How to Make Cold Brew with Oatly: A Dairy-Free Recipe
By Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Craft Coffee Beans Online & In | Published: 2026-09-01
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to make smooth, dairy-free cold brew with Oatly oat milk. Step-by-step recipe, tips, and the best Stumptown coffee blends to use.
Quick answer
To make cold brew with Oatly, steep coarsely ground coffee in cold water for 12-18 hours, then dilute with water and stir in Oatly oat milk. Use a smooth, chocolate-forward blend like Holler Mountain or French Roast for the best dairy-free flavor.
Cold brew is naturally smooth and low in acidity, making it a great base for dairy-free milk like Oatly. Oat milk adds a creamy texture and subtle sweetness that pairs well with coffee's natural chocolate and nutty notes.
This recipe walks you through making a concentrate, diluting it to your taste, and mixing it with Oatly. We'll also share which Stumptown blends work best and a common mistake to avoid along the way.
How to brew the coffee base
Start with cold water and coarse-ground coffee. Use a ratio of 1 part coffee to 4 parts water by weight for a concentrate, or 1:8 for a ready-to-drink strength. Stir well to ensure all grounds are saturated.
Steep in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. After steeping, strain through a fine mesh sieve or a coffee filter. The result is a smooth concentrate that you can store in a sealed jar for up to two weeks.
- Use coarse grounds to avoid over-extraction and bitterness.
- Steep longer for a stronger concentrate, but stop before 18 hours to avoid harsh notes.
Choosing the right coffee
Dark and medium roasts with chocolate or nutty notes stand up well to creamy oat milk. Stumptown's French Roast is smoky and full-bodied, while Founder's Blend is chocolate-forward with notes of vanilla and cocoa. Both make excellent cold brew bases.
Holler Mountain, a versatile organic blend, offers enough complexity for espresso yet works beautifully in cold brew. Experiment to find your favorite, but any coffee with low acidity will shine in this recipe.
Step-by-step: Cold brew with Oatly
- Grind your coffee: Grind 1 cup of whole-bean coffee (like Holler Mountain) to a coarse consistency, similar to breadcrumbs. Avoid fine grinds which can make the brew muddy and bitter. Checkpoint: if the grounds look powdery, grind coarser.
- Combine with water: In a large jar, mix the grounds with 4 cups of cold, filtered water. Stir to ensure all grounds are wet. Use a ratio of 1:4 for a concentrate. Common mistake: using hot water or stirring too vigorously can over-extract and produce bitterness.
- Steep overnight: Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 18 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the concentrate. Do not steep beyond 18 hours to avoid harsh flavors. Checkpoint: taste after 12 hours; if it’s strong enough, strain.
- Strain the coffee: Pour through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter or a clean cloth. Press gently to extract liquid without squeezing grounds. Common mistake: squeezing grounds releases bitter compounds—let them drain naturally.
- Mix with Oatly: Fill a glass with ice, add equal parts cold brew concentrate and Oatly oat milk. Stir gently. Adjust to your taste—more Oatly for a creamier drink, more water for a lighter cup. Verdict: this step turns your cold brew into a creamy, dairy-free treat.
Stumptown products that make this recipe better
- Holler Mountain: Our Holler Mountain organic coffee blend has been a hometown favorite since day one. Whole bean, so you set the grind. It's got the complexity to pull a great espresso, yet the versatility to serve as your daily cup of drip. Since you control the grind, you can make it coarse for cold brew. Its balanced profile turns creamy and smooth when mixed with Oatly.
- French Roast: This toasty, organic French Roast coffee blend redefines what a classic dark roast can be. It’s big and smoky, but never burnt - a favorite for those who appreciate a rich, full-bodied cup. Dark roasts yield a bold cold brew that stands up to the creamy texture of oat milk without tasting watery. Perfect for those who like a strong, dairy-free latte.
Making cold brew with Oatly is a simple, dairy-free way to enjoy a smooth, low-acidity coffee drink at home. With a good coffee blend and a little patience, you'll have a refreshing beverage that's perfect for any time of day.
