Regular iced coffee can taste weak and insipid. This is the result of pouring hot coffee over ice, where it becomes diluted.
With cold brew coffee, you use cold water instead of hot water for brewing, giving you a more robust and richer flavor.
Using coarsely ground coffee beans, you allow the cold brew coffee to steep for 12 to 24 hours, generating an intense coffee concentrate you can serve over ice or use as the base for longer coffees like macchiato, latte, and cappuccino. While this is not an authentic espresso, you will get coffee that tastes even richer than coffee from a moka pot, something almost in line with Turkish coffee, in fact.
Cold brew coffee is less acidic than drip coffee, while boasting a bigger and bolder profile.
Thanks to the lengthy brewing time and the absence of heat, making cold brew coffee isn’t as involved as making espresso at home, and it’s not as taxing as employing the elaborate pour-over method either.
All you need is some great coffee beans ground just before you brew and the patience to wait 12 hours for cold brew.
To make your life easier, the best cold brew coffee makers streamline the brewing process wonderfully. Focus on these simple pointers to find the right one the easy way:
Bear these simple pointers in mind and you should have no problem establishing whether any of the following cold brew coffee makers is the right fit for your home kitchen.
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The 13 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers
1. Our #1 Pick: Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Features
Our overall favorite from today’s showcase of the best cold brew coffee makers comes from Toddy, so what do you get for your money here?
Well, the simplicity of this cold brew system is the key selling point. You get everything you need bundled to ensure you can have coffee concentrate on demand, and you can enjoy cold coffee without the diluted taste you might associate with regular iced coffee.
Using this cold brew coffee maker couldn’t be easier. You get the felt filters you need thrown in to get going right out the box, and all you need to do is pour some fresh filtered water over the top of your freshly ground coffee.
There are only 4 main parts to this system: the glass carafe, plastic brewer, cloth filter, and rubber stopper.
While the 24oz capacity might initially seem underwhelming, you should yield enough coffee concentrate for a couple of weeks in a single large batch.
The core strength of this system is the felt filter, allowing you to enjoy deep and rich cold brew coffee without any sediment in your cup.
If you fancy ringing the changes from coffee, you could also try brewing some loose leaf tea in this unit.
Easy to use and just as easy to keep clean, this is among the very best cold brew coffee makers out there and well worth popping on your shortlist.
2. OXO Brew Cold Brew Compact Coffee Maker
Features
Next up comes a classic cold brew coffee maker from OXO, a brand with a reputation for producing quality kitchenware at reasonable prices.
As with all the best cold brew coffee makers, you can brew coffee that’s not tainted by acidity, and you can drink it cold without that weak taste that blights iced coffee.
When you pour your water over the rainmaker showerhead, you’ll ensure all the coffee grinds are perfectly saturated for an even extraction every time.
The 24oz capacity of this unit will generate up to 16oz of rich and intense coffee concentrate, perfect for cold brew coffee or for use as the base for longer coffees served hot or cold.
The space-saving dimensions makes the OXO a smooth fit for crowded kitchens. Since you don’t need any electricity, it also makes a superb travel companion on the campsite. The nesting nature of the brewer and carafe helps to further streamline storage.
All you need to do is place the brewer on top of the carafe when you’re all set up and the cold brew coffee will start draining through automatically.
If you’re looking for quick and user-friendly way to make cold brew coffee on a budget, check out this fine example from OXO.
3. County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Features
If you’re interested in making great cold brew coffee at home, you don’t need a complicated machine. Indeed, classic mason jars are ideal for this time-consuming but rewarding method of making rich iced coffee.
This is the larger of the two sizes available with a 64oz capacity. This iteration of the cold brew coffee maker comes with no handle, although you could opt for an alternative with a handle if you feel this would be more convenient.
Making cold brew with this jar couldn’t be easier. Just grind some of your favorite coffee beans. Use a coarse grind for this full-immersion brewing method. Top up the brewer with some filtered or bottled water and refrigerate overnight. The cold coffee produced has none of the bitterness typically associated with iced coffee, and it won’t taste watered down either.
An efficient stainless steel filter keeps the coffee grounds out of your cup. The filter is quite heavy on coffee grounds, so be prepared to use a few more beans than normal when you’re grinding.
You can also use this versatile brewer for making tea and other infusions when you’re not in the mood for cold brew.
Overall build is solid, and we found very few meaningful complaints among a glut of positive user feedback. Is this the best cold brew coffee maker for your needs?
4. County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Features
Next up is another simple but highly effective cold brew coffee maker, this time from County Line Kitchen. What do you get for your money here, then?
Well, this is a mason jar setup, allowing you to benefit from a full-immersion brewing experience and the most delicious cold brew coffee at home.
Using this model couldn’t be easier. Add your freshly ground coffee and some crisp, filtered water. Leave the coffee to brew overnight in the refrigerator and you’ll wake to an intoxicatingly intense coffee concentrate.
This has one of the most generous capacities of all the cold brew coffee makers we review today at 64oz, making this a smart choice for large families or anyone with a serious appetite for iced coffee.
The filtration is highly effective with a very fine mesh filter thrown in. This is washable and reusable, saving you from the ongoing cost and environmental impact of consumables.
The multipurpose nature of this jar means you could also use it to rustle up some tea or infusions if you want a change from cold coffee.
Made from rugged soda lime glass, you get no toxins or contaminants leaching into your drink, and you should find this container gives you years of faithful cold brewing.
5. Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Maker
Features
Takeya’s cold brew coffee maker is a traditional take on this brewing method that gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t.
If you have tried making cold brew before and ended up with silt and sediment in your cup, you should avoid that completely. The filtration keeps all those coffee grinds well away from the result in your cup.
The Tritan plastic build means this cold brew coffee maker can withstand plenty of heat if you choose to whip up some hot coffee during the cooler months.
With no BPA or other known toxins, you can enjoy your cold brew this summer with no niggling safety concerns.
Although almost all user reviews for this cold brew system are positive, we found a handful of gripes about the difficulty of completely saturating all the grounds. Overall, you should be more than satisfied with the extraction delivered, though.
The capacity of this model is 32oz, but you can choose from several other sizes to suit.
This brand has been making great cold brew coffee makers for more than half a century, so place your trust in an industry heavyweight and treat yourself to one of the best cold brew coffee makers up for grabs.
6. Coffee Gator French Press
Features
Simple brewing equipment works well when you’re making cold brew coffee. Did you know a French press makes a wonderful alternative to a traditional mason jar when you’re whipping up batches of cold brew?
Well, this is certainly not the cheapest French press out there, but it’s among the finest. The stainless steel construction comes in a handful of striking finishes.
Although the primary purpose of this French press is for making hot coffee in minutes, you can also take advantage of the pot when you fancy some cold brew coffee.
Double filtration keeps all the sediment out of your cup, while the reusable filter allows the oils you want from your coffee beans to penetrate the end result.
The highly insulated nature of this container keeps your coffee hot or cold for hours on end.
When you’re rustling up cold brew coffee, the hardest part is having the patience for it to brew overnight. It will be worth the wait, though, and if you use the Coffee Gator, you’ll get everything done for you.
For crisp and clean cold brew or freshly roasted hot coffee, the Coffee Gator French press delivers in fine style.
7. Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Features
Hario is best known for their deep bench of pour-over coffee makers, and this cold brew coffee maker continues that winning tradition.
As you would expect from Hario, you get minimalist Japanese design and sleek, clean lines. This coffee maker will look so good on the kitchen counter, you’ll want to leave it out on permanent display.
The 34oz capacity allows you to make up to 4 cups of cold brew in a single batch without taking up too much space on the countertop.
The washable and reusable filter helps to slash running costs and reduces your eco-footprint.
Heatproof glass comes in handy if you decide to make hot drinks in this container, although it comes into its own when making cold brew coffee as intended. You could easily also make tea with loose leaves or your favorite infusion when you fancy a break from coffee.
Unlike some cold brew coffee makers, this model comes equipped with a slimline spout to streamline pouring without cascading cold coffee all over the kitchen surfaces.
Handle this carafe with care as if you end up breaking it, this will not be covered under the minimal warranty, so buyer beware.
If you’re looking for the best cold brew coffee maker in terms of both design and functionality, this Hario carafe is a must.
8. Secura French Press Coffee Maker
Features
As we outline in our FAQs below, you can make cold brew coffee using a French press, and Secura has a reputation for producing some of the best French presses out there, made from rugged stainless steel and making a striking visual statement.
The premium-grade 18/10 stainless steel has a slick mirrored finish, while the handle and knob are designed to stay cool to the touch.
Stainless steel extends to the filter. A triple-layered filtration system serves to keep all the silt and sediment out of your cup, while delivering a first-class extraction every time you cold brew a batch.
The press comes with a spare filter screen bundled, too. If you want to experiment with filtration, you can stack these screens for even more aggressive filtration.
As with all French presses, this carafe will yield great coffee in just 5 minutes if you want to drink it piping hot. For cold brew, follow the instructions we highlight below, and you’ll get a rich coffee concentrate anywhere from 12 to 24 hours later.
The 34oz capacity gives you enough room for 4 to 6 cups of cold brew coffee, ideal for small families.
As a final bonus, all components of this press are dishwasher-safe, saving you from any messy cleanup.
9. Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker by Ovalware
Features
Airtight serves up a top-notch cold brew coffee maker with a classic glass carafe, so how does it shape up?
Well, although this is a glass carafe, it’s extra-thick borosilicate glass, so you shouldn’t suffer from any premature breakage if you handle this thing with care.
The filter is also made from premium materials, a superfine 18/8 stainless steel. Washable and reusable, you should get years of rust-free service from this thing.
As well as cold brew coffee, you could also brew hot and cold loose leaf tea, as well as any infusions that take your fancy.
The airtight seal on the container allows you to keep your coffee concentrate fresh for up to 2 weeks. This means that once you negotiate the first 24-hour waiting period, you should never need to wait for a glass of cold brew again.
For one of the most versatile and cost-effective approaches to making cold brew coffee at home, this offering from Ovalware deserves a place on your shortlist.
Despite the bold claims about customer service in the product listing, we found several complaints from users about poor experiences with the customer care department, so do your due diligence here.
Overall, this is one of the most versatile cold brew coffee makers out there, and it also comes in very keenly priced, so what are you waiting for?
10. Coffee Gator Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Features
Coffee Gator is an artisan brand making some excellent coffee makers ideal for use on the go. This portable approach to making cold brew needs no electricity, giving you the ideal ally when you’re camping or traveling and you don’t want to sacrifice great fresh coffee.
The generous 47oz capacity ensures you have the option of making large batches of cold brew. You can keep this refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, ensuring you always have a supply of coffee concentrate on hand.
Not only can you use the coffee for cold brew, but the espresso-like concentrate also makes a great base for longer coffees like latte and macchiato served cold over ice.
Thanks to the reusable filter, you can cut down on the running costs otherwise associated with making cold brew coffee. Beyond this, you won’t need to remember to stock up on filters either. Wash and reuse, saving your bank balance and the environment at the same time.
All plastic parts on this cold brew coffee maker are BPA-free, so you’ll have no contaminants making their way into the coffee in your cup.
11. Coffee Bear Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Features
Coffee Bear enters the fray next with this classic cold brew coffee maker built to stay the distance.
Glass carafes give you an unbeatable experience when you’re making cold brew, but they are obviously fragile. Coffee Bear uses the hardwearing borosilicate glass for this carafe to maximize durability without compromising the taste of the coffee in your cup.
The mesh filter keeps all the coffee grinds out of your cup and helps you enjoy a consistent and even extraction when you’re cold brewing your favorite coffee beans.
The base of this unit is detachable. This is made from a highly non-slip silicone, so you should get no accidents when you’re preparing your cold brewed coffee. The spout is also intelligently designed, allowing you to pour without spilling coffee all over your kitchen counters. This is an area where much of the opposition fall short.
Several disgruntled consumers flag the container failing to seal as a deal-breaker, so if you want to make large batches of cold brew coffee for later consumption, this might not be the best choice for you.
Not only is this cold brew coffee maker super-simple to use, but you can also take it apart to simplify cleaning, completing a winning package from a brand you can trust.
12. KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Features
As we near the end of our collection of the best cold brew coffee makers, we have another entry from the KitchenAid stable.
This iteration of the brand’s flagship cold brew coffee maker has a spacious 38oz capacity, allowing you to make large batches of cold coffee concentrate to keep you going through the hotter months.
Made from stainless steel and glass, this unit is quite heavy and takes up a reasonable
amount of space, despite being marketed as a compact cold brew coffee maker.
The stainless steel tap front and center lets you dispense coffee concentrate on demand. Slide the whole unit into the fridge and serve as you go. This convenience alone makes this model worth considering.
Just as easy to keep clean as it is to use, there’s no excuse to put up with weak iced coffee any longer when cold brew coffee makers are this cheap and this good.
13. Toddy Cold Brew System
Features
Last but certainly not least in today curated collection of the best cold brew coffee makers is another entry from the inimitable Toddy. How does this carafe shape up, then?
You get a glass carafe that needs handling with care. This is not made from borosilicate glass and a handful of users report premature breakage.
The plastic brewing cone is free of BPA and other known contaminants, so you can make cold brew coffee with a clean conscience.
A pair of filters bundled are washable and reusable, but these are not quite as efficient as some of the stainless steel filters on competing cold brew coffee systems.
The silicone stopper gives you an airtight seal and lets you confidently keep any leftover concentrate refrigerated for up to a fortnight.
As well as making excellent cold brew coffee, you could also use the Toddy to make tea or other infusions to taste.
FAQs
1) How do I make cold brew coffee at home?
Making cold brew coffee couldn’t be easier. First, grind your coffee beans directly before brewing. Use a coarse grind like you would for French press coffee. Add water to the coffee grounds and allow the mixture to steep overnight, for 12 to 24 hours. During this slow extraction, the coffee will slowly infuse into the filtered water, resulting in a concentrated and strong coffee. Strain the mixture the following day and you’re ready to enjoy cold brew coffee without heading to Starbucks.
2) What should I do to get the best possible cold brew coffee?
Use coarsely ground coffee beans just like you would when making French press coffee. Too fine a grind will give you cold brew coffee that is over-infused, with the result in your cup tasting gritty. Use filtered water for the crispest, cleanest taste. Steep your cold brew for a minimum of 12 hours. If you strain the coffee too early, it will be under-extracted. Steeping for more than 15 hours can introduce bitterness to the coffee. Use some coffee ice cubes to further chill your cold brew coffee.
3) What is the right grind size for cold brew coffee?
You should grind your coffee beans coarsely to the same consistency you would for making coffee in a French press. If you grind the coffee beans too fine, this can result in a muddy brew over the course of the lengthy steeping time involved with cold brew coffee. Also, the water will find it tougher to penetrate the grounds during filtration when the grind size is wrong.
4) What are the benefits of cold brew coffee?
The super-slow infusion involved with cold brew coffee means you’ll draw all the flavor and aroma out of the coffee beans. This also helps ensure that cold brew has plenty of caffeine, making it the ideal morning eye-opener. The prolonged extraction time also leaves behind many of the compounds that cause sourness and bitterness in coffee, giving you a richer and smoother finish. By tweaking the ratio of the concentration, you can get your iced coffee just the way you like it. Unlike iced coffee, you won’t find the taste weak and diluted either.
5) How does cold brew concentrate and ready-to-drink cold brew differ?
Cold brew concentrate is usually a far stronger extraction than ready-to-drink cold brew. It has a higher caffeine content, and you’ll need to dilute this drink with water in a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3. With ready-to-drink cold brew coffee, no dilution is needed. This drink will look paler, more like tea in terms of strength and flavor than the espresso-like cold brew concentrate. Ready-to-drink cold brew coffee is more refreshing than the richer concentrate. Some cold brew coffee makers allow you to make both types of coffee, but for those that don’t, all you need to do is experiment with the ratios to enjoy an even stronger and more intense form of cold brew coffee. Which one takes your fancy?
6) How can I make cold brew coffee in a French press?
You can easily use any French press for making cold brew coffee. You will need to experiment until you dial in your preferences, but a good baseline is a 5:1 ratio of water to coffee. Let the ground coffee steep in the carafe for between 12 and 24 hours before plunging down. It is advisable to filter the mixture a second time, using cheesecloth or paper.
Conclusion
We hope today’s guide to choosing the best cold brew coffee makers has given you plenty of inspiration.
The hardest thing about this brewing method is having the patience to wait 24 hours for the results, so keep a stock of cold brew concentrate in the fridge and you can enjoy this rich and intense drink without the waiting time.
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