Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers To Keep You Cool All Year Round
Cold Brew is a coffee trend that seems to have popped up out of nowhere, and let me tell you, it’s not going away anytime soon. People LOVE cold brew coffee. If you haven’t had a chance to try it yet, it’s important to understand that cold brew is not the same coffee you might have seen your local barista serve up loaded with ice (that’s iced coffee). Cold brew is a rich, dark, surprisingly sweet coffee that is literally brewed cold (or at room temp), and steeped for 12-24 hours – kind of like tea. Cold brewing methods baby the bean by not using any heat which results in less acidity and a much cleaner taste. If you’re already familiar with cold brew I’m sure you’re sick and tired of paying cafe prices for the stuff, and we’d like to help you out with that. Below is our list for our top picks for the best cold brew makers.
Our Top Picks For The Best Cold Brew Makers
Overall Top Pick – OXO BREW Cold Brew Coffee Maker
This cold brew coffee maker is perfect for connoisseurs and beginners and it’s easy on the eyes so you can proudly leave it out for everyone to admire.
The OXO BREW Cold Brew Coffee Maker can brew up to 32 ounces of delicious coffee using a bucket style immersion brewing technique that allows more experienced cold brew enthusiasts to really experiment with their technique.
This cold brew maker produces a silky, concentrated brew with little to no sediment thanks to the ultrafine (and reusable) stainless steel mesh filter.
The strength and concentration of the coffee you can produce with this brewer will not disappoint, and because it’s strong, you can really stretch it out by diluting small quantities at a time, for up to a week.
The design of this brewer ensures it’s able to produce robust flavour due to the unique “rainmaker” lid that releases water slowly in order to evenly distribute it over the coffee.
After you’ve allowed your brew to steep for up to 24 hours all you have to do is flip a switch to drain the concentrated coffee into the decanter, and voila!
As a handy extra, you can also use this machine to make hot coffee.
The OXO BREW is small and compact and disassembles easily for quick storage. It’s also very easy to clean.
Pros
- Produces fine coffee with little sediment
- Makes cold brew and hot brew
- Compact and easy to clean
Cons
- You have to play around with the coarseness of your grind to ensure there isn’t any clogging
Best Value – Primula Burke Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
This pot style brewer is durable, and an excellent value. It’s compact and can tuck away in the door of most fridges, and it’s very easy to use and clean.
The Primula Burke Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker is a steal considering its ability to make awesome cold brew (and iced coffee) for a fraction of the price of other options on the market. It comes in a variety of colours and looks very similar to a french press. It can produce 32 ounces of coffee per brew.
The Primula Burke is a pot-style brewer made of temperature safe borosilicate glass encompassed by a durable protective holder and a comfortable grip handle. It has a unique lid that is designed to seal in freshness and offer a drip-free pour. The non-silicone base protects you from accidental slips.
In order to use this cold brew maker, all you have to do is put coarse coffee grounds into the mesh basket, slowly add water and allow it to brew for between 12-24 hours depending on how strong you like your coffee.
There is a very fine filter used in this brewer so you can consistently get a super tasty, velvety cup without sediment or any lingering bitterness.
One of our favorite things about this brewer is how simple it is to clean. All you have to do is remove the bottom and dump out the grounds.
This model doesn’t come with a scoop or a funnel so if you feel like you need those items you’ll need to buy them separately.
Pros
- Very low price considering the quality
- A removable bottom that makes it easy to remove used grounds
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a scoop or funnel
Crowd Favorite – Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
With over eight thousand positive reviews, this attractive, streamlined and awesomely priced cold brew maker is a great option for everyone.
The Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker is durable with a BPA free Tritan pitcher that is insulated and can handle both hot and cold coffee. It has an airtight lid to keep things fresh and ensure no drippage, and there is a convenient non-slip silicone handle.
Conveniently choose from a one or two quart pitcher depending on your needs.
What’s great about this brewer is the fine mesh filter that does an excellent job at keeping grounds out of your brew.
This compact brewer can fit in most fridge doors and is dishwasher safe (top rack only).
Pros
- Comes in a variety of sizes
- Option to purchase replacement filters
- BPA free Tritan filter is insulated for hot or cold coffee
- Fine mesh filter with little sediment
Cons
- Some customers have mentioned that the filter can get clogged if the grounds are too coarse
Most Lux Option – KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker
This cold brew maker has a very thoughtful design and is constructed of premium glass and steel to ensure it lasts.
The KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker is absolutely gorgeous and comes in two convenient sizes (28 or 38 ounces).
What’s especially cool about this brewer is the built-in spigot that allows you to dispense your brew without any heavy lifting. You can put this brewer in your fridge, or leave it out on the counter for easy access – up to you!
The stainless steel grounds tray (with a convenient handle) lives inside a larger glass container. To make your brew just get your grounds damp, add the rest of the water (28 – 38 ounces depending on the model) and let the coffee brew for 12-24 hours in or out of the fridge (depending on your preferences).
There is a steel filter and if any grounds get through there is a textured bottom that will encourage them to settle so you don’t end up with grounds in your drink. If any grounds don’t manage to settle, the spigot will make sure they are filtered out and don’t end up in your cup.
Pros
- Constructed with premium materials (glass and stainless steel)
- Very attractive design
- Built-in dispensing spigot that turns your fridge or counter into a coffee bar
Cons
- It is a more expensive option
Is Cold Brew Stronger Than Hot Coffee
Cold brew is MUCH more caffeinated than regular hot coffee so sometimes a little goes a long way. Because it’s stronger, some people like to dilute their cold brew with dairy (a dairy alternative), or water. When you make cold brew, think of it as a coffee concentrate. How strong you’d like your cup is up to you, simply add some milk, cream or water if you feel it’s too intense and you’d like to dilute it a little bit. Make sure to dilute your brew little by little so you don’t end up with a cup that’s way too weak. The strength of your brew will also depend on other factors, like how long it’s steeped and the kind of beans you used. The more you brew the more you’ll learn how to experiment with timing, dilution etc. so you can always recreate the perfect cup.
Is Cold Brew Good For Sensitive Stomachs?
Certain people have been known to struggle with coffee because it’s too hard on their stomachs. Some believe that this is due to the high acidity levels in coffee brewed using heat. Cold brew makers use time (12-24 hours) instead of heat to slowly brew the coffee, and as a result, it’s much less acidic and therefore might not give people the same tummy problems as the hot stuff. If you have other gastro issues you might also benefit from changing up your hot coffee to some cold brew (but you’ll have to determine that on your own).
Is It True Cold Brew Is a Weight Loss Aid?
With a quick Google search, you will find some literature that suggests that due to its high caffeine content, there is evidence that cold brew can speed up your metabolism, and in turn, help you burn calories. We aren’t qualified to officially say anything about these claims so we’ll leave the research up to you.
How Do You Make Cold Brew
How you make cold brew will differ slightly depending on the brewer you’re using and your personal preferences. A great rule of thumb is to use a ratio of one part coffee (coarsely ground) to between four and five parts water (the more water, the less concentrated the brew). It’s important to get the grounds wet, how wet really depends, you’ll need to play around with it. After you’ve poured some water over the grounds wait a couple of minutes before pouring the rest of the water in. Most cold brew makers will have a filter to separate the water from the grounds and this is because a filter reduces sediment. A lot of people like to let their coffee steep at room temp for at least 12 hours before putting it in the fridge for another 12-24, but again, this all depends on personal preference so play around with brewing times and temps. When the brewing is all done take a minute to remove the used grounds from the brewer and then get your brew into the fridge. When the coffee is nice and cold and you’re ready for a cup, dilute it slowly with a little (or a lot) of milk or water until it’s just right for you. If you don’t enjoy your first few batches, consider mixing up your method (increasing or decreasing brewing time, allowing it to steep at room temp instead of in the fridge, etc.) You can also try new coffee beans because good, fresh beans can make all the difference in the world.
Is Making Cold Brew Easier Than Making Hot Brew?
Making cold brew in a cold brewer maker is very easy, just as easy as using a hot brew machine. The main difference is time. You have to plan ahead when you’re making cold brew because it will take 12-24 hours to steep. The good news is that when the cold coffee is done brewing it’s very concentrated (so a little goes a long way) and it lasts for up to a week so you don’t have to brew a fresh batch every day.
Which Is Better, Hot Coffee Or Cold?
Which is better depends on personal preferences (and probably the time of year!) Hot coffee has more antioxidants than cold coffee because using heat to brew the coffee means more chlorogenic acid and bioactive antioxidants can be extracted from the bean.
We don’t have as much research to rely on when it comes to cold coffee because the vast majority of studies have been done using hot coffee. That said, as previously mentioned, cold coffee has less acidity which might benefit some people with certain conditions or sensitivities. Cold brew coffee is also much stronger which some people will like, and some won’t. Cold coffee takes longer to make but has a longer shelf life than hot because it’s stored in the fridge and can last up to a week.
Is Nitro Cold Brew The Same As Regular Cold Brew?
Nitro cold brew is technically just cold brew that has been infused with Nitrogen gas. It usually comes out of a keg, very much like draft beer and has a frothy head on the pour that makes it look almost exactly like an Irish dry stout! If you haven’t had a chance to try nitro cold brew you’re probably best to find a local cafe that sells it (because it’s not something you can easily create at home).
Final Thoughts
Cold brew is a refreshing treat year-round, and an excellent option for anyone who’d like a smoother coffee experience with less acidity. Cold brew is naturally sweet, and uber caffeinated so it’s great for a quick pick me up whenever you need one. Although it takes a long time to steep, cold brew lasts up to a week in the fridge and is more concentrated so you don’t have to use as much. Making cold brew (well) at home takes some tinkering around, but it’s super affordable and well worth it (once you get the hang of it). If you’d like to try working cold brew into your routine, or you’re done with paying top dollar for store-bought stuff, we hope this list will make it easier for you to find the right cold brew maker for you.