Which Coffee Brewing Method Takes the Longest Time? Which Is Fastest?

I tend to stick to Chemex or French press most mornings, but I also branch out and explore how new beans taste using different methods. So, you might be wondering: which coffee brewing method takes the longest time? Well…I’ve tried them all, and I can tell you right now that’s it’s cold brew. Cold brew takes between 12 and 24 hours to brew, which is the longest brewing time of any coffee making method.

But there’s more to it…if you’re talking about prep time, then cold brew is probably the shortest of them all. In this guide, I’ll talk about which techniques take the longest and shortest to deliver a fresh cup in both prep time and actual brew time.

Which Coffee Brewing Method Is the Slowest?

Hands down, cold brew coffee takes the cake for the longest brew time out of any method. We’re talking a minimum of 12 hours, and sometimes up to 24 hours or more from start to finish.

Now I know what you’re thinking: cold brew is supposed to be quick and convenient since you don’t have to heat up water or use any special equipment. And while the total brew time is quite slow compared to other techniques, the actual hands-on prep time is fast.

Here’s why: cold brew relies on time, rather than heat, to extract flavor from the coffee grounds. Generally, you combine coarsely ground coffee with cool or room temperature water and let it steep for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.

Unlike hot water, cold water simply can’t extract the solubles from the coffee as quickly. So to get proper extraction and flavor development, you need significantly more brew time.

The length of your cold brew depends on a few factors:

Coarseness of grind: Finer grinds extract faster, coarser grinds require more time. A coarse grind is typical for cold brew.
Coffee to water ratio: A higher coffee to water ratio (more grounds by weight) will require a longer brew time. The standard is around a 1:4 for a cold brew concentrate (super strong) to a 1:8 ratio for regular cold brew.
Steeping temperature: Warmer water will extract slightly faster than cold. Expect 12 hours at room temperature or around 24 hours in the fridge.
Agitation: Gently stirring or shaking the brewing coffee can help speed extraction.

The ideal cold brew time is between 12 and 24 hours, depending on all of these variables.

The hands-on prep time for cold brew is quite short, just 5 to 10 minutes to measure out and combine the ingredients. But factoring in the extended steep time, cold brew is no quick morning coffee. It’s a labor of love (and patience) that pays off in a smooth, mellow chilled coffee perfect for sweltering summer days. Just be sure to plan ahead!

What’s Coffee Brewing Method Is the Fastest?

On the opposite end of the spectrum from cold brew, espresso takes the shortest brew time of any coffee preparation method. The average brew time for espresso is around 25 to 30 seconds. Now, espresso does require some complex equipment to create the pressure necessary for the fast brew time. But once your machine is primed and ready to go, espresso brewing is lightning fast.

The speed and science of espresso brewing comes down to a few key factors:

Finely ground coffee: An extremely fine grind, almost powdery in texture, allows for rapid extraction.
High water pressure: Espresso machines use pressure around 9 bars to force the hot water through the grounds quickly.
Hot water temperature: A temperature around 200°F also accelerates the brewing process. Most hot brewing methods use this temperature, but it’s much higher than cold brew.

Given these fast-extracting conditions, the ideal espresso shot time is generally between 25 and 30 seconds. Any less and it risks being underextracted. More than 30 seconds can lead to some unpleasant, bitter flavors.

The time can also vary based on the specific espresso-based drink:

Ristretto: A “restricted” shortened shot of around 15 to 20 seconds. Concentrated and intense.
Espresso: The standard shot of 25 to 30 seconds. Rich, thick crema.
Lungo: A longer shot of up to 45 to 60 seconds. More volume and bitterness.

As you can see, even the longest of these espresso-style drinks clocks in at around a minute to prepare. Impressively fast!

However, espresso aficionados know that the prep work is where the most time is spent. Grinding beans, prepping the puck, tamping shots, and preheating equipment does take 5 to 10 minutes for proper setup. But when it comes to brew time itself, nothing beats the sheer speed of espresso extraction.

A Breakdown of Total Brew Times by Method

So we’ve established the two extremes: cold brew requiring the longest brew time, and espresso delivering the fastest cup. But where do other popular options like the pour over method of brewing, French press, and others fall on the spectrum?

Here’s a quick overview of total brew times for various coffee preparation techniques from longest to shortest:

Cold Brew

Brew time: 12 to 24 hours
Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes
Total time: 12 to 24 hours

Drip Machine

Brew time: 5 to 8 minutes
Prep time: 2 minutes
Total time: 7 to 10 minutes

Pour Over

Brew time: 4 to 5 minutes
Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes
Total time: 9 to 15 minutes

Chemex

Brew time: 4 to 5 minutes
Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes
Total time: 9 to 15 minutes

French Press

Brew time: 4 to 5 minutes
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 9 to 10 minutes

Aeropress

Brew time: 1.5 to 3 minutes
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 6.5 to 8 minutes

Single-Serve Coffee Maker

Brew time: 1 minute
Prep time: <1 minute
Total time: 1 to 2 minutes

Espresso

Brew time: 20 to 30 seconds
Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes
Total time: 5 to 10 minutes

As you can see, most manual brewing methods require you to allow 4 to 5 minutes for the actual brewing, but factoring in prep time brings the total duration to 6 to 15 minutes on average. Using a drip coffee machine shaves off a few minutes overall by automating the brewing process itself. And espresso is in a league of its own, with a total time nearly as fast as the hands-on prep thanks to its rapid extraction.

The Verdict: Cold Brew Takes the Longest Time to Brew

So, which coffee brewing method takes the longest time? Cold brew, by a landslide. Cold brew takes 12 to 24 hours to brew, which means, even with the minimal prep time, it’s the slowest brewing process available. Espresso has the fastest brew time, but prep time makes it take about as long as some other manual brewing methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does cold brew coffee take so long to brew compared to other methods?

Cold brew takes the longest brew time—12 to 24 hours—because it relies solely on cool water rather than heat to extract flavors from the coffee grounds. The cold water extracts compounds from the grounds much more slowly than hot water, slowing down the extraction rate and necessitating a longer steep time for full flavor development. Variables like water temperature, grind size, and coffee-to-water ratio impact the precise time needed. But generally expect cold brew to take 12+ hours of passive steeping to yield its characteristic smooth, mellow flavor.

What factors lead to espresso having the fastest brew time?

Espresso achieves the fastest brew time of any method, a mere 25 to 30 seconds per shot, because of three key factors: extremely fine grind size that accelerates extraction, high water pressure around 9 bars that forces rapid water movement, and brewing temperature around 200 degrees (F) that also speeds up the process. The combination allows espresso machines to deliver a concentrated shot of espresso very quickly through rapid, pressurized extraction.

How much does the total brew time vary across manual methods like pour over and French press?

While the actual brewing time is 4 to 5 minutes for most manual methods, total time varies more widely due to differences in prep time. Pour over takes 9 to 15 minutes total, with 5 to 10 minutes of prep work. The process of brewing French press takes 9 to 10 minutes from start to finish, with only 5 minutes of prep. Faster overall prep for French press leads to a slightly shorter total duration in some cases, but the brew times are comparable across these hands-on methods.