

As of 2025:

• Toddy System Starter Kit: $39.99 – $45.00
• 100-pack Filter Bags: ~$16
• Extra Filters (2-pack): ~$5

It’s a one-time investment that pays off in savings when you stop buying $6 iced coffees every morning.

You’ll make up the cost in just 1 week of skipping the coffee shop.

CONCLUSION:

If you’re new to making cold brew and want it to be:

• Easy to make
• Mess-free
• Strong and delicious
• Worth the money

Then this Toddy cold brew hack using paper filter bags is the one tip you need to try right now.

With just a few ingredients, some prep, and a little patience, you can create café-level cold brew that blows away anything you’ve had before.

👉 Want more coffee hacks like this?
Check out: How to Make the Best Cold Brew at Home with Trader Joe’s