Mark MorphewAre you tired of spending a fortune on your daily cold brew coffee fix from your local shop? It might be time to invest in a cold brew coffee maker, the perfect solution for those who love to enjoy their CBC fix from the comfort of their own home.
Knowing which cold brew coffee maker to choose can be challenging with so many options available. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. We tested dozens and have rounded up the best cold brew coffee makers currently on the market.
From the classic pitcher style to advanced drip systems and everything in between, these cold brew iced coffee makers cater to everyone’s needs and preferences.
Our Top Pick: Best Value
Have we piqued your interest? Keep reading to discover the perfect addition to your home coffee brewing station.
What Is Cold Brew?
Cold brew coffee (or CBC for short) is a coffee preparation method that involves steeping coarse ground coffee in cold water for an extended period of time, usually around 12-24 hours.
Unlike traditional hot coffee, which is brewed quickly with hot water, cold brew allows the coffee to infuse slowly over a long period. This results in a smooth, less acidic, and less bitter coffee that can be enjoyed over ice or diluted with milk.
To make cold brew coffee, you can use a variety of coffee beans, but we recommend using a medium to dark roast as it can better withstand the long steeping process.
For best results, we advise using coarsely ground coffee for better extraction. Then steep the coffee and cold water at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Leave the coffee steeping for 12 to 24 hours to make a strong batch of cold brew concentrate.
The 8 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers
In this roundup, we have made purchasing the right cold brew coffee maker super easy.
We pulled together our expertise and placed our favorite brewers head to head, along with well-known brands and some of Amazon’s best sellers – we went at it hard and put each unit through its paces.
After weeks of tasting bucket loads of cold brew, we all agreed on which brewers were the best performers, easiest to use, and could churn out some of the tastiest cold brew coffee at home.
KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Dispenser
The KitchenAid cold brewer is our number one recommendation for anyone looking for a no-frill easy-to-use coffee maker for cold brew coffee.
The product is well-designed. We particularly liked this unit’s brushed stainless steel out body, and the durable glass brewing carafe feels weighty and thick.
It can definitely handle a few accidental knocks and bangs. Making batches of cold brew can get messy, and we found the rubber feet on the KitchenAid brewer kept the unit firmly on our testing table.
The capacity of up to 28 ounces of coffee concentrate will be more than rough for most coffee levers, and you can efficiently serve several large-sized cups of coffee from one batch.
One of the standout features of the KitchenAid cold brew coffee maker is the built-in tap, which allows for easy and mess-free dispensing of the coffee concentrate directly from the refrigerator.
The faucet is made of high-quality stainless steel and is very easy to use, ensuring you always get the perfect serving of coffee concentrate without spills or unnecessary mess.
Compared to many other CBC makers that are often strangely shaped and struggle to fit inside a typical fridge, the KitchenAid doesn’t suffer from that problem. Thanks to the cube design, which is the perfect shape and size to fit on a shelf inside most modern refrigerators.
The reusable stainless steel steeper is also a neat feature of this product. It’s easy to fill with ground coffee and can be used with any coffee bean or blend. We love the ability to customize the steeping time to our desired strength of coffee, which for us, usually takes around 12 hours.
Overall, the KitchenAid cold brew coffee maker is a convenient and user-friendly product that we found to consistently deliver delicious and smooth cold brew coffee.
It’s easy to clean and maintain, and the coffee concentrate stays fresh in the refrigerator for several days.
What We Love
- Super easy to use, even for a novice.
- Space-saving design.
- Built-in stainless-steel tap.
- Makes up to 14 servings in one batch.
Take Note
- The coffee dispenser is slow at pouring.
- It can become cumbersome when full.
- Not suited for smaller brew batches.
Toddy Cold Brew System
With the Toddy, it’s go big or go home! This CBC system can easily brew large quantities of delicious cold brew concentrate. You can yield enough for a week’s worth of coffee, and it doesn’t take a genius to operate.
The system consists of a brewing container, a glass decanter, a reusable felt filter, and a rubber stopper.
One of the benefits of the Toddy Cold Brew System it’s simplicity; the setup only requires coffee grounds and water to get started. The reusable cloth filter is durable and easy to clean, and the rubber stopper ensures the container is airtight during brewing.
Another advantage of the Toddy Cold Brew System is the large batch size. The brewing container can hold up to 1 pound of coffee grounds and 9 cups of water, which results in around 7 cups of coffee concentrate. This means you can make a large batch of coffee and have enough to last at least several days.
The resulting coffee concentrate is smooth and less acidic than hot-brewed coffee. We appreciate the convenience of being able to store the concentrate in the refrigerator and dilute it with water or milk to our desired strength.
The Toddy Cold Brew System is an excellent purchase for anyone who enjoys cold brew coffee. It’s easy to use and produces a large batch of smooth and delicious coffee concentrate.
What We Love
- Easy to prepare, brew, and clean.
- Wool coffee filters are reusable and do a great job of reducing sediment.
- Brew BIG batches of strong coffee concentrate with ease. (#1 choice of coffee shops).
Take Note
- The detachable rubber plug at the bottom of the Toddy can leak if not correctly inserted
- Clean-up can be messy if you don’t purchase additional paper filters.
- Not really suitable for making small batches of cold brew.
Ovalware Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
If you’re looking for a coffee brewer on a smaller scale that takes up less space, look no further than the “Ovalware” cold brew maker. With a simple yet effective design, this product takes the guesswork out of making cold brew coffee at home.
One of the standout features of the Ovalware Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker is its compact size. The product is small and easy to store, which makes it perfect for anyone with limited kitchen space. We found that It can easily fit into a corner of the refrigerator rather than taking up a whole shelf, which some other brewers tend to do.
Despite its size, it has a capacity of up to 33 ounces of coffee concentrate, which is perfect for small batches of cold brew coffee.
The product comes with a stainless steel double mesh filter that does an excellent job separating the coffee grounds from the brewing concentrate, although we found some micro coffee grounds still made their way through the filter.
The filter is also easy to use and clean and designed to fit perfectly into the brewing container. The container is made of durable borosilicate glass, which can withstand extreme temperatures – both hot and cold.
The brewing process is simple and only requires coffee grounds and water. The coffee concentrate brewed is smooth and less acidic than hot-brewed coffee and can be diluted to your desired strength with water or milk.
The Ovalware Compact Cold Coffee Brewer is perfect for anyone who enjoys cold brew coffee but has limited kitchen space. It’s easy to use, quick to clean, and produces a high-quality coffee concentrate on par with high-street cafes.
What We Love
- The unit takes up little space on your countertop.
- A glass carafe may reduce the absorption of old stale flavors that you may get from plastic.
- It can be used to make great-tasting ice tea too.
Take Note
- A Mesh metal filter can produce some sediment in final extraction.
- The serving carafe is slightly fragile.
- Unable to make large batches of CBC like Toddy or Filtron brewers.
Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker
With a simple yet effective design, the Takeya Deluxe is designed to make the cold brewing process easy and convenient for anyone.
One of the standout features of the Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker is its durable construction and compact size. The product is made of high-quality BPA-free Tritan plastic that is shatterproof and leak-proof, ensuring that it can withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
The product comes with a fine-mesh filter, and the container is designed to fit into most refrigerator doors, which is perfect for those who like to store their coffee concentrate in the fridge.
One feature that sets the Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brewer apart from others on the market is its airtight lid. This ensures that the coffee concentrate stays fresh for up to two weeks in the refrigerator, allowing you to enjoy cold brew coffee any time without the need to brew a new batch every day.
It also stops accidental spills when opening and closing the fridge door and prevents any fridge odors from tainting your coffee.
The Takeya is a good investment for anyone wanting a quick and easy method to make cold brew coffee. It’s simple to clean and produces a high-quality coffee concentrate that stays fresh for up to two weeks.
We highly recommend this product to anyone who wants to make great cold-brew coffee at home on a budget.
What We Love
- Very easy to use and simple to clean.
- Perfect size for small batches.
- The airtight lid stops spills and odor absorption.
Take Note
- The mesh filter often lets through micro grounds; additional filtration might be needed
Soulhand “X Brewer” (Cold Brew & Cold Drip Coffee)
The Soulhand “X Brewer” is a two-in-one coffee brewer combining cold drip and cold brew immersion into one device.
The brewing process of the cold coffee dripper is straightforward. When set to slow drip, the brewer takes around 3 to 4 hours, which can be shortened or extended depending on your coffee grind size and drip flow rate.
The cold brew component functions in the same way as most full immersion cold brew makers. A stainless steel mesh filter is filled with medium to coarse-ground coffee which is then submerged in cold water.
The filter is placed inside the glass carafe, and your coffee steeps for 12 to 24 hours, depending on your preferred strength. We found that the stainless steel filter effectively filters out any coffee grounds, ensuring the coffee is clean and pure.
The coffee produced by the cold brew component is free from any bitterness or acidity, making it an excellent choice for those who have a sensitive stomach.
The Soulhand “X Brewer” has a simple setup, and the instructions provided are clear and easy to follow. The carafe also has a capacity of 1000ml, which means you can brew a decent amount of coffee in one go and more than enough to share.
In general, the Soulhand “X Brewer” is a high-quality and innovative cold coffee brewing device that will surely please coffee enthusiasts everywhere, especially with its two-in-one functionality.
Want to know more about this grinder, take a look at our in-depth Soulhand “X Brewer” review.
What We Love
- The option to brew Japanese-style cold drip coffee and cold brew.
- The space-saving stackable design takes up a small amount of space.
- Premium feel and quality components.
Take Note
- It can be unstable when loaded with ice and water while using the drip coffee function.
Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Home Keg Kit System
The Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Home Keg Kit System is designed to make nitro cold brew coffee at home, which is a unique and trendy way to enjoy cold brew.
The product is made of durable stainless steel and has a sleek, modern design that looks great on any countertop. The included 64-ounce keg is the perfect size for making a batch of nitro cold brew at home.
The brewing process is straightforward (coffee and water) but requires some preparation in advance. You have complete control over the brewing process from start to finish, and you can tweak the coffee-to-water ratio and the steeping time to your desired strength.
Once the cold brew is ready, transfer it to the keg and add nitrogen cartridges (the same Nitrogen cartridges used in whip cream dispensers).
The Royal Brew Home Keg system is modeled on a traditional beer dispensing system and utilizes the same technology to infuse Nitrogen with cold brew coffee.
The beer-style faucet pulls a glass of Nitro cold brew the same way as those pricey drinks found in popular coffee chains – yes, you will also have a foaming head and dreamy cascading foam.
The resulting nitro cold brew is rich, creamy, and has a velvety mouthfeel that is hard to achieve with other cold brew methods. The keg is also airtight and keeps the coffee fresh for up to two weeks, which is excellent for those who want to enjoy nitro cold brew over time.
The Royal Brew Nitro Cold Brew Home Keg Kit System is a great choice for anyone who really loves nitro cold brew coffee and wants to make it at home. Its high-quality construction and ease of use make it an excellent choice for coffee enthusiasts of all levels.
You’ve all seen Nitro coffee at places like Starbucks that costs an absolute fortune. Well, now you can have that exact same caffeine-infused experience at home at a fraction of the cost.
What We Love
- Produces excellent tasting Nitro coffee at a fraction of the cost.
- It uses readily available cooking Nitrogen cartridges.
- 100% American-owned excellent customer support and aftersales.
- It can be used to infuse tea or almost anything!
Take Note
- A small learning curve but can be easily mastered.
- Maybe a bit bulky for small fridges but should fit in a large fridge door.
- Some buyers have reported that the gas connecting pipe can leak.
OXO Good Grips Brewer
The OXO Good Grips Brewer has incorporated some interesting features to aid the cold coffee brewing process.
One of the features that stands out to us is the intelligent perforated Rainmaker coffee extraction lid that ensures that all of your coffee grounds are evenly and completely saturated with water.
This simple design in the lid helps reduce bitterness and over-extraction in your iced brewed coffee.
With the OXO Good Grips cold brewer, you can manage the entire cold brewing process with a flick of a manual switch. This gives you complete control over the brewing process and the ability to adjust the coffee-to-water ratio to your desired strength.
We especially like the ultra-fine reusable mesh filter that’s super easy to clean once you’re done with your brewing.
The resulting OXO good grips cold brew is smooth, rich, and has a deep flavor profile and a coffee taste that is free of bitterness and acidity. The glass carafe is also a nice touch, as it allows you to see the coffee as it brews and provides an elegant presentation when serving.
And the compact, slim design allows the OXO Good Grips brewer to be tucked in any corner of your kitchen, taking up a tiny amount of space.
Cleaning the OXO Good Grips is also a breeze, as all components are dishwasher-safe and easy to disassemble.
With all that said, you get a lot for your money with this cold coffee brewer; it’s built to last and can be set up with very little knowledge – even for a complete novice!
What We Love
- Extraction rainmaker lid ensures that your coffee grounds are thoroughly and evenly saturated.
- The small compact size allows you to brew enough iced coffee for just one person.
- Its tall slim design allows it fit to be tucked away on your countertop.
Take Note
- At almost 14 inches tall, it’s one of the tallest on the list when completely assembled.
- This brew is constructed almost entirely of plastic, which does tend to retain old flavors.
- Can only make small batches of cold brew coffee.
Gourmia Automatic Cold Brew Machine
Coffee drinkers praise cold brew for its sweetness, depth of flavor, and lack of acidity. However, one of its most significant drawbacks is its lengthy brew time.
Regular cold brew coffee can take up to 24 hours to finish a batch, but the Gourmia can produce cold brew at home with the same great-tasting results in under 5 minutes! The Gourmia Automatic Cold Brew Coffee Machine utilizes modern technology to bring cold brew coffee into the 21st century.
The Gourmia will softly push the water evenly over the coffee grounds for a period of 10 to 40 minutes. This is followed by an optional cooling cycle of around 6 minutes. What’s neat is you can play around with the steeping time depending on how strong you want your cold brew.
We prefer our cold brew to be slightly stronger, so we set the machine to run a brew cycle for 30 minutes. For us, this was the sweet spot for a deliciously rich and flavorful cold brew.
The Gourmia also takes the guesswork out of the cold brew strength by offering four simple brewing modes. Effortlessly choose between Light, medium, bold, or concentrate via the digital display.
The Automatic Cold Brewer by Gourmia is nifty. The cold brew coffee we made at both the 20-minute and 40-minute settings was just as delicious as regular cold brew, which can take up to 24 hours to produce.
For those that love cold brew coffee but don’t like to wait a day, the Gourmia automatic digital cold brew coffee maker might be the brewer you’ve been looking for.
What We Love
- Produces icy-cold coffee without being diluted by melting ice.
- Simple control allows you to choose your cold brew strength.
- Super-fast brewing cycles at under 5 minutes.
- Very easy to clean by removing a valve at the base.
Take Note
- You need to add the optimum amount of coffee to achieve the best results.
- Multiple brew cycles are sometimes required for a potent coffee concentrate.
- It might require some trial and error to figure it out and nail in your ratios.
How We Tested Each Cold Brew Coffee Maker
We literally tried and tested dozens of different cold brew coffee makers over 4 weeks. From some of Amazon’s best sellers and well-known brands in the space, we put each brewer through its paces.
We followed a strict testing procedure to ensure an accurate assessment of each cold brew coffee maker.
First, we assessed the specs and design of each model, taking note of features such as capacity, material quality, and filtration system. We also consulted the manufacturer’s manuals to clearly understand each machine’s setup.
Next, we evaluated ease of use, focusing on how simple it was to assemble, fill, and clean each coffee maker.
We then tested the strength of each cup of cold brew, noting the dose-to-water ratio and how long each model took to steep.
Finally, we tasted each cold brew to evaluate both flavor and bitterness levels.
We use a refractometer to measure the amount of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in each sample.
Using this testing protocol allowed us to objectively compare each cold brew coffee maker, find the best, and make informed recommendations.
What To Look For When Choosing A Cold Brew Coffee Maker
But with so many cold brew coffee makers on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
When buying a cold coffee brewer, there are a few key factors to consider to ensure that you get a product that suits your needs and preferences:
Size And Capacity
Consider the size and capacity of the cold brew coffee maker you want to purchase. If you have limited kitchen space, opt for a smaller compact cold brew coffee maker.
Similarly, if you drink a lot of cold coffee concentrate or want to make larger batches, you may want to choose a larger capacity model.
At the end of the day, only you can answer this.
Material Quality
The quality of the material used in the construction of the cold brew coffee maker is essential. The carafe or container should be made of high-quality glass (borosilicate or similar), durable BPA-free plastic, or stainless steel.
The filter and other components should also be durable and long-lasting. A cold brew coffee maker goes through a lot of wear and tear and needs to handle repeated use and the occasional knock or bang.
Filtration System
A good filtration system is vital for a great cup of cold-brew coffee. Choose a cold brew coffee maker with a fine mesh filter or a reusable cloth filter.
These filters help to ensure that the coffee grounds do not make it into your cup and provide a smooth and clean taste. Even with a metal filtration system, you may notice small tiny coffee grounds passing through.
If this happens, try filtering your coffee twice, once through your machine’s built-in filter and once through a regular paper filter, to remove any unwanted sludge or tiny coffee particles.
Ease Of Use
Choose a cold brew coffee maker that is easy to use and clean. A model with simple instructions and components that are dishwasher-safe is ideal.
Also, keep in mind that models with an automatic brewing feature can also save a significant amount of time and effort.
Price And Warranty
Cold brew makers come in various price ranges. Choose one that is within your budget and has the desired features. Look for models with a good warranty, as it guarantees that the manufacturer stands behind the quality of their product.
This is especially important if you decide to invest in an expensive cold-brew coffee maker.
Design And Aesthetics
Aesthetics and design may be optional for some, but it’s worth considering. A model with a sleek design can be an excellent addition to your kitchen, especially if you have limited storage space.
You Might Also Like
FAQs
When he's not fiddling around with a new coffee gadget, you'll find him busy doing DIY projects around the home and taking his German Shepherd for a walk, who funnily enough is called Kona!
- What Is The RDT Coffee Technique? And Who Is Ross? - June 6, 2023
- What Is A Puck Screen? Should You Use One? - May 29, 2023
- KINGrinder K6 Review - May 23, 2023
Since the creation of the Bean Ground coffee blog in 2014, Mark and a small circle of coffee hobbyists have rigorously tested, reviewed, and researched coffee gear. In most cases, they have purchased the items themselves with the sole intention of rating and evaluating.
In that time, they have built up a list of quality points to look for and what makes specific equipment better than others. They cut through the noise and marketing hype that often surrounds products to give you their unbiased opinions so you can make clear decisions on your next purchase.
