Not everyone wants a hot, steaming cup of joe first thing in the morning. Sure, many people might gravitate to something that warms the soul as much as it does the body, but some people want to stick with what they've come to know and love over the last few years: cold brew coffee. This smoother and equally delicious version of java is good any time of the year.
Cold brew coffee is also shockingly easy to make at home — some might say even simpler than making hot brews, which are very easy to over or under-extract — provided you have a good cold brew coffee maker. It will save you a lot of money, too, as it will minimize your trips to your local coffee shop. If your taste for cold brew has evolved beyond exchanging cold water for hot in your trusty French press, then read on: These are the best cold brew coffee makers to up your home barista game.
Best cold brew coffee maker overview
- Best overall pick: Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew
- Best value pick: Toddy Cold Brew System
- Best cold brew coffee maker with permanent filter: OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best easy-to-clean cold brew maker: Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best multi-cup cold brew maker: Willow & Everett Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best stainless steel cold brew maker: KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best single cup cold brew maker: BOD Cold Brew Coffee System by BodyBrew
- Best mason jar-style brewer: County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Mason Jar Coffee Maker
Best overall pick
Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew
- Makes iced coffee, cold coffee, and hot coffee
- Uses ground coffee
- 8 different brewing sizes
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Its width takes up counterspace
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | Up to 22.4 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Rapid cold brew |
| Time to brew | 10 minutes |
The Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew earns our best overall pick thanks to it's speedy ability to make stellar cold brew coffee. The rapid cold brew feature of this best cold brew coffee maker allows you to brew anywhere from 3.5 to 22.4 ounces of cold brew quickly (avoiding the whole overnight process).
As a solo coffee drinker, I appreciate the ability to make a small serving of cold brew whenever I'm in the mood for it. I also like that the guide within the manual tells you exactly how much coffee to use, taking the guesswork out of making great cold brew coffee at home.
For me, cold brew coffee in 10 minutes beats having to remember to steep my cold brew coffee the night before. The multifunction of this maker is also great if you have limited counter space and want to make hot coffee, iced coffee, and cold brew coffee all with one coffee maker.
Best value pick
Toddy Cold Brew System
- Simple to learn to use
- Reliable, consistent cold brew
- Easy to clean
- Takes up fridge space
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | 36 to 38 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Cold brew concentrate |
| Time to brew | 8 to 24 hours |
The Toddy Cold Brew System is one of the best cold brew coffee makers for the coffee drinker who wants to keep things simple. This non-electrical device is the recommended cold brew coffee maker by coffee roaster La Colombe to produce a rich, smooth cold brew coffee at home. Made with BPA-free plastic, I found it extremely easy to learn how to make cold brew with this maker. There's almost no learning curve at all.
The two brewing methods with this cold brew coffee maker give you more flexibility in how you make cold brew coffee, too. Cold brew drinkers can use the dual filtration method or a classic brewing method, based on your preferences. I love this option for stress-free, easy cold brew that I can enjoy all week long. You can also adjust the amount of coffee and water you use to make a smaller or larger batch of cold brew, depending on how much you plan to drink throughout the week.
Best cold brew coffee maker with permanent filter
OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Takes up minimal counterspace
- Makes bold cold brew coffee
- Will leak if overtightened
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | 32 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Cold brew concentrate |
| Time to brew | 12 to 24 hours |
For the most flavorful and aromatic cold brew coffee made right at home, it simply doesn’t get much better than the OXO cold brew system. For the quality results it puts out, the OXO coffee maker is pretty easy to use, and it consistently makes full-bodied and full-flavored cold brew that is better than what the other systems we’ve tried can produce. This is due to its great design, which uses a steel mesh filter and a “rainmaker” top into which you pour your cold water, which ensures even water distribution over the grounds for full extraction of all those tasty flavor molecules.
The OXO looks nice and has a small footprint on your countertop, which is also a plus. And instead of any messy removable plug system, there’s a simple valve that you activate with a switch to dispense the finished cold brew into the 32-ounce glass carafe once it’s finished. There’s even a glass stopper so you can store your brew in the fridge for later.
Best easy-to-clean cold brew maker
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Offered in three colors
- Made with heatproof glass
- 5-cup capacity
- Can also be used for water or tea infusions
- Can be too tall for some fridge shelves
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | 20 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Cold brew |
| Time to brew | 12 to 24 hours |
For those who are strapped for cash, Japanese coffee icon Hario has you covered with a cold brew maker at an affordable price. A step above steeping coffee grounds in cold water in your French press, the Hario Mizudashi includes a filter core to siphon out particles that cause bad flavor (which also means you don’t have to purchase filters for its use). When your brew is done, you can pour it right from the pitcher, and the filter can also be used to make cold brew tea and fruit-flavored water infusions.
Its slim profile and silicone drip-proof gasket lid make it very compatible with high-traffic refrigerators (Read: if you have a roommate). In addition to being dishwasher safe, the Hario Mizudashi is constructed in Japan, which is a good guarantee that it's going to be well made. Another value contender was the U.S.-made Takeya cold brew maker, but we found that the Mizudashi delivered better-tasting results for the same price. The Mizudashi's glass carafe also looks and feels superior to the Takeya's plastic.
Best multi-cup cold brew maker
Willow & Everett Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Multiple sizes available
- Easy to assemble and clean
- Fragile design, could break easily
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | 128 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Cold brew |
| Time to brew | Up to 24 hours |
Whether you're inviting some friends over for coffee or you just want to store a cold brew in your fridge, the Willow & Everett Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a great option. Featuring a large-capacity, gallon-sized mason jar, it provides convenience that allows you to serve 16 mugs full of cold brew. This is also a great value if you like to save money, as it can hold up a bulk of cold brew to store in your fridge while still keeping each serving fresh (thanks to its airtight lid seals) for two weeks, reducing your visits to your local coffee shop.
This cold brew coffee maker is specifically designed for a hassle-free coffee experience with its adjustable stainless-steel spout for easy-access serving from your fridge shelf, and its custom-designed filter ensures that no coffee ground residue escapes from the filter. Whether you have been a coffee fan for years or are just starting to try cold brew coffee, this jar is perfect, as it is easy to clean and use.
Best stainless steel cold brew coffee maker
KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Made with stainless steel
- Minimalist design
- Can leak for some users
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | 28 ounces or 38 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Cold brew |
| Time to brew | At least 12 hours |
If you’re the type of planner who likes to make large batches of food and drinks in advance, then a dispenser like the KitchenAid cold brew coffee maker might be the one for you. Despite its sleek-looking brushed stainless design, this cold brew system is dead simple: A large stainless filter bowl (which is a nice sturdy steel pot instead of a chintzy mesh filter) sits inside a 28- or 38-ounce container attached to a tap that lets you dispense chilled coffee right into your glass. Add more coffee to make a concentrated brew which you add water, making your batch last even longer.
The trade-off for this convenience is that the KitchenAid cold brew maker doesn’t make coffee that’s quite as strong or as aromatic as our top pick, the OXO cold brewer, but it’s less fussy to use. Also note that the overall capacity of the KitchenAid isn’t the full amount of coffee you’ll end up with due to the steeping bowl and coffee grounds naturally displacing some of the volume, so you may want to consider splurging for the 38-ounce model. When it comes to sheer convenience, though, the KitchenAid cold brew coffee dispenser is hard to beat.
Best single cup cold brew coffee maker
BOD Cold Brew Coffee System by BodyBrew
- Available in three colors
- BPA-free container
- Makes strong cold brew concentrate
- Can only make 24 ounces at a time
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | 24 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Cold brew concentrate |
| Time to brew | 12 to 24 hours |
Do you want a cold brew that can last up to two weeks? Look no further than our compact pick, the BOD Cold Brew System. The cold brew maker that comes in three different colors has a spill-proof system for a smooth time brewing. The system can extract up to 24 ounces of coffee concentrate for a rich yet less acidic cold brew. To add a stronger flavor to the brew, all you need to do is flip it to decant.
This cold brew system is specially designed for travel so you can bring it anywhere and make cold brew with ease. To top it all off, it can make up to 8-12 servings of cold brew for that much-needed java fix. If you want a cold brew maker that is both easy to use and portable, you can't go wrong with this one.
Best mason jar-style brewer
County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Mason Jar Coffee Maker
- Makes large batches of cold brew
- Makes smooth, bold cold brew
- Easy to clean, dishwasher safe
- Can't use for single-serve cold brew brewing
| Specification: | |
| Ounce capacity | 64 ounces |
| Type of cold brew | Cold brew |
| Time to brew | At least 12 hours |
Most of the time, the simpler, the better. Simply put, if you want hassle-free mornings, you might as well go for a cold brew maker that is easy to use. County Line Kitchen's cold brew maker is literally a Mason jar. This means you can easily replace it and transfer contents without a problem. You can have one jar dedicated to storage and one for brewing for a consistent cycle. Your cold-brewing experience becomes more convenient since it's also easy to store in any space in your home.
Aside from cold brewing, the carafe included can also serve as a storage unit for other ingredients. More importantly, the stainless steel mesh filter assures you that coffee grounds don't get into the jar. They're also durable and built to last. The flip cap lid included in this cold brew maker is also a great addition to make pouring coffee a breeze.
How we chose
There's quite a bit of variability when it comes to cold brew coffee makers. From traditional overnight brewers to rapid cold brew systems, these best cold coffee makers were chosen based on their reliability, ease of use, and taste of cold brew.
What to consider
Like purchasing a hot coffee maker, buying a cold brew coffee maker comes with a lot of decisions to make. For me, size is a primary factor, especially if you have a kitchen that has limited countertop space. Unless you're purchasing a combination machine that makes both hot or cold brew coffee, like the Ninja XL, you'll want to consider how much room your cold brew coffee maker will require (if you plan on leaving it out).
I also recommend considering how much cold brew you'll be drinking. For a solo coffee drinker, making an entire batch of cold brew may not be necessary. In addition to countertop space, consider how much room your cold brew coffee maker will take up in your fridge, too. Lastly, consider how fast you want to make cold brew. If you want cold brew without much advance planning, look for an electric cold brew maker. If you prefer a traditional method, look for one that uses a non-electric slow drip (steeped for 12 to 24 hours).
Why trust us
I love coffee in any way, shape, or form. But as a long-time sufferer of digestive issues, cold brew is one of my favorite cold coffee choices for a low-acid, irritation-free coffee. I've tried many cold brew coffee makers (and enjoyed hundreds of cups of cold brew coffee) over the years. I also like coffee makers that are intuitive and easy, which inspired these selections for the best cold brew coffee makers.
