Cold brew is one of the easiest coffee drinks to make at home, but the right cold brew coffee maker can make the process considerably cleaner and more convenient.
At its simplest, cold brew requires nothing more than coffee grounds, water, a container, and a way to strain the finished coffee. Dedicated cold brew makers improve on that basic method with reusable filters, easy-drain systems, fridge-friendly pitchers, concentrate containers, or even electric brewing systems that dramatically shorten the traditional overnight steep.
The best cold brew coffee maker for you depends less on flashy features and more on how much coffee you make, how much refrigerator space you have, whether you prefer concentrate or ready-to-drink cold brew, and how much cleanup you’re willing to do.
For most people, the OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker is an excellent all-around choice. Smaller kitchens may be better served by the OXO Compact, while the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker offers an affordable pitcher-style design and the Toddy Cold Brew System remains a strong option for making larger quantities of concentrate.
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🏆 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers at a Glance
| Cold Brew Maker | Best For | Style | Capacity/Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker | Best overall | Immersion + drain | 40 oz brewer |
| OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker | Small kitchens | Compact immersion | 24 oz brewer |
| Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker | Best budget option | Filter pitcher | 1 qt or 2 qt |
| Hario Mizudashi | Simple fridge brewing | Glass filter pitcher | 600 ml or 1,000 ml |
| Toddy Cold Brew System | Concentrate | Immersion + filtration | Up to about 48 oz concentrate |
| Vinci Express Cold Brew | Fast cold brew | Electric circulation | 1.4 L or 2.0 L |
Prices and availability change, so it is worth comparing current listings before buying.
☕ Best Overall: OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker
The OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker is one of the easiest recommendations for someone who regularly makes cold brew at home.
Instead of placing coffee grounds inside a narrow pitcher filter, the OXO uses a larger brewing chamber. Its perforated Rainmaker top helps distribute water over the coffee, and after the steep is complete, a switch releases the concentrate through a reusable stainless-steel mesh filter into the glass carafe below.
The brewer has a 40-ounce capacity, and the glass carafe includes measurement markings that make it easier to portion concentrate. The brewer can also be taken apart and nested for storage.
Best for: Regular cold brew drinkers who want an easy-to-use dedicated system.
Pros:
- Large brewing chamber.
- Reusable stainless-steel filter.
- Simple drain mechanism.
- Glass storage carafe.
- Particularly well suited to cold brew concentrate.
Consider if: You have enough counter space for a brewer that is larger than a simple pitcher.
Shop OXO cold brew coffee makers on Amazon
🧊 Best Compact: OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
If you like the OXO brewing method but don’t want a large brewer occupying your kitchen, the OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a smart alternative.
It uses the same basic idea—a Rainmaker top, immersion brewing, reusable mesh filtration, and a separate glass carafe—but shrinks everything into a much smaller package.
The brewing container holds 24 ounces, and the brewer and carafe nest together when they aren’t being used. OXO recommends a brewing period of approximately 12–24 hours.
That combination makes it particularly useful in apartments, small kitchens, offices, or refrigerators where shelf space is at a premium.
Best for: One or two cold brew drinkers and kitchens with limited storage.
Pros:
- Compact footprint.
- Reusable filter.
- Glass carafe.
- Easy storage.
- Makes concentrate rather than requiring a huge pitcher.
Consider if: You drink large amounts of cold brew every day. The smaller capacity may mean brewing more frequently.
Shop the OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker on Amazon
💰 Best Budget Pick: Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker
The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker shows just how simple a useful cold brew brewer can be.
It consists of a pitcher with a long reusable filter. Add ground coffee to the filter, fill the pitcher with water, and allow it to steep before removing the filter.
Takeya offers 1-quart and 2-quart versions, giving you more flexibility than many small cold brew brewers. The Tritan pitcher is shatter-resistant, the lid is designed to be leak-resistant, and the components are top-rack dishwasher safe.
This isn’t the choice for someone who wants elaborate brewing controls. That’s precisely part of its appeal.
Best for: Beginners, families, and anyone who wants inexpensive cold brew without extra equipment.
Pros:
- Affordable.
- Simple design.
- Durable pitcher.
- Available in multiple sizes.
- Easy to refrigerate.
Consider if: You strongly prefer glass rather than plastic storage containers.
Shop Takeya cold brew makers on Amazon
🇯🇵 Best Simple Glass Pitcher: Hario Mizudashi
The Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker is another excellent example of a minimalist cold brew design.
The Japanese-made brewer consists of a heat-resistant glass pitcher with a removable fine-mesh coffee basket. Add grounds to the basket, slowly add water, refrigerate, and remove the basket when brewing is finished.
Hario offers both 600-milliliter and 1,000-milliliter versions of the Mizudashi. The removable filter also makes cleanup straightforward.
This is especially appealing if you want your brewer and serving pitcher to be the same container.
Best for: Anyone who wants a simple glass cold brew pitcher for the refrigerator.
Pros:
- Straightforward design.
- Heat-resistant glass pitcher.
- Reusable mesh filter.
- Two useful sizes.
- Easy to pour and serve.
Consider if: Glass is naturally less forgiving of drops than a Tritan pitcher such as the Takeya.
Shop Hario Mizudashi cold brew makers on Amazon
🫙 Best for Cold Brew Concentrate: Toddy Cold Brew System
The Toddy Cold Brew System is one of the classic approaches to home cold brewing.
Rather than resembling a traditional coffee pitcher, the Toddy uses a separate brewing container and glass decanter. Coffee steeps in the upper container before the finished concentrate drains through the filter into the decanter.
The home system can brew up to a pound of coffee and produce up to approximately 48 ounces of concentrate per batch.
That makes Toddy particularly appealing if you like keeping concentrated coffee in the refrigerator and diluting each serving with water or milk.
Best for: People who make large batches of cold brew concentrate.
Pros:
- Designed specifically for concentrate.
- Large batch potential.
- Separate glass storage decanter.
- Long-established cold brewing system.
- Can also be used for cold-brewed tea.
Consider if: You would rather brew ready-to-drink coffee directly into a pitcher.
Shop Toddy Cold Brew Systems on Amazon
⚡ Best for Fast Cold Brew: Vinci Express Cold Brew
Traditional cold brew takes time. The Vinci Express Cold Brew is designed for people who don’t want to wait overnight.
Rather than simply leaving the coffee and water together for 12–24 hours, the electric brewer circulates room-temperature water through the grounds. Vinci offers 1.4-liter and 2-liter versions, along with adjustable strength settings for making ready-to-drink coffee or concentrate.
Its biggest advantage is obvious: speed.
The tradeoff is that you’re buying an electrical appliance with additional parts and a higher price than a pitcher or immersion brewer.
Best for: Cold brew drinkers who regularly forget to start tomorrow’s coffee today.
Pros:
- Produces cold brew in minutes rather than overnight.
- Adjustable strength.
- Glass carafe.
- Built-in cleaning function.
- Can make regular cold brew or concentrate.
Consider if: You’re happy brewing overnight. A manual cold brew maker is simpler and considerably less expensive.
Shop electric cold brew coffee makers on Amazon
🧐 Do You Actually Need a Cold Brew Coffee Maker?
No.
One of the great things about cold brew is that specialized equipment isn’t required.
You can combine coarse coffee grounds and water in a jar, allow them to steep, and strain the coffee through a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter.
Our Homemade Cold Brew Coffee Recipe walks you through the entire method.
A dedicated brewer becomes worthwhile primarily because it makes the process easier.
Instead of juggling jars, filters, strainers, and separate storage containers, you have a system designed specifically to contain the coffee grounds and separate them from the finished brew.
If you make cold brew once every few months, use what you already have.
If there’s a pitcher of cold brew permanently occupying your refrigerator, a dedicated brewer makes much more sense.
🧰 Types of Cold Brew Coffee Makers
Cold brew makers may look very different, but most fall into a handful of categories.
Immersion Brewers
Immersion is the classic cold brew method.
Ground coffee remains completely submerged in water for many hours before being filtered out.
The OXO and Toddy systems are examples of dedicated immersion brewers.
This style is excellent for creating strong cold brew concentrate because you have considerable freedom over the amount of coffee and water used.
Filter Pitchers
Filter pitchers place the coffee inside a removable mesh basket that sits in the water.
The Takeya and Hario Mizudashi are good examples.
Their biggest advantage is convenience. When brewing is complete, simply lift out the filter and the pitcher becomes your serving and storage container.
They’re ideal for people who value simplicity more than maximum control.
Slow-Drip Cold Brew Makers
Slow-drip systems allow cold water to gradually drip through coffee grounds.
They’re visually impressive and offer another way to explore cold coffee extraction, but they tend to be more complicated and expensive than immersion brewers.
They’re best suited to enthusiasts who enjoy the brewing ritual as much as the coffee.
Electric and Rapid Cold Brew Makers
Electric brewers accelerate extraction through circulation, agitation, pressure, or other brewing techniques.
Instead of waiting 12–24 hours, some can produce cold coffee in minutes.
Convenience is the major attraction, although they generally cost significantly more than manual brewers.
🛒 What to Look for in a Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Don’t choose a brewer based only on its appearance. A handful of practical features determine how pleasant it will be to use every week.
Capacity
Think about how much cold brew you actually consume.
One person who drinks a glass every morning probably doesn’t need an enormous brewer. A household with several cold brew drinkers might become frustrated with a tiny 24-ounce system.
Also distinguish between brewing capacity and finished yield. Coffee grounds absorb a significant amount of water, so the amount of coffee you collect will be less than the amount of water you initially add.
Concentrate vs. Ready-to-Drink Coffee
Some systems are particularly well suited to strong concentrate.
Concentrate is convenient because it occupies less refrigerator space and can be diluted one glass at a time.
For example, you might combine:
1 part cold brew concentrate + 1 part water
or use milk instead of some of the water.
Pitcher brewers are often better suited to making something closer to ready-to-drink cold brew.
Neither approach is inherently superior.
Filter Quality
The filter determines how much fine coffee sediment ends up in your drink.
Reusable stainless-steel or synthetic mesh filters are convenient and reduce the need for disposable paper.
However, paper filtration generally produces a cleaner, less silty cup.
If sediment bothers you, look for a very fine reusable filter or run the finished cold brew through a paper filter before storing it.
Refrigerator Footprint
This feature is surprisingly important.
Measure your refrigerator shelf before buying a large brewer.
A tall brewer may not fit beneath a shelf, while a wide pitcher can consume substantial space.
Some compact models are specifically designed to solve this problem.
Ease of Cleaning
Cold brew grounds become heavy, wet, and messy.
A brewer that looks beautiful but requires digging coffee grounds out of a narrow filter every morning will quickly become annoying.
Look for removable filters, wide openings, dishwasher-safe components, and as few inaccessible crevices as possible.
Glass vs. Plastic
Both materials can work well.
Glass resists staining and odors and gives the brewer a more substantial feel.
Tritan and other durable plastics weigh less and won’t shatter if dropped.
Your kitchen habits matter more than a universal rule.
A Good Lid
Cold brew often spends several days in the refrigerator, so a secure lid is useful.
A well-sealed container also reduces the chance that your coffee picks up aromas from strongly scented foods stored nearby.
🫘 The Coffee Matters More Than the Brewer
A better cold brew maker improves convenience, but it cannot transform stale or unsuitable coffee into an exceptional drink.
Start with freshly roasted beans and grind them shortly before brewing whenever possible.
A coarse grind is generally an excellent starting point for immersion cold brew. Very fine coffee can be more difficult to filter and may create a muddy finished drink.
Roast preference is largely personal.
Medium and medium-dark roasts often produce the familiar chocolate, caramel, nut, and deep coffee flavors associated with classic cold brew.
Light roasts can create brighter, fruitier, and more unusual cold brews.
For a deeper look at bean selection, see our Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew.
💧 Don’t Ignore Your Water
Cold brew contains very little besides coffee and water, making water quality especially noticeable.
Use fresh water that tastes good when you drink it by itself.
If your tap water has a noticeable chlorine aroma or unpleasant mineral flavor, filtered water may improve your coffee.
You don’t need expensive bottled water. You simply want clean, pleasant-tasting water that allows the coffee to remain the dominant flavor.
⏱️ How Long Should Cold Brew Steep?
A useful starting range for traditional immersion cold brew is approximately 12–18 hours.
Some brewers and recipes extend the steep toward 24 hours.
There isn’t one universally perfect number because extraction also depends on:
- Grind size.
- Coffee-to-water ratio.
- Roast.
- Brewing temperature.
- Bean density.
- Personal taste.
Rather than assuming longer is always better, taste your coffee.
If your cold brew seems thin, weak, or underdeveloped, adjust the grind, ratio, or steep time.
If it becomes overly intense or woody, try shortening the brewing period.
🧪 Cold Brew Concentrate vs. Regular Cold Brew
This distinction causes a lot of confusion when comparing cold brew makers.
Ready-to-drink cold brew is brewed at a strength close to what you’ll actually drink.
You can pour it over ice and enjoy it immediately.
Cold brew concentrate is intentionally stronger. It’s designed to be diluted with water, milk, or another liquid.
Concentrate has some practical advantages.
It occupies less refrigerator space, allows everyone in the household to customize their preferred strength, and works particularly well for cold brew lattes.
If you primarily drink straight black cold brew, a ready-to-drink pitcher may be easier.
🥛 What Can You Make With a Cold Brew Coffee Maker?
Once you keep cold brew in the refrigerator, it becomes a base for far more than one drink.
Try using it for:
- Cold brew over ice.
- Vanilla cold brew.
- Cold brew lattes.
- Mocha cold brew.
- Caramel cold brew.
- Coffee smoothies.
- Protein coffee.
- Coffee cocktails.
- Cold brew with sweet cream.
- Coffee desserts.
One particularly easy upgrade is our Cold Brew With Sweet Cream Cold Foam.
Keeping a batch prepared makes coffeehouse-style drinks much easier to assemble in a few minutes.
❓ Cold Brew Coffee Maker FAQ
What is the best cold brew coffee maker?
For most households, the OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker provides an excellent balance of capacity, filtration, ease of use, and concentrate storage.
The best choice still depends on your priorities. The OXO Compact is better for small spaces, Takeya is a great simple budget option, and Toddy is particularly useful for larger batches of concentrate.
Is a cold brew maker worth buying?
If you make cold brew regularly, yes.
A dedicated brewer isn’t necessary, but it makes filtering, storing, and cleaning considerably easier.
Occasional cold brew drinkers can simply use a jar and strainer.
Can you use regular coffee in a cold brew maker?
Yes.
You don’t need special “cold brew beans.”
Any coffee can be cold brewed, although roast, origin, freshness, and grind will influence the flavor.
What grind size is best for cold brew?
A coarse grind is an excellent starting point for traditional immersion cold brew.
Specific manufacturers may recommend slightly different grind sizes for their systems, particularly rapid or electric brewers.
Can you use pre-ground coffee?
Yes, provided the grind isn’t excessively fine.
Coffee ground specifically for drip machines is often finer than ideal for cold brew, so grinding whole beans yourself gives you more control.
How long does cold brew last in the refrigerator?
Storage recommendations depend on the brewer and recipe.
For the best flavor, keep finished coffee refrigerated in a clean, sealed container and make batches you can reasonably consume rather than storing them indefinitely.
Is cold brew the same as iced coffee?
No.
Traditional cold brew is extracted using cool or room-temperature water over a long period.
Iced coffee is typically brewed hot and then chilled or poured over ice.
Both are cold coffee drinks, but their brewing processes and flavor profiles are different.
⭐ Which Cold Brew Coffee Maker Should You Buy?
If you want an easy recommendation, start here:
Choose the OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker if you want a versatile system for regularly making concentrate.
Choose the OXO Compact if refrigerator and counter space are limited.
Choose the Takeya if affordability and durability matter most.
Choose the Hario Mizudashi if you want a simple glass pitcher.
Choose the Toddy if you make substantial batches of cold brew concentrate.
Choose the Vinci Express if the traditional overnight wait is the main thing stopping you from making cold brew.
There’s no need to overcomplicate the decision.
The best cold brew maker is the one that makes the brewing process easy enough that you’ll actually use it.
☕ The Bottom Line
You can make excellent cold brew without buying specialized equipment, but a well-designed brewer removes much of the mess from steeping, filtering, and storing coffee.
For most coffee drinkers, a simple manual immersion or pitcher brewer is all that’s necessary. Models from OXO, Takeya, Hario, and Toddy rely on straightforward brewing principles and require no electricity.
Rapid electric systems such as the Vinci offer another option when convenience matters more than simplicity.
Whichever brewer you choose, don’t forget that the equipment is only one part of the equation. Fresh beans, an appropriate grind, good-tasting water, the right coffee-to-water ratio, and sufficient steeping time have at least as much influence on your finished cup.
Once you’ve found a setup that works for you, keep a batch in the refrigerator and your next cold brew is already halfway made.
🔗 Related Articles
- Homemade Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
- Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew
- Cold Brew With Sweet Cream Cold Foam
📚 Sources
- OXO — Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Official specifications and features for OXO’s full-size brewer.
- OXO — Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Official capacity, filtration, brewing-time, and storage information.
- Takeya — Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Official information on sizes, materials, lid, and cleaning.
- Hario USA — Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Official specifications for Hario’s 600 ml and 1,000 ml brewers.
- Toddy — Cold Brew System — Official brewing and equipment information for the Toddy system.
- Vinci Housewares — Vinci Express Cold Brew — Official information on electric brewing, capacity, strength settings, and cleaning.
