Life
7 Cold Brew Makers That'll Have You Ditching Your Daily Coffee Run
True story: my husband came home one day with one of the best cold brew coffee makers on the market — a contraption that could be best be described as another piece of furniture. I laughed at him as he read the instruction booklet and took the necessary steps to make his special coffee. I stuck to my regular brew from my plain Jane coffee maker. And then one day I gave in and tried making cold brew coffee from his new machine.
And that was the day I had to accept defeat.
Cold brew coffee simply is different — it tastes different (cough, better) and is brewed in an entirely unique way. Instead of pouring traditional coffee over ice and calling it a day, making cold brew coffee involves steeping coarse-ground coffee in room temperature water for long periods of time (my husband keeps it steeping all night). The grounds are then filtered out and you're left with an intense coffee concentrate that lacks that acidic taste you may be familiar with if you're used to heated coffee in standard coffee makers.
If you're curious about cold brew coffee makers, don't let my personal story of scoring a huge monster of a coffee maker scare you off — these are becoming so popular that you can find it in a variety of sizes and different price points. And if you're devoted to hot coffee and can't fathom starting your day with an iced coffee, no worries: cold brew coffee heats up beautifully in the microwave.
So whether you’re in the market for a chic glass cold brew coffee maker, or a durable stainless steel model, these seven cold brew coffee makers are some of the best out there — and they have the glowing reviews to prove it.
1A Compact Cold Brew Maker That Whips Up 56 Ounces Of Coffee Concentrate
Toddy T2N Cold Brew System, $35, Amazon
This glass cold brew coffee maker — which can be used to brew coffee or tea — comes with reusable filters and a glass decanter and is compact enough to sit on your kitchen counter without taking up loads of space. It comes with directions for making seven cups of super-concentrated brew that can later be mixed with two to three parts water or milk — which means you're getting 14 to 21 cups of actual coffee.
For great coffee that can be stored in the fridge for up to three weeks, one reviewer recommends brewing the first batch for 24 hours and then putting in the same amount of water and letting it brew again for 48 hours. Once you taste the difference you'll understand why it's well worth the wait.
2A Stainless Steel Coffee Maker With A Spout That Makes It Easier To Pour & Go
KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $100, Amazon
The great thing about this stainless steel cold brew coffee maker is that, after you brew your coffee, you can pop it into the fridge and the convenient spout lets you pour a cup in seconds — no need to fuss with an additional pitcher. This makes up to 14 servings and 28 ounces of coffee concentrate that stay fresh in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Reviewers say the brewing process with this machine is simple: fill the filter with coffee grounds, let it brew in cold water in the fridge or on your counter for anywhere between 12 to 24 hours, remove the filter and prepare your cup of coffee.
3A Durable 2-Quart Mason Jar Coffee Maker That Simplifies The Process
County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $25, Amazon
Not only is this 2-quart mason jar cold brew coffee maker super cute, it's also practical: All you have to do is add coffee and cold water into the filter in the jar, let it steep for 24 to 48 hours, remove the filter and prep your coffee however you like it. The plastic and BPA-free bell mason jar can withstand rough handling and was built to last, and the stainless steel filter, silicone seal, and cap top are designed to improve the filtering process.
One reviewer writes: “I like my coffee strong, but I do not like the bitterness of strong coffee. The coffee made with this cold brewing has no bitterness, even though it is strong.”
4A Coffee Maker & Pitcher With An Airtight Seal That Keeps Coffee Fresh For Two Weeks
Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, $19, Amazon
This coffee maker yields one quart of coffee and doubles as a convenient pitcher that can be stored in most refrigerator doors. It boasts a great airtight, leakproof lid that ensures your coffee will be kept fresh for up to two weeks and its quality design has helped make it one of the most popular cold brew coffee makers on Amazon. This model is BPA-free and dishwasher safe, too, meaning it’s really easy to clean and reuse if you like making cold brew coffee multiple times in a week.
5A Bestselling Single Cup Cold Brew Maker That's Dishwasher Safe
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, $11, Amazon
If you're searching for a single-cup cold brew coffee maker that makes incredible tasting coffee but won't leave a wicked mess behind, this one is a top-notch bestseller with rave reviews. The dishwasher-safe glass maker/pitcher has a reusable filter, a spout for simple coffee preparation, and it yields 2.5 cups of coffee. But, because of its size, this small cold brew coffee maker is definitely meant for more individual use.
One reviewer explains the magic simplicity of this coffee maker: “Before you go to bed, you toss 3 scoops of ground coffee into your cold brew coffee filter. You put the filter into the pitcher, top the pitcher off with water, stick it in the fridge, and go to bed."
6A Countertop Coffee Maker With A Glass Carafe & Rainmaker For Better Tasting Coffee
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $50, Amazon
You can make up to 4 cups of cold brew coffee with this small cold brew coffee maker. It has a distinctive borosilicate glass carafe with measurement markers and a perforated rainmaker that evenly distributes water over coffee grounds for the best-tasting brew imaginable. The ultra-fine reusable stainless steel filter is simple to clean and this small, attractive machine sits nicely on most countertops. Reviewers appreciate how this model has a valve instead of a cork for draining coffee and say OXO's customer service department is amazing if you should run into an issue with your coffee maker.
7A Carafe-Style Cold Brew Maker That Prepares A Week's Worth Of Coffee In Two Minutes
Zenzenze Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker And Tea Infuser, $25, Amazon
The beauty of this cold brew maker lies in the simplicity of its carafe. Pour water into it, fill the stainless steel filter with coarse coffee, and leave it in the fridge to steep overnight. And as opposed to other small cold brew coffee makers on this list, in less than two minutes, you can prepare 8 cups of coffee (enough for one week, according to one reviewer). One reviewer says she loves this cold brew maker and has found a variety of ways to use it: “It's great for cold brew but can do so much more. Iced tea, infused water, whatever your imagination can come up with."
The components are dishwasher-safe, and for anyone who dislikes using plastic, this carafe is made from BPA-free glass, making it one of the safest glass cold brew coffee makers money can buy.
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