Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers – Review 2021

Cold brew coffee, when made right is divine. Unfortunately, it always seems to taste better from a bottle or at your favorite coffee shop. That’s because making it at home is very tricky.

This brew isn’t only meant to be taken in hot weather, you could take it in all seasons. Strong and sweet and it comes loaded with caffeine, this type of coffee is exceptionally satisfying. Fancy coffee shops and cafes know its appeal, that’s why they often charge a pretty penny for it.

Fortunately, with a little time and using the right coffee beans, making your cold-brew coffee is easy. And, with the increasing number of cold-brew apparatus, you now can make cold-brew coffee in style. Besides, it’s even better than the traditional coffee pots. 

Last update on 2023-09-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

As cold brewing continues to grow more popular, we’ll continue to see new cold brew coffee makers entering the market. Rather than use hot water for brewing, cold brew is prepared by allowing coarse coffee grounds to steep in cold water for a long period –typically 12 -24 hours.

The gentle cold brewing process helps create a deeply flavored coffee concentrate that you can serve over ice. You can also take it combined with hot water giving you coffee in an instant.

Typically, the results will be bolder, even bigger, and less acidic compared to coffee brewed in drip coffee makers and other kinds of coffee machines. Plus when under refrigeration, it can last up to two weeks.

What is Cold Brew Coffee? 

Cold-brewed coffee is a brewing technique that involves full immersion. As such, coarse coffee grounds are submerged in cold water and then left to steep in a fridge or cool place for about 12 hours or even more.

Another brewing method is using ice drip coffee where you leave ice cubes to melt and even slowly drip through your coffee grounds into a basket below.

Note that cold brewing utilizes time rather than heat to pull out the same oils, fats, and soluble. It however leaves their chemical structures fairly intact. This produces coffee that’s less acidic, more flavorful, and fuller-bodied

Keep reading to find the best cold brew coffee maker to fit your needs and without needing hot water.

7 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers Reviewed – 2021

1. OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker

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Taking cold brew coffee gives you the advantage of offering you less bitter-tasting, smoother, and less acidic coffee. fortunately, with the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker, now you can enjoy an aromatic flavor from your ground coffee.

To make your cold brew at home, you simply need to add coffee grounds to your coffee maker. Next, add water through the perforated Rainmaker that then will evenly distribute over your coffee grounds. Thereafter, allow it to stay for 12 to 24 hours. If you want to take a cup, use the Brew-Release Switch in controlling the draining process.

The OXO cold brew coffee maker has a capacity of 32oz (about 4 cups). If you prefer tea, this machine will also let you extract the natural tastes of tea through the same process. This coffee maker comes with a glass carafe, which can be sealed to allow for easy access and easy storage. For best results, use coarse coffee grounds.

2. Hario “Mizudashi” Cold Brew Coffee Pot

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The Mizudashi Hario Cold Brewer is simply-designed and gives you coffee that you can drink straight. That means that it’s not concentrated. Plus it makes the most vivacious and refreshing brew.

The brewer’s instructions recommend that you use dark roast coffee to make the best brews. Also, the recommended extraction period is 8 hours, but you’ll get a lighter body brew. However, from what our researchers established a longer brewing time of 12 hours will give you optimal results.

The Hario Mizudashi cold brew coffee maker is a higher quality machine, especially because it’s made using glass rather than plastic. The Mizudashi uses a simple design and it has only two main parts—a tall basket insert and a handled pitcher—and this makes it simple enough for anyone to use.

To use this cold brewer, you fill the basket with coffee grinds, and then fill your pitcher with water. Next, tightly screw on the top onto the pitcher, and put it in the fridge. Plus allow the brewer to steep for about a day.

A 1-liter pitcher gives you the perfect brewer size. Also, the machine comes with precise instructions to ensure you get consistent results. Nonetheless, this cold brewer is easy to use. To make your beverage, simply whip up a batch without needing to check in much or stay alert during the process.

This cold brew coffee maker recommends the use of a medium-fine grind rather than coarse grinds. When compared to Oxo brewers, this cold brewer has less sediment even after using medium-fine grinds.

3. Toddy Cold Brew System

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Toddy cold brewer system has been on the market since the 1960s. While it’s similar to Oxo’s brewing system, the Toddy cold brewer is a bit more DIY.

This cold brewer is essentially a big bucket containing coffee grounds with a glass carafe for holding the coffee once brewing is complete. Toddy’s brewing bucket is made from plastic and uses filter pads and paper liners that you’ll need to keep buying (the filter pads last for 3 months or about 10 brews).

To drain the coffee, you’ll need to take out a rubber stopper after 24 hours and this always gets your hands messy, plus cleanup takes lots of time.

Fortunately, the Toddy cold brewer makes full-bodied and rich cold-brewed coffee that has a robust taste. While some users don’t like the paper filters and pads, luckily they do work.

But, this can be overlooked since the Toddy cold brewer system makes an excellent cold-brew concentrate. This coffee machine is well constructed. Plus this brand offers a giant 2.5-gallon Toddy system that’s perfect for use in coffee shops.

The Cold Brew Coffee Maker from Toddy is a larger size cold brewer coffee machine. Plus it produces the same amount of coffee concentrate as other cold brewers. The Toddy brewer system includes a brewing container, detachable handle, stopper, decanter, reusable and disposable filters, decanter as well as a decanter lid.

The grounds, filter, and water sit in a brewing container where they brew for about 12 – 24 hours. This is an open container that’s round, large, and made of plastic. Also, if you opt to use paper filters, they’ll extend out the top.

4. Cuisinart Auto Cold Brew Coffee Maker

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The Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brewer Coffeemaker works by speeding up the regular brewing process by spinning the coffee grounds for about 25 to 25 minutes in a centrifuge.  The time it takes to make your brew depends on your chosen intensity. Once your cold brew is ready, it is then filtered into a glass pot underneath.

The Cuisinart Auto Cold Brewer unitasker appliance has very many parts to clean and even set up and might not inspire daily use.

Cuisinart’s cold brew coffee maker is foolproof compared to other cold brewer systems and it will give acceptable coffee. To use it, you need to fill coffee grounds in its filter cylinder, and then with the glass pot, fill the water tank with cold water.

Press the Brew button for the extraction process to start. You’ll hear it twist and shake for 25 to 45 minutes to release the flavors from your grounds. This apparatus comes with three modes of brewing settings.

If you choose the bold setting, you can choose to add water if your brew is too strong. Once your coffee juice is ready, simply flip the switch, and out pours the cold brew. When it comes to cleaning the grounds cylinder, it can be hard if it sits for too long. Also, the coffee you get will have lots of sediment.

Even then, it will still taste decent plus it takes about 23.5 hours less time to brew compared to other makers.

5. KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker

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This cold brewer is a space-saving coffee maker that will fit your countertops, cabinets, and inside your refrigerator. KitchenAid Cold Brewer KCM4212SX Coffee Maker makes great-tasting coffee that you’ll enjoy until the last drop. With stainless steel components and body this machine is easy to carry, clean, and use.

The process of making cold brew with this machine is very simple plus it comes with regular coffee-water formula. For each 6oz of ice, water, or milk, you’ll have to add 2oz of coffee concentrate. And this can make about 14 servings (about 28oz of tea/coffee). Again, you can store your cold brew in the refrigerator for a maximum of two weeks.

6. Bruer Grey Cold Brew Coffee Maker System

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Bruer Cold Drip Coffee Maker system is an hourglass dripper that’s made to resemble a Kyoto-style brewer. This cold brewer is perfect for coffee aficionados who find it thrilling to learn a complicated new coffee machine. Also, it’s best for you if you’d like to have the best cup of cold-brewed coffee regardless of the price.

The Bruer Cold Drip system has a top chamber that you fill with ice and water. Next, the water will filter drop-by-drop into a middle coffee layer and through a mesh metal filter. Finally, your brew will appear in a bottom carafe as a smooth, full cold-brew coffee. Even then, the Bruer cold drip system makes the best and most nuanced coffee brew than other devices.

The challenging part is controlling the amount of water dripping through, something you’ll be doing every time you’re using the Bruer system. Before you start brewing, you’ll have to adjust a valve that sticks out of the silicone plug that separates the water from your coffee. In doing so, water will now drip on your coffee grounds at about one drop a second.

For best results, keep checking and readjusting the valve if you see that you don’t have much coffee brewed into the carafe. However, depending on the aesthetics, the coffee quality you want, this cold drip brewer is worth figuring out.

This brewer’s major parts are designed using glass. Also, you have to be cautious when handling the valve (regardless of what you don’t take out the internal rod). This Bruer is delicate and fussy. This cold brewer system makes a perfect gift for a coffee lover who is inclined to use their counter space to exhibit this beautiful apparatus and even fiddle with drip settings.

7. Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System

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 If you want a drip cold brewer that offers more than a good cup of joe. Or if you’d like to have endless options within reach at any time of day. And if you can’t decide on the type of coffee you’d like (or if you prefer taking tea instead). Then this hot and cold brewer system by Ninja is worth the investment.

The Ninja Hot & cold programmable brewer (with thermal carafe, reusable filters, and frother) provides you with a great degree of flexibility. This makes it the best coffee machine for people who want different types of beverages.

The Ninja programmable hot and cold brewer can make you everything from perfect cold brew, solid drip, iced coffee, latte-style beverages with a milk frother. Also, it can adjust the temperatures depending on your chosen brew.

Thanks to its thermal carafe, your coffee or tea will stay hot for about two hours. This programmable coffee machine also lets you make iced coffee or hot coffee in different sizes, from full carafes to even small cups.

This cold and hot brewer system provides five brewing styles, six brewing sizes, and comes with a fold-away frother. Also, it includes a double-walled 50-ounce thermal carafe. But, you can make your coffee into a cup or mug of your desired size.

Additionally, this machine includes two inbuilt filters, one for making coffee and the other for making tea. The Smart Basket recognition helps identify the right basket to use thus preventing cross-contamination.

How To Make Cold Brew Coffee

Next in our best cold brew coffee maker review, well look at how to make cold brew coffee at home. Also, note that after you brew it several times it will get easier for you. Here’s how you brew it.

Generally, cold brewing uses coarse grinds, more so if you’re brewing using a less effective mesh or metal filter. Also, a dark to medium roast is generally preferred, while other people choose to mix roasts. 

The water to ground coffee ratio will depend on the coffee beans you buy, and the coffee machine you have. Most coffee bean packs include a recommended ratio that’s usually a cup of grounds for four to five cups of water.

Evenly pour the water in a circular motion over the grounds to moisten them. Then leave the mix for a minute to bloom. After that, add the leftover water and stir in the grounds and then leave them to steep and brew. A good average is around 12‒15 hours. Note that brewing for under 12 hours will give you a weak brew. Also, brewing for more than 16 hours makes your brew stronger and more bitter.

If you aren’t using a coffee sock or an in-built filtration system, strain the coffee juice through a drip paper filter or cheesecloth to remove grits.

For the best experience, consume your coffee in 7 to 10 days. If preferred, dilute the coffee concentrate with milk or water— one to one to get a strong taste. Alternatively, you can use the concentrate as you wish to make ice cream and for other dessert preparations.

Tips For Success When Making Cold Brew Coffee

Be sure to mill your coffee beans coarsely: Coffee beans that are milled into a sandy powder, such as those used for drip coffee, will make an over-infused brew. Also, they’ll make the strained brew muddy and gritty. The ground beans should resemble coarse cornmeal, or slightly rougher.

When possible, use filtered water: This is generally good coffee advice. Your cup will have a sweeter and cleaner flavor if you brew using filtered water.

Steep for no less than 12 hours: While it’s okay to reduce this time a little, avoid getting too stingy. Your coffee needs the full time to completely infuse the water. Again, straining the liquid too early will produce a weaker brew.

Also be cautious about over-steeping, which will start extracting the bitter flavors we hope to avoid. I’d suggest you avoid steeping for over 15 hours.

Use ice cubes to chill your cold brew: To have an undiluted coffee experience, try making coffee ice cubes for your iced coffee.

Why You’ll Love Drinking Cold Brew Coffee

It’s easy to brew

The best Cold brew coffee makers are pretty simple to set up and prepare. Rather than learning suitable pouring methods, you take coarse ground coffee and mix it with room temperature water. Then allow for the two to brew in a fridge or a cool place for 10- 12 hours.

Zero to low Acidity

Due to the milder brewing process, the cold brew has about 67 percent less acidity compared to regularly brewed coffee. Also, for people who suffer from heartburn or have sensitive stomachs, then cold brew will lessen the stomach discomfort that you experience with taking hot brews.

Lots of Recipes

After the coffee juice concentrate is made you now have a whole variety of options of recipes you could make subsequently. For instance, you could add cream and sugar to make a rich morning beverage.

Also, you could add sparkling water to make a summer spritzer. Again, you could even make an after-dinner cocktail by adding Kahlua. Better yet, you could make Kahlua iced coffee that’s perfect for those hot summer afternoons.

Today, cold brew is among the hottest things in the coffee world, and it can beautifully pair with some liqueurs.

Long Shelf Life

After it’s brewed, you can keep your cold brew refrigerated for 7 to10 days. For those with a very busy lifestyle, having the coffee juice concentrate can give you an easy head start. All you have to do is quickly and easily add to your cup each morning.

Draws out the distinctive flavors of the coffee bean

Realize that how you take your cold brew is limitless so get creative for a perfect drink to suit your taste. When comparing the science behind cold water brewing to hot water brewing, when you make a batch of cold drip reveals the unique flavors of coffee beans. You will then start noticing the hints of floral, chocolate and citrus, etc.

Guide to Choosing the Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Next in our review, let’s look at key things that you should consider before buying the best cold brewed coffee maker to meet your budget and needs.

Size – Regular brewers hold about 34oz or 1 liter of liquid. When the filter with grounds is inserted, it will give you under 1 liter of coffee juice concentrate. Other additional sizes are 50, 48, or 40 oz and the larger sizes are the mason jars. Ensure that you have space in your fridge, and be sure to confirm the height and base diameter if you want to keep it in your refrigerator door. 

Materials – Typically, cold coffee makers and their components are made from plastic, silicone, or glass. There are those who prefer glass, however, most plastic cold brewers are made using BPA-free or other safe and certified plastics. Because other glass cold brewers will sometimes break or crack, the mason jars have proven to be the strongest glass containers available. 

Cleaning – Since many glass containers are designed from borosilicate glass, they will easily go in a dishwasher. However, for filters with plastic parts, or silicone gasket rings, we recommend that you wash them by hand. Since filters might get stained over time and the oils might block the fine pores, you’ll have to use vinegar from time to time for a deep cleanse.

Complexity – In general, making cold-brewed coffee involves filling up a brew bag or filter with grounds and then adding water. However, you’ll come across some mechanized apparatus on the market that will speed up the brewing time.

Also, there are simple contraptions that help control the water pour. Again, using an airtight brewer is best as it traps in aromas and flavors, thus avoiding spills. What’s more, the coffee will last longer. 

Filtration – When you get the cheaper jars, then you have to measure your grinds and add them into a filter bag. You’ll encounter many types of bags and coffee socks, with some being reusable.

A good thing with an in-built filter is that you won’t be worried about ratio measurements plus it’s less messy. Even then, consider getting a high quality and extra-fine filter. Alternatively, buy a system that comes with double filtration, if not you might end up spending more to strain your coffee using a drip filter. 

Effort – Realize that some cold brew coffee makers will need more effort compared to others. Therefore, carefully consider what you want in regards to time investment. Remember that one benefit of cold brew is ease of use, hence you can rest assured that many of the options we’ve discussed above will be fairly easy to operate.

Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker FAQs

Does cold-brewed coffee contain more caffeine?

Yes, somewhat! This brew can cause you the shakes if you aren’t careful. The caffeine level in the coffee will wildly vary. However, a cup of cold-brewed coffee will contain more caffeine compared to regular coffee when it’s not diluted too much.

Does the cold-brewed coffee taste good?

The idea behind cold brewing is the grounds don’t mix with hot water. As such, the process is meant to make a smooth and rounded easy-drinking cup. But, consider the brewing time depending on the results and strength you want to achieve.

Will the cold-brewed coffee keep well in the refrigerator?

One key benefit of brewing your cold-brewed coffee is that the coffee concentrate keeps well. Besides, most systems make enough cold-brewed coffee to last two-cup-daily coffee drinkers a week and even longer, provided it’s stored properly. (Storing the brew properly means in an airtight and cool container.)

For that reason, get a system that can fit well in your fridge plus it should not crowd it. Also, it should have an airtight seal.

Note that, if you add more water to your cold brew, it’s shelf life will be cut down. Therefore, ensure you leave room for adding some water after pouring yourself a glass.

Is A Cold Brew Coffee Maker Right For You?

In our above list of the best cold brewed coffee makers, we have looked at different machines. These will not only brew good cold brew but offer something unique in terms of practicality and quality design.

Be sure to find a suitable cold brew coffee maker for your lifestyle and taste by considering your motivations for brewing cold brew.

Also, if you’re into playing around with the unique flavors that cold brewing coffee yields and would like to discover the best tastes, then go for a brewing method that offers you more control rather than the particulars involved in the brewing process.

Our quick summary of the 7 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers in 2021

Cold Brewer Coffee Maker	Details
OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker	Sturdy construction. Easy to use. Stacks compactly for storage
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker	Available in two sizes. Multi-use brewer for making ice tea too
Toddy Cold Brew System	Easy cleanup. Offers clear cold brew coffee and tea recipes. Fair price
Cuisinart Auto Cold Brew Coffee Machine	Brews your coffee with cold water in about 25 minutes. No Skills Required. Requires no paper filters
KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brewer Coffee Maker	Easy to store even inside your fridge. Simple yet great appearance. Easy to use
Bruer Grey Cold Drip Coffee Maker System	Transparent letting you to see the brewing cycle. Allows for storing your coffee concentrate under refrigeration for several days
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewerrystem	Easy to clean. Offers lots of brewing options. Has single-serve option without pods