It’s summer and we’re hankering for a nice and smooth cold beverage. The answer to that desire has to be a cup (or better, mug) of cold brew coffee. Coffee makers for cold brew generally aren’t expensive or complicated. The brew itself though can take some time before it’s ready for us to gulp it down. Starting the buying guide, here are our top choices for the best cold brew coffee makers, and yes, they will go wonderfully to make the best coffee for cold brew.
Quick Tips For Getting The Best Cold Brew Maker
Style Of Your Cold Brew Coffee
There are two conventional ways of making cold brew coffee, and they obviously affect how your cold brew coffee maker works.
- Immersion Method
- Slow Drip Process
The names are fairly descriptive . For Immersion Method, whole coffee beans or a coarse grind are placed in water for a few hours and then filtered. In the Slow Drip Process, iced water droplets are poured on coffee grinds, and the dripping coffee is filtered. There are a few specialty methods as well, though those listed above are the most commonly used by cold brew makers.
A cold brew is different from traditional iced coffee. Temperatures are lower, and so it takes a longer time for extraction.
If you want your iced coffee coming from a traditional coffee maker, here are recipes to make iced coffee with Keurig.
Capacity And Miscellaneous Concerns For Best Iced Coffee Maker
A good cold brew cannot be prepared in a jiffy. So, it is important to consider the amount you want. Is it just a cup for you, or would you prefer to have your cold brew coffee makers to service an office or a family? The right cold brew maker can serve up from a few ounces to several quarts, good enough for a commercial setting.
Time is an important consideration as well. Some immersion method recipes can easily take 24 hours. Be prepared to have more time available; unlike hot brewing where hot water completes extraction quickly, cold brew can take hours. As a plus, cold brew is often smoother and avoids the bitter taste some hot brewed coffees get.
Cold brew coffee is usually low in acidity. This is an awesome feature, but the change really depends on your cold brew maker. Some will just drop acidity by a few points, others might give it a significantly larger drop.
Cold Brew Coffee Maker Reviews — The Top Picks
Comparison Chart
Yama Glass Cold Brew Maker I Ice Coffee Machine I Slow Drip Technology I Makes 6-8 cups (32oz), Large Capacity Coldbrew Tower, Brown
Coffee Gator Cold Brew Maker – 47 oz. Ice Coffee or Iced Tea Makers – BPA-Free Kit with Glass Pitcher, Filter, Loading Funnel & Measuring Scoop – Reusable Glass Carafe For Hot & Cold – Black
County Line Kitchen Durable Cold Brew Mason Jar Coffee Maker. Glass Jar, Stainless Steel Filter and Lid – 2 Quart, 64 oz
Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker – 32 oz – Premium Quality Glass – Perfect For Homemade Cold Brew and Iced Coffee – Includes Unique Non-Slip Silicone Base
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot
Hario is best-known for its amazing pour over coffee makers. They’re no slouches for cold brew coffee makers either. Hario Mizudashi Cold Brewing system is a strikingly simple to use cold brew maker that will win your heart.
For cold brewing with the Hario Mizudashi, simply place the beans in the filter, and then fill up the pitcher with water. Keep it in the refrigerator overnight, and in the morning, you’ll have a nice pitcher full of cold brew that’s sufficient for 4-5 cups.
Hario Mizudashi employs a reusable filter and is completely dishwasher safe. The lack of any controls means you won’t be able to finetune the coffee to your taste. But that’s a small price to pay for amazing simple cold brew.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very simple brewing system | No customization or controls |
| Easy to clean | |
| Great value |
YAMA Glass Brown Frame Cold Brew Drip Coffee Maker YAMCDM8CBR
YAMA Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a wonder to behold aesthetically as well as for its culinary finesse. It is a high-end system and that makes it high on price, but the cold brew it makes is a treat to behold. It is one of the best cold brew coffee makers. And I still can’t get over how awesome it looks!
Thankfully, this coffee maker matches its good looks with a great cold brew. It’s a four-tier drip system that takes about 3-4 hours to make 6-8 cups of great tasting cold brew. In the realm of cold brew makers, Yama is fast!
Start with ice cold water, and let it slowly drip through valves and filters until it hits the bottom carafe. You’d probably feel like you’re performing a science experiment. The bottom decanter has a lid and can be used to store the prepared cold brew for up to two weeks
You can use the valves to control the flow, and thus, the taste of your cold brew iced coffee. All glass equipment is made from borosilicate glass, and matches well with the wooden stand.
| Pros | Cons |
| Amazing looks | Heavy (weighs more than 10 pounds) |
| Delicious cold brew with greater user control | Needs a lot of counter space |
| Fast-working cold brew maker | Expensive |
Coffee Gator Cold Brew Kit
Coffee Gator excels in simplicity. This relatively tiny kit will make cold brew astoundingly simple for you. The compact kit includes a reusable filter, loading funnel, measuring scoop, and a carafe.
Placed inside your refrigerator, the cold brew coffee maker will take about 12-48 hours, creating a strong brew. The time required can be a bit tiring, and perhaps you could get your coffee after letting it brew overnight. However, your coffee concentrate will be much better once you let it take its time.
Coffee Gator claims that its brew will stay good for 2-3 weeks, and is 67% less acidic than normal. Those are impressive numbers, and one of the reasons this cold brew kit is so highly regarded. Those with acid reflux problems and a love for coffee could find these qualities useful.
The kit has been created to be a mess-free design. Its lid is leak-proof, the carafe is borosilicate glass, and the filter is reusable.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to clean | Takes a lot of time to brew |
| Makes great cold brew | |
| Simple design |
Cold Brew Coffee Maker Mason Jar
Mason jars are back in style, and they’ve proven themselves respectable cold brew iced coffee makers. This one comes with a stainless steel filter and a stainless steel lid. There are other options available as well, like those with flip cap lids to make storing and serving the cold brew concentrate easier. The large container certainly works well for commercial establishments.
The drill is simple. Place the beans or coffee grounds in the filter, pour in water, and let it steep overnight. I find the idea of using a mason jar as a glass carafe amusing, but hey, it works! Remove the filter, and you’ve got two quarts of amazing cold brew to serve. Once the brew is ready, you can keep a batch in the fridge, and serve as required.
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple to use | Risk of leaks or pouring mishaps |
| Easy for coffee concentrate storage | No customization or controls |
| Flexible quantity for brewing |
Takeya 10310 Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
Takeya is a cold brew coffee maker that lives on simplicity. It’s quite similar to the Coffee Gator Cold Brew Kit we saw above. After pouring the coffee grounds and cold water, just stash it in the refrigerator. You’ll have the cold brew ready overnight, or if you prefer, give it another day.
One of the best cold brew coffee makers, the Takeya features a reusable fine-mesh filter, BPA-free carafe, and an airtight and leak-proof lid. It can also be used as a fruit infuser, so extra points for versatility!
| Pros | Cons |
| Very simple to use | No control on brewing |
| Versatile, can also be used as fruit infuser | Can be time-consuming |
| Good construction |
Toddy Cold Brew System
Toddy Cold Brew System brings simplicity to cold brew coffee. It has the added benefit of versatility and you can switch to using hot water for brewing pour over coffee. Or brew it your preferred way, and then microwave or ice it depending on what your taste buds demand. By virtue of the general process, you also get greater control over the brew temperature and strength. The versatility is a reason Toddy is incredibly well received and is considered among the best cold brew coffee makers.
The manufacturer claims that their patented cold brew system on the Toddy makes the brew 67% less acidic as compared to regular hot brewed coffee. It’s difficult to vouch for percentages, but if it’s even close to true, it’s good news for the tummy!
| Pros | Cons |
| Very simple to use | Could use a better look |
| Can be used for hot or cold brew coffees |
KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker
I am generally a supporter of the way KitchenAid designs its coffee makers. That stays true for the KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker KCM4212SX as well. Clean curves on the glass matched with a brushed stainless steel exterior give this cold brew coffee maker an excellent look.
This coffee maker is comfortable with its looks. I like that the coffee filter/steeper has a larger area and sits conveniently in the coffee maker. It is comfortable in its own form, rather than following the french press style looks so common with cold brew coffee makers. The overall design is sturdy and durable.
The process stays fairly simple. You just add the cold brew coffee and water and let it steep. Keep it in your fridge, and when you want a cup, make use of the steel tap dispenser.
KitchenAid has put user-convenience first with its cold brew coffee maker. It is designed to be easy to carry, and it is convenient to tap the container for a drink. The coffee maker is available in the size options of 28 oz and 38 oz, and can keep your cold brew fresh for two weeks.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great looks | Tap dispenser has a small risk of dripping |
| High-quality construction and design | |
| Simple to use |
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker takes a more nuanced approach to cold brew. What sets the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker apart is its use of the “rainmaker”. That’s a perforated stainless steel lid placed on top of the coffee maker. Its job is to evenly distribute water over coffee grounds for greater flavor extraction.
Moving on, the brew meets a metal mesh filter (or paper filter, if you prefer), and drains into a glass carafe. Not as dramatic a visual experience as the Yama Cold Brew Maker, but the results are delicious nonetheless.
The glass carafe/decanter is marked so you brew the right volume of coffee. When ready, you can simply place a lid on the decanter and store it in the fridge. The ease of use and flavor extraction make this one of the best cold brew coffee makers.
| Pros | Cons |
| Good flavor extraction | Somewhat complicated setup |
| Works with either paper or steel filters | Needs a long time to brew |
| Convenient for use |
Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker works on the same, simple principle. Add coarse ground coffee to the filter, and top it up with cold water. It takes about 12-24 hours for the brewing to complete, but it’s worth the wait. Once ready, remove the filter (and coffee grounds) and seal the carafe with the included silicone cap.
The pitcher is made from premium glass, and the base is covered in non-slip silicone. The construction is of good quality and doesn’t leave much to be desired. Yet, I find myself wondering how long the glass holder on the decanter will last. No specific reason to doubt it, I’m just unreasonably uncomfortable with the design.
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple to use | No control over the brewing process |
| Easy markings for cold brew volume | Silicone base is flimsy and keeps coming off |
| Low acidity |
Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer
Filtron is a popular cold brew concentrate brewer that can also be used for hot coffee. It is one of the most versatile coffee brewers available. Apart from cold brew, it can as easily be used for making milk drinks like lattes (with additional equipment, of course).
An old workhorse, the Filtron has been around for a long time, and is a favorite for making coffee concentrate. At 2.5 pounds, this can be deceptively heavier than the competition and that, in part, is because of the included accessories. The Filtron cold water coffee concentrate brewer comes with a coffee bowl, water bowl, filter pad, rubber stopper, grounds guard, measuring cup, 1.5-liter decanter. This brewer makes use of paper filters for brewing.
| Pros | Cons |
| Versatile, tried and tested system | Can be more complicated than most cold brew coffee makers |
| Significantly lower acidity | |
| Good value for money |
Parting Words — Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker
The market is full of options and it is only natural for one to wonder what is the best cold brew coffee maker? Getting the right answer is dependent on knowing your specific requirements before you browse Amazon or look at the shelves of a Walmart. The top picks on this list should serve as a buying guide to make your job easier. If a simple and convenient coffee maker is what you want, we’ll recommend the Hario Mizudashi and KitchenAid KCM4212SX. For those who prefer more control, the OXO brew or Yama drip coffee maker will work fabulously.
