Toddy Cold Brew System - Commercial Model with Lift

The Toddy Commercial Cold Brew System is designed for high-volume brewing — up to 2.5 gallons of concentrate per batch. Before first use, wash all components with warm water. Do not use soap on cloth filter components; rinse only.

The commercial model uses two-stage filtering: paper filter bags contain the grounds and are dropped into the outer cloth strainer. After steeping, the lift plate under the grounds allows efficient extraction without pressing or squeezing — it lifts the saturated grounds slightly to allow concentrate to drain through gravity alone, improving both efficiency and clarity.

Assembly: Set up the brewing container on a stable surface. Insert the cloth strainer into the container. Load your paper filter bag with coarsely ground coffee (see ratios below). Lower the loaded filter bag into the cloth strainer. Pour cold water over the grounds and steep.

Commercial Batch Recipe

For a 2.5-gallon batch: use approximately 2.5 lbs (1.13kg) of coarsely ground coffee and cold water to fill to capacity. Steep 12–24 hours refrigerated or at cold room temperature. Adjust coffee dose based on desired concentrate strength — commercial operations typically serve cold brew diluted 1:3 to 1:5 with water or milk.

Lift Plate Advantage

The lift plate eliminates the need to press or squeeze the grounds after steeping — which is the biggest source of cloudiness and bitterness in cold brew. After steeping is complete, engage the lift plate mechanism to raise the grounds slightly, allowing the concentrate to drain freely through gravity. This produces a cleaner, clearer concentrate with less sediment and without the bitterness caused by forced extraction.

Two-Stage Filtering

Paper filter bags contain the grounds for easy removal and disposal. The outer cloth strainer provides an additional layer of filtration as concentrate drains into the decanter. Together, these stages produce an exceptionally clear concentrate suitable for premium cold brew service.

Concentrate Storage and Service

Store concentrate in the glass decanter, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks. For service, dilute 1:3 to 1:5 depending on desired strength and application. Label concentrate containers with the batch date.

After Each Batch

Remove the paper filter bag with spent grounds and discard. Remove the cloth strainer and rinse immediately with warm water only — no soap. Allow to dry completely. Wash the brewing container, lift plate, and glass decanter with warm soapy water. The brewing container components are dishwasher safe.

Cloth Strainer

Rinse with warm water only after each use. Do not use soap or detergents on the cloth — residue affects flavor. Air dry completely before storage. Replace when the cloth becomes heavily discolored, develops off-flavors, or when drainage time increases significantly.

Paper Filter Bags

Paper filter bags are single-use and disposable. Replacement bags are available at seattlecoffeegear.com.

Slow Drainage

Grind is too fine. Use a coarser grind for the next batch. The paper filter bags combined with the cloth strainer are highly effective but require coarse grinding to maintain flow rate.

Cloudy Concentrate

Ensure the paper filter bag is properly seated in the cloth strainer before steeping. Do not disturb the grounds during steeping. Use the lift plate — do not squeeze or press the grounds.

Weak Concentrate

Increase coffee dose or steep duration. Commercial cold brew is typically brewed strong and diluted at service.