What to Buy Coffee, Tea & Espresso The 6 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers for 2023 Make barista-quality cold brew at home with these top picks. By Erin Johnson Erin Johnson Erin Johnson has been with Dotdash Meredith since 2021. She is currently the Commerce Editor of Appliances, Cleaning, and Organization at The Spruce. Before joining The Spruce, Erin researched, tested, and wrote thorough guides on home products for several digital outlets, including Real Simple, Better Homes and Gardens, and Southern Living. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 5, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Favorites Our Favorite Cold Brew Mix The Tests Factors to Consider Other Cold Brew Makers We Tested FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Food & Wine / Erica Snyder If you're in the habit of picking up a cold brew on your way to work, you know how expensive that little morning routine can be. With coffee prices at coffee shops increasing, there has never been a better time to purchase a cold brew coffee maker for your home. Making the perfect cold brew is more complicated than you might think. You'll need to buy the right kind of coffee grounds (coarse), steep them overnight, and filter them appropriately in the morning. And who better to comment on the art form of cold brew making than professional coffee artisans? We put ten popular cold brew coffee makers to the test and asked three Brooklyn baristas to do a blind taste test of the cold brew we made in our studio to get their feedback on color, taste, concentration, and overall experience. We also performed a follow-up test with our original top picks, along with ten other popular options, to get a true sense of the best in the field. Read on for all the details on the best cold brew coffee makers, according to our experts and in-depth testing. Our Top Picks Best Overall: OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot at Amazon Jump to Review Most Versatile: Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker System at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Vinci Express Cold Brew Electric Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best French Press-Style: Bodum Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Tap Format: KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Amazon Jump to Review Bonus Fave: Partners Coffee Partners Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches at Partnerscoffee.com Jump to Review Best Overall OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Food52 Pros The rainmaker pouring feature ensures a smooth, consistent brew, and the small paper filter guarantees that no grounds will seep through. The carafe top also doubles as a measuring cup. Cons The release switch was a little challenging to use and it has a smaller capacity than some other brewers. While a few of these cold brew coffee makers produce a great brew, this one was a favorite thanks to its ease of use, potent concentrate, and smooth body. The top of the brewing system has perforated holes, so when you pour the water over the grounds, it falls on them like rain. According to our barista experts, this effect doesn't just feel meditative; it also ensures a balanced saturation of the coffee grounds. The process of brewing with this maker starts with placing a small circular paper filter (the machine comes with a pack of 10) at the bottom of the brewing container. Then, after using the stopper to measure out your coffee grounds, place the perforated rainmaker lid on the carafe and slowly pour the water in a circular motion. Let it sit for 12 to 24 hours, and when you're ready, press down on the release switch, and the brew filters into the carafe. Our follow-up tests only reinforced this top pick; the Oxo is easy to use and can make a great batch of cold brew in as little as 12 hours. It's compact, well-constructed, and brews consistently. We'd recommend it for any cold brew-loving household. Price at time of publish: $52 Capacity: 32 ouncesDimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 14.7 inchesAccessories included: glass carafe with measurement markings and stopper Food & Wine / Erica Snyder Victoria Ratermanis, barista at Edy's Grocer This is the strongest cold brew so far—this is the type of coffee I'd serve at brunch or a party. And if I put water in it, it still tastes good. This one looks like the authentic cold brew process. — Victoria Ratermanis, barista at Edy's Grocer Best Value Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros A no-fuss machine that doubles as a carafe, this tool is easy to clean and makes great cold brew for a small investment. Cons It is quite tall to keep in the fridge, and the lid isn't airtight, so it could leak if it leans or lays on its side. The Hario Mizudashi is great for cold brew beginners or anyone not seeking a pricey instrument for smooth coffee at home. The ultra-fine mesh strainer works well to keep grounds separated from the brew without blocking the flow of flavor from the beans. The carafe is glass instead of plastic like other low-cost cold brew makers, which makes it sleek and easy to clean. After 12 to 24 hours of steeping, removing the filter is simple. We love that when extraction is complete, we can simply lift out the filter and replace the lid to convert the cold brew maker to a pitcher. After diluting with water, the test produced strong and smooth coffee that gave this machine top ratings, even compared to more expensive, popular coffee makers. The brewer has a tall, sleek silhouette and is easy to operate and clean. It's a smart buy for straightforward use at home. Price at time of publish: $22 Capacity: 32 ouncesDimensions: 11.81 x 4.72 x 4.33 inchesAccessories included: plastic lid, mesh strainer, strainer bottom that screws on and off Food & Wine / Taysha Murtaugh Food & Wine / Taysha Murtaugh Food & Wine / Taysha Murtaugh Food & Wine / Taysha Murtaugh Most Versatile Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker System Amazon View On Amazon View On Bluebottlecoffee.com View On Lacolombe.com Pros It makes a strong, smooth concentrate in large quantities, and the brewing process is separate from the serving carafe. Cons It takes up a good amount of countertop space and requires the purchase of paper filters. The Toddy was the bulkiest of the cold brew coffee makers we tested, but the result is worth the countertop space it takes up. There are a few different parts to this brewing system (a carafe, stopper, brewing container, and filters), but it's still easy to use. Place a large paper filter in the brewing container, add the coffee and water, place the lid on the container, and let it sit for 12 to 24 hours, depending on your preference. Once the desired time has passed, remove the paper filter and stopper, then let the coffee drip into the carafe. The paper filter and the small reusable felt filter between the brewing container and the carafe ensured that no grounds escaped into the carafe during testing. Also, the large area that the coffee grounds steeped in overnight made for a consistently strong and smooth cold brew concentrate. Our baristas loved that the Toddy system approach allows flexibility with your coffee making. You could make a large amount of cold brew concentrate for an event, a more potent batch for cocktail ingredients (if you're making an Espresso Martini, for example) or a weaker brew for cold brew ice cubes. Price at time of publish: $40 Capacity: 33 ouncesDimensions: 7.25 x 7.25 x 12.5 inchesAccessories included: two reusable felt filters, rubber stopper, recipe guide Food & Wine / John Somerall Amanda Miserocchi, barista at Blue Bottle Coffee This feels the most like cold brew. I would serve this to someone, and some of the others we've tried, I wouldn't. It has a really round flavor—it hits your palate, it's there, and you experience it immediately. — Amanda Miserocchi, barista at Blue Bottle Coffee Best Splurge Vinci Express Cold Brew Electric Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Wayfair Pros This cold brew machine extracts concentrate from grounds in minutes instead of hours and has an easy cleanup process. Cons There are a few different parts to store, and it does require a specific amount of medium grounds for an optimal brew. The future is now, and it's cold brew coffee in just 5 to 10 minutes from Vinci's Express Cold Brew Electric Coffee Maker. Instead of the typical overnight extraction, this tool uses "circle flow technology" to produce cold brew at lightning speed. The borosilicate glass carafe feels high-quality in the hand, and it was easy to learn to operate on the first try from the instructions. Seven scoops of medium-ground coffee yield 37 ounces of cold brew. We felt the coffee from this machine tasted strong but smooth. It's less acidic than the cold brew you might get from coffee shops, and there isn't an aftertaste. They also found that it was very easy to pour after the quick brewing process. The regular lid can twist to the side to expose the pouring spout, which does a fine job of letting us pour the brew into a glass. For cleanup, everything except the power cord and the brew top is dishwasher-safe. The filter basket has a bottom and a cover that remove easily to dispose of the grounds and use the tool as a classic carafe in the fridge. There are a few parts to store, so keep in mind if you've got limited cabinet and drawer space. This machine is great for anyone short on time and ready to invest in an efficient coffee tool. Price at time of publish: $80 Capacity: 37 ouncesDimensions: 4 x 7 x 12 inchesAccessories included: mesh filter cylinder, brewing lid, regular carafe lid, measuring scoop, removable power cord, cleaning cup Food & Wine / Fran Sales Food & Wine / Fran Sales Food & Wine / Fran Sales Best French Press-Style Bodum Bean Cold Brew Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros This press coffee maker is easy to use, yields a good amount of smooth cold brew, and the entire tool is dishwasher-safe. Cons It's not the most efficient cold brew maker in terms of concentration, and the plunger does leave some grounds in the brew. Bodum's popular French press product line also includes this nifty cold brew maker. The sealed lid sits on the carafe for the extraction period (12-24 hours at room temperature or on the fridge). Once it's brewed, the pouring/plunging lid also locks into place and includes a press trigger for pouring, reducing the likelihood of spills. The glass construction feels elevated, and the BPA-free plastic actually looks attractive. Our tests found that the brew was very smooth but not completely without grounds, and we noticed it isn't as concentrated as some other cold brew tools might be. Nevertheless, this tool still has great value, thanks to its generous size and smart features for a low-priced cold brew maker. Since it can operate as either a cold brew maker or a regular French press, it's a great option for households that flip between hot and iced coffee or even those who like to brew large volumes of hot or iced tea. If you drink a lot of both hot and cold coffee at home, this is the tool to buy. Price at time of publish: $20 Capacity: ouncesDimensions: inchesAccessories included: Alternate lid for fridge storage Best Tap Format KitchenAid Brushed Stainless Steel Cold Brew Coffee Maker Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart Pros It produces a strong cold brew concentrate, and the tap makes for easy pouring. Cons It's heavy (six and a half pounds when empty) and doesn't come with a stand, so it needs to be kept on a top shelf in the refrigerator. This cold brew coffee maker had the most detailed instructions, but it was straightforward to use. To prepare, add coffee grounds to the circular filter and slowly pour water over the grounds, then let them sit for 12 to 24 hours. After the desired time has passed, remove the filter and grounds before pouring from the tap. The KitchenAid was the only cold brew coffee maker recommended by our baristas that didn't include a paper filter of some kind, and that was apparent since some grounds slipped into the poured coffee samples. However, we loved the intense flavor and suggested adding a paper filter for a smoother experience. Our follow-up tests also found that the results were smooth and flavorful. The brewer's tap does pour a little slowly, but since it's a concentrate, it's not much of a concern. It's slightly pricey compared to smaller brewers, but for households with high-volume coffee consumption, this is a great pick that will get used well and often. Price at time of publish: $110 Capacity: 28 ouncesDimensions: 10 x 9.1 x 10.3 inchesAccessories included: Reusable stainless steel steeper Jovanni Luna, barista at Gertie This is the darkest one. You can tell it's a little grainy, so I would probably re-filter it by adding a paper filter, but this is my favorite in terms of taste. — Jovanni Luna, barista at Gertie Our Favorites Ultimately, the Oxo Cold Brew Coffee Maker was the cold brew coffee maker that yielded the highest quality results while being easiest to operate. Other great options include both the Toddy Cold Brew System, which can function as a cold brew concentrate maker as well as a standard cold brew device, and the large format KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker, which keeps cold brew on tap in the fridge. Our Favorite Cold Brew Mix Bonus Fave Partners Coffee Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches View On Partnerscoffee.com If you're headed out of town for a mini vacation, beach trip, or camping adventure, sometimes you simply don't have space in your carry-on bag to pack a full cold brew coffee maker setup. For making cold brew on-the-fly, we love these ready-to-steep Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches from Brooklyn-based (and editor-loved coffee brand) Partners. Just pop one of the pre-ground, biodegradable cold brew pouches in a large Mason jar or vessel of your choice, add 24 ounces of cold filtered water and stir, and let your cold brew steep for 20-24 hours in the fridge. The next day, you'll have a full batch of smooth, rich, medium-roast cold brew to take with you to the office, beach, park, or pool. No single-use plastic here. Editor's Note: Partners Rockaway Cold Brew is so popular that it tends to sell out each season, so we recommend adding this to your cart ASAP this summer while it's back in stock. Price at time of publish: $16 Capacity: 12 ouncesDimensions: 7 x 4 x 3 inchesAccessories included: Four 3-ounce pre-ground cold brew steeping pouches The Tests Food & Wine / Erica Snyder We identified ten popular cold brew coffee makers to create our product set. We carefully followed the instructions and coffee-to-water ratios for each model using coarse coffee grounds and let them sit for their recommended brew time (between 12 and 24 hours). Then, we performed a blind taste test with three Brooklyn baristas intimately familiar with the cold brew-making process. (Editor's Note: These are their personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their employers.) For each sample, they identified the clarity of the flavors that came through, the brew strength, smoothness, and consistency of the body, and whether or not they would serve this to a friend. For our follow-up test, we applied our real-world testing methodology to the winners and what didn't make the grade from the first round, as well as ten new contenders to learn which brewers worked best in a home setting. After testing for smoothness and flavor from a brew from the same beans, as well as ease of use, cleanup, and overall value, our initial favorites all came out as strong performers once again. We found great picks for a budget option, a special splurge, and a French press that can handle hot and cold brews. Factors to Consider Food & Wine / Erica Snyder If you're looking to make cold brew at home, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting the right cold brew coffee maker for you. Since the process is more time-consuming than a simple iced coffee preparation, you want to make sure the payoff is worth it. Taste Perhaps the most crucial factor when picking a cold brew coffee maker: you should love the taste of the coffee it produces. "If your first instinct when you taste it is to pull back, it's probably too sour, but if you're enjoying discovering the flavor of it, then it has a good body," says Victoria Ratermanis, a barista at Edy's Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. An intense flavor doesn't necessarily mean that your finished cold brew contains a higher amount of caffeine, adds Ratermanis. So whichever cold brew coffee maker you choose, follow the instructions for your coffee grounds to water ratio and brewing time, but then adjust it until you get the flavor you prefer. Strong Concentration A robust cold brew concentrate is not only ideal for taste but also ensures that you're getting the most out of your coffee beans and gives you the flexibility to do something different with your coffee. If you like to dilute with water or milk, go for it, but you could also get creative. Our baristas suggested making cocktails or ice cubes with cold brew, baking with cold brew, and discovering how to use the flavor in other places around your kitchen. "You want your cold brew concentrated so you can play around with it," says Jovanni Luna, barista at Gertie in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. "If you're making a cocktail [with cold brew], you don't want an already diluted coffee, because then your cocktail will be diluted." Smooth Body Amanda Miserocchi, barista at Blue Bottle Coffee in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, says that, besides an intense concentration, a smooth taste is vital. "When looking for the perfect cold brew, I look for something more concentrated, and smoothness is a huge factor. That's the whole point of drinking cold brew—for it to lack the sourness or the bitterness of hot coffee." When making an at-home cold brew, the grounds must have enough space to steep in water overnight properly, which will create a smooth and consistent taste. That means most small and narrow at-home cold brew makers don't deliver as smooth a taste as larger ones from brands like Toddy or the Oxo. A larger vessel allows the coffee grounds more area to steep overnight, so the body of the coffee is stronger and more consistent between cups. Proper Filtration Like regular coffee makers, no coffee grounds should get through the filter into the finished brew. Our testing found that both metal and stainless steel filters allowed some grounds to escape, while mesh filters resulted in weak coffee. The cold brew makers we tested that used paper filters produced sediment-free coffee. Coffee Yield Some cold brew makers promise to keep your brew fresh for up to two weeks, so you can make a large batch without worrying about waste. While you don't want your cold brew sitting in the refrigerator for too long, you also don't want to repeat the brewing process every night. Finding a cold brew coffee maker that allows you to make enough for your weekly morning coffee or yields enough volume to serve at a brunch with friends is ideal. The Best Espresso Machines for Perfect Flat Whites and Lattes at Home Other Cold Brew Makers We Tested These cold brew coffee makers didn't make our top three, but depending on what you're looking for in a cold brew maker, they could still be a good choice. Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker While this cold brew coffee maker was the easiest to use, the coffee was the least robust. It was also the only cold brew maker with instructions that didn't direct us to pour water directly over the grounds, and this lack of interaction resulted in more of a diluted iced coffee flavor. Still, if you like a lighter brew, this could be an easy-to-use option. ($28 at Amazon) Primula Burke Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker Like the Takeya, the Primula looks like a large French press, and it was effortless to use. To our disappointment, it produced some of the weakest batches of cold brew during our tests. But, again, if you prefer a lighter iced coffee flavor, this is an easy and affordable option. ($18 at Amazon) Ovalware Airtight Cold Brew Maker While the baristas agreed that this coffee (and tea) maker looked great, the consistency of the coffee wasn't up to par, as some coffee grounds made their way through the metal filter and into the finished cold brew. ($36 at Amazon) Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker A sleek option, this device is portable and comes in a variety of colors, including midnight marble and mint green. Unfortunately, it did not make a satisfying cold brew. Also, the insulated tumbler worked so well that the coffee stayed at its brewing room temperature, even after sitting in the refrigerator for hours. ($51 at Amazon) De'Longhi 3-in-1 Specialty Brewer We wanted to try an instant cold brew option, but our baristas pointed out that cold brewing is a process that can't be rushed. Not surprisingly, this instant option produced a watered-down iced coffee far from the cold brew concentrate we were looking for. ($170 at Amazon) Food & Wine / Erica Snyder Frequently Asked Questions How do you use a cold brew coffee maker? It's essential to follow the instructions for your specific coffee maker, but in general, making a flavorful cold brew starts with choosing the right beans and grinding them coarsely. Pour in the suggested amount of grounds, then slowly add the water to saturate them evenly. Let it sit for the allotted time (see below for more on that), then remove the filter with the grounds before serving. Depending on your preference, dilute the cold brew concentrate to your taste. How long does it take to make cold brew coffee? "There's no such thing as instant cold brew," says Ratermanis. "The beauty of the flavor and concentrate of cold brew is a timed thing, and that's what makes it different, both in its process and flavor."Each cold brew maker we tested suggested for the grounds to steep anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. You'll get a sense of your preferred brewing time once you make a few batches. What's the difference between iced coffee and cold brew? Iced coffee is regular brewed coffee served over ice. Making cold brew is a more complicated process that involves steeping grounds in water overnight. This slow process allows for the creation of a concentrate and is considered to be less acidic than regular coffee. How do you clean your cold brew coffee maker? Follow the instructions for your coffee maker, but for most, remove the coffee grounds and compost them or repurpose them into an exfoliating face scrub or deep cleaning solution. Then either hand-wash the components or place them in your dishwasher. Our Expertise Erin Johnson is a Commerce Editor who previously worked as a Senior Product Reviews writer covering household products. She's an experienced product reviews writer and contributed on a regular basis for the Home Projects and DIY section of Apartment Therapy and Kitchn. Our expert panel included three professional baristas from local Brooklyn coffee shops including Amanda Miserocchi from Blue Bottle Coffee, Jovanni Luna from Gertie, and Victoria Ratermanis from Edy's Grocer. Read Next: The Best Travel Coffee Mugs to Take on the Go Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit