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One of the most popular options at your local coffee shop is cold brew coffee. Over the last few years, cold brew has become incredibly popular. Every coffee shop carries a version, you can buy cold brew in the grocery store, and cold brew coffee makers have now hit the shelves.
While you may be questioning the need for another appliance, if you are a fan of cold brew coffee, it really does make sense to invest in a cold brew coffee maker. There really is a difference between coffee that is brewed cold, and hot coffee that you have put in the refrigerator. The best cold brew coffee makers will create a delicious beverage that is much better than the alternative.
We have taken on the task of testing cold-brew coffee makers. We’ve tried a lot of the most popular options, made a lot of coffee, and drank a lot of coffee. In the end, we found our picks for the best cold brew coffee makers.
We also learned tons about cold brew coffee. In this article, we will share what we learned about cold brew coffee, cold brew coffee makers, and the best products on the market.
at a glance: Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker
How to Choose the Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker
To start our discussion about cold brew coffee makers, we want to share some things about selecting the best cold brew coffee maker. There are lots of options out there, and they are all different in one way or another. To help you narrow the field, we’ve put together a list of helpful considerations.
Types of Cold Brew Coffee Makers
Typically, cold brew coffee is made one of three ways, and cold brew coffee makers match these brewing methods. The three typical methods of brewing cold brew are automatic, immersion, or slow drip.
Immersion
Immersion brewing is a very simple way of brewing cold brew, and for that reason is also the most popular method. Immersion brewing is a slow brewing method where you soak coffee grounds in cold water for a number of hours. As the grounds sit in the water, the flavors from the grounds are imparted to the water. This is all it takes.
Immersion brewing does tend to create a pretty strong cold-brew coffee. Many people like to dilute their immersion cold brew with more water, milk, or cream. If you don’t want to deal with diluting your cold brew, you can always use more water in the immersion process, or steep the grounds for less time. The downfall to steeping for less time is the resulting coffee can be a bit bitter.
Slow Drip
Slow drip is the second most popular way of making cold brew. We think this style of brewing is most similar to pour-over. The process here involves slowly pouring cold water through the coffee grounds. The water drips into a carafe and you get a more mild version of cold brew. The biggest advantage to slow drip cold brew is that it makes a low-acidity coffee.
While the name of this brewing method is “slow” drip, it is actually a faster brewing method than immersion. The one thing that you do need to keep in mind when considering a slow-drip coffee maker is its size. These tools are pretty tall. If you have a smaller cabinet or not a lot of space in your kitchen, these will be a bit of a challenge to store and you may want to look for a smaller coffee maker.
Automatic
If you don’t want to think that hard about making your cold brew, or you just don’t have time to sit and wait for the slow drip to work, an automatic cold brew machine is a great solution. Some cold brew coffee machines can make a pot of cold brew in less than 10 minutes, which is just as fast as your normal, hot drip coffee machine. This is a great solution if you want a fresh pot of cold brew in the mornings.
Automatic cold-brew coffee makers also give you more versatility when it comes to coffee strength. The downside of automatic cold-brew coffee machines is that they are pretty expensive. Since they are new to the market, you can expect the prices to be more than a regular coffee maker, for the time being.
Infuser or Filter
One of the features of a cold brew coffee maker that you need to consider is whether it uses a filter or an infuser. Most immersion cold brew makers work using an infuser or a basket of some sort that is completely covered in water.
On the flip side, automatic and slow drip machines use a filter. The nice thing about the filters for automatic and slow drip is that you can either pick a reusable filter or a paper filter. While paper filters are not expensive, over time, they will cost you more than a reusable metal filter. Also, some people think that paper filters add flavor to their coffee.
Ease of Use
With every coffee maker, we tried we really thought about the ease of use. You are first and foremost looking for an option that makes a great cup of coffee. But if that coffee maker is a misery to operate, it has already become a relic in your cupboard.
There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind when it comes to the ease of use of a cold brew coffee maker. First, making cold brew is messy. Even with the simplest-to-use coffee makers, you will have a little mess to deal with. If your cold brew maker is difficult to take apart or remove the infuser, this just makes the process messier.
Look for a cold brew maker that assembles and disassembles easily. The simpler options tend to have fewer parts and fewer ways for you to make a mess. If you don’t have to perform brain surgery to get the grounds out of or into your cold brew maker, you are more likely to use it on a regular basis.
Size
Cold brew coffee makers are generally pretty compact. Most of them are made to be easily stored in your refrigerator. This is very convenient, but it also means that you will be making a limited quantity of cold brew. If you want to have a cold brew maker that gives you more coffee, cold brew machines are a nice option. You can always transfer the leftovers to a pitcher in your fridge for enjoying later.
Some slow drip makers are pretty tall and can be challenging to store. If you are working with limited storage or refrigerator space, you will want to carefully consider the size of the cold brew maker you are selecting.
Taste
The way you want your cold brew to taste is probably the most important consideration when it comes to selecting a cold brew coffee maker. Each of the three types will make a brew quality that is a bit different. Immersion will make a strong coffee, automatic makes a mild coffee but it can have some bitterness. Slow drip gives you a mild coffee without bitterness or a sharp acidy flavor.
Price
Most cold brew coffee makers are going to be fairly affordable. However, they do come in a wide range of prices and features. You should consider what features you want and how they fit into your budget. If you don’t have a lot to spend on a cold brew coffee maker, then you will need to find the option with the features you want that are in your budget.
One thing to point out about the price is that many automatic cold brew machines can be expensive. If you are willing to spend the money, you really get a cold brew coffee that is more dialed into your personal taste preferences.
Quick Overview: Our Top Picks for Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | OXO Good Grips 32 Ounce Cold Brew |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | Toddy Cold Brew System |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | Hario 'Mizudashi' Cold Brew Coffee Pot |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | KitchenAid KCM5912SX Cold Brew |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
 | Cuisinart DCB-10P1 Automatic Cold Brew |
| CHECK CURRENT PRICESee Customer Reviews |
Our Top 5 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers
With a better idea of what to look for in a cold brew coffee maker, it is now time for us to give you our picks for the best cold brew coffee makers. We have a variety of options, so there is something for most coffee lovers here. If you are on a budget, there are even great picks for you.
1. OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Our top pick is the OXO Good Grips cold brew coffee maker. There are not many cold brew coffee makers that are easier to use than this one. We like that it comes with some added features and a very affordable price.
Of all the cold brew coffee makers that we tried and reviewed; the OXO Good Grips made the most consistent cold brew coffee. This coffee maker was one of the easiest to set up and is also very easy to clean. The OXO uses a metal coffee filter to keep grounds out of your coffee and to allow a slow infusion of water in the coffee.
Some highlights of this cold brew coffee maker include the carafe for holding the brewed coffee and the rainmaker top that gives a more even bloom to your coffee grounds. The rainmaker is the real reason that the OXO Good Grips cold brew coffee maker is so great. The even distribution of water through your grounds allows for a more flavorful coffee.
The carafe has a snug-fitting lid so you can store extra coffee in the fridge for an afternoon coffee, or for making enough cold brew for a couple of mornings. We also like that all of the parts of the OXO Good Grips cold brew coffee maker are dishwasher safe, for easy clean-up.
Pros
- Rainmaker top creates an even bloom
- Makes up to 32 ounces of coffee
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Makes the best-tasting cold brew
Cons
- Slow drip brewing takes a long time
- The release button was a bit difficult
2. Toddy Cold Brew System
The Toddy cold brew system is one of the oldest cold brew coffee makers on the market. For over 50 years this slow-drip coffee maker has been delivering amazing cold brew coffee.
When you get the Toddy, one of the first things you will notice is that it comes with a few interesting parts. You’ll get a glass carafe, a brewing container, and a stopper. The cold brew maker also comes with a few starter paper filters.
To brew using the Toddy, you simply line the brewing container with a paper filter, add coffee grounds and water, put the lid on, and let everything sit for up to 24 hours. How long you let the grounds steep will determine how strong the coffee will be.
At the end of your desired brewing time, remove the stopper and place the brew container on top of the carafe, remove the paper filter, and let the coffee drip into the carafe.
All of the parts of the Toddy are made to fit securely together but are also easy to attach and take apart. All of the parts are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Pros
- BPA-free parts are dishwasher safe
- Makes a smooth and flavorful coffee
- Doesn’t have any complicated parts or features
Cons
- Takes special sized paper filters
- Brewing container only fits on the Toddy carafe
3. Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot
If you are interested in making cold brew using an immersion-style coffee maker, we would recommend the Hario Mizudashi cold brew coffee pot. This is one of the most reasonably priced immersion cold brew coffee makers, and it is great looking too!
If you are looking for an affordable and easy-to-use cold brew coffee maker, the Hario fits both of these categories. Making cold brew is as easy as adding grounds to the filter basket, filling the pitcher with water, and letting it sit.
When you’re done the filter basket removes easily (so you don’t make a huge mess), and the lid allows you to store your cold brew concentrate in the fridge, and it also helps with pouring your coffee.
A few highlights of this coffee maker include the fun red color, which is a hallmark of the Hario company. The filter basket is also one of the best we tested. We were pleased that the bottom of our pitcher didn’t have a lot of fine grounds.
Pros
- Carafe works as coffee maker and pitcher
- Affordable price for a good quality product
- Hario is a trusted name in coffee tools
- Can go in the dishwasher
Cons
- Have to use coarse ground beans or the filter will clog
- The lid doesn’t seal as well as it seems, can leak if tipped
4. KitchenAid KCM5912SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker
The KitchenAid cold brew coffee maker is the perfect option if you want to make cold brew for entertaining. This coffee maker is very attractive with its glass and stainless-steel styling. We also really like the square shape of this coffee maker. There are not many other cold brew coffee makers that look like this. The square shape is ideal for sitting on the shelves of your refrigerator.
To brew coffee, you fill the large cylinder filter with grounds and place it into the brewing container. Then you slowly add water over the grounds. When you have almost filled the container of water, put on the lid and let it sit. After no more than 24 hours of steeping, remove the filter basket, place the container on its legs, and serve.
We were concerned when we brewed with this coffee maker that it might not hold as much brewed coffee as it seems. The filter feels like it would displace a lot of water. However, we were pleased that when we removed the filter we still had a good amount of coffee.
One thing we did note is that this coffee maker did not come with some sort of paper filter. We aren’t bothered by fine grounds in our cup, but if you want to avoid these fines, you can use a paper filter as well.
Pros
- Makes a really bold-flavored coffee
- If waiting 24 hours, you will get a strong cold brew concentrate
- Tap allows you to pour your coffee without taking the container from the fridge
- Glass and stainless-steel parts work well in most kitchens
Cons
- A bit larger than other options, so can be challenging for smaller refrigerators
- This is one of the more expensive cold brew makers
- The stand is nice, but you have to find a place to store it
5. Cuisinart DCB-10P1 Cold Brew Coffeemaker
Some of us just don’t have the patience to wait 12 hours for a mild cup of cold-brew coffee. If you don’t want to wait for your cold brew, the Cuisinart cold brew coffeemaker is our pick for the best automatic cold brew maker.
First, we want to point out that this coffee maker comes from one of the most reliable brands in kitchen appliances. So, we were confident that it would be well thought out and fairly easy to use. The first time we used this coffeemaker we were not disappointed.
Cuisinart uses a spinning technology to extract your coffee in as little as 25 minutes. It gives you the ability to select the strength of cold brew you prefer, and once the ingredients are added, will do all the work, with minimal mess, noise, or effort.
Making coffee in this machine is very simple. You fill the filter basket with grounds, add water to the desired level (the water reservoir has fill lines), make sure the carafe is installed with the lever set to lock, select your desired strength, and hit the brew button. In 25 to 45 minutes, you will have your coffee.
We don’t usually rave about the price of a product, but we will for this one. This coffeemaker comes in at less than $100, which makes it more affordable than some manual, slow drip, cold brew coffee makers.
Pros
- Easy-to-use automatic coffee maker
- Brews much faster than manual options
- Dishwasher safe parts
- Surprisingly affordable
Cons
- The bold coffee isn’t as strong as we hoped
- Lid for the carafe is difficult to remove
Final Thoughts
You no longer have to leave your house to enjoy a delicious cup of cold brew coffee. The OXO Good Grips cold brew coffee maker is an easy way to make your own cold brew at home. We think that this cold brew coffee maker gives you the best coffee for a very reasonable price.
While the other options on our list work well, the OXO looks great on our counter and gives us plenty of delicious cold brew for our morning or to share with our friends.
