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The best cold brew coffee makers turn coarse grounds and cold water into smooth, ready-to-pour coffee with almost no effort, and a good one pays for itself fast if you buy cold brew at cafés. Some make a strong concentrate that keeps for days, while others brew a pitcher you can drink straight from the fridge. We compared manufacturer specs, expert reviews from America’s Test Kitchen, Consumer Reports, Food Network, CNN Underscored and others, plus owner feedback, to pick eight that are worth your counter space.
Part of our Coffee Buying Guides.
Our top picks at a glance
- Best overall: OXO Good Grips 32 oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best for big batches of concentrate: Toddy Cold Brew System
- Best budget pitcher: Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot
- Best mason-jar kit: County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Mason Jar (2 Quart)
- Best for small kitchens: OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
- Best large glass pitcher: Primula Burke Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
- Best for the fridge door: Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
- Best premium pick: KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker (KCM4212SX)
| Model | Type | Capacity | Filter | Best for | Price tier | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips 32 oz | Concentrate brewer with drain switch | 32 oz brewer | Stainless mesh + paper | Most people | $$ | See price |
| Toddy Cold Brew System | Large-batch concentrate | About 45 fl oz concentrate | Reusable felt | Big households | $$ | See price |
| Hario Mizudashi | Immersion pitcher | 1,000 ml | Fine mesh | Budget, ready-to-drink | $ | See price |
| County Line Kitchen Mason Jar | Mason-jar kit | 64 oz | Stainless mesh | Big ready-to-drink batches | $–$$ | See price |
| OXO Brew Compact | Small immersion brewer | 24 oz | Stainless mesh | Small kitchens | $$ | See price |
| Primula Burke Deluxe | Immersion pitcher | 51 oz | Fine mesh | Value and easy cleaning | $ | See price |
| Takeya Deluxe | Immersion pitcher | 1 qt or 2 qt | Fine mesh | Fridge doors, durability | $–$$ | See price |
| KitchenAid KCM4212SX | Concentrate brewer with tap | Up to 28 oz concentrate | Stainless steeper | Style and tap pouring | $$$ | See price |
Price tiers: $ under $30, $$ $30–60, $$$ over $60. Prices change often, so check the current listing.
1. OXO Good Grips 32 oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Best overall
The OXO Good Grips cold brew maker is the one expert reviewers keep coming back to. Food Network named it the best overall cold brew maker in its 2026 roundup, Bob Vila ranks it first for consistent, mess-free results, and America’s Test Kitchen rates it Highly Recommended. It’s a concentrate brewer: grounds and water steep in the top container, then a switch drains the finished concentrate into a glass carafe below, so you never have to pour a sludgy mix through a filter.
A perforated “Rainmaker” lid spreads water evenly over the grounds, and the setup uses a stainless steel mesh filter with optional paper filters for a cleaner cup. Plan on steeping 12 to 24 hours. The glass carafe is dishwasher safe and has its own lid, so the concentrate goes straight into the fridge.
Why we picked it: The easiest and tidiest way to make cold brew concentrate, backed by the strongest run of expert recommendations.
Keep in mind: The yield is modest for how much coffee it uses; ATK measured about 20 oz of concentrate and found the highest cost per serving of its top picks, and it found simply stirring worked as well as the special lid.
What owners say: Owners like how clean and simple the drain-and-store process is, though many note it goes through beans quickly.
2. Toddy Cold Brew System — Best for big batches of concentrate
Toddy’s home cold brew system won America’s Test Kitchen’s most recent cold brew maker test for clean, full-flavored concentrate. Food Network calls it the best pick for big batches, and Consumer Reports recommends it for its large capacity and easy cleaning. Toddy’s manual calls for 12 oz of coarse coffee and 8 cups of water, which yields about 45 fl oz of concentrate after a steep of 8 to 24 hours.
The design is simple: a plastic brewing container with a stopper, a reusable felt filter, and a glass decanter for storage. Toddy says concentrate keeps up to two weeks in the fridge, and it suggests diluting it one part concentrate to two parts water or milk. The felt filter is good for up to 10 uses or three months, and paper filter bags are available if you’d rather skip the upkeep.
Why we picked it: It makes the most concentrate per batch of any manual brewer here, and the top-rated test result to go with it.
Keep in mind: The felt filter needs care and is slow to dry, and pulling the stopper to drain can get messy if you’re not careful.
What owners say: Fans love how long one batch lasts and how smooth it tastes, while the filter care and draining are the usual gripes.
3. Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot — Best budget pitcher
The Hario Mizudashi is a slim glass pitcher with a fine mesh basket that holds the grounds. You fill the basket, add water, refrigerate and pull the basket out when it’s done. CNN Underscored named it the best cold brew maker overall, and America’s Test Kitchen recommends it for a medium-bodied coffee with a light, almost tea-like quality.
It comes in 600 ml and 1,000 ml sizes and is made in Japan. One retailer recipe calls for 80 grams of medium-ground coffee to 1,000 ml of water, steeped about 18 hours in the fridge. Unlike the concentrate brewers above, the Mizudashi makes coffee you can drink straight, so there’s no diluting step. The narrow shape slides into most fridge doors.
Why we picked it: An inexpensive, low-effort way to keep ready-to-drink cold brew in the fridge, with strong expert backing.
Keep in mind: The lid doesn’t seal, the narrow basket is fiddly to clean, and the small bottom piece of the filter is easy to lose.
What owners say: Owners appreciate the low price and the easy routine, but some wish the lid were airtight.
4. County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Mason Jar — Best mason-jar kit
County Line Kitchen’s kit pairs a 64 oz wide-mouth glass mason jar with a long stainless steel mesh filter and a flip-cap lid. America’s Test Kitchen recommends it for flavorful, nuanced coffee, and Bob Vila picks it for easy overnight brewing. The parts are dishwasher safe, and because it’s a standard mason jar, it looks right at home on an open shelf.
ATK notes you can steep it for up to 48 hours depending on how strong you like it. Like the Hario, it makes a big batch of coffee you can drink straight or stretch with milk and ice, rather than a concentrate.
Why we picked it: The most coffee for the money, in a sturdy glass jar that’s easy to store.
Keep in mind: The long, narrow filter is awkward to fill and to rinse, and there’s no pour spout.
What owners say: Buyers like the sturdy jar and big yield, and most complaints are about cleaning the filter.
5. OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Best for small kitchens
If the full-size OXO is too big for your counter, the Compact is the scaled-down alternative. It’s a 24 oz brewer, good for up to seven cups, with a glass carafe, a stainless steel mesh filter and a cork stopper with a silicone seal. It measures roughly 5 by 5 by 9 inches, so it fits easily on a fridge shelf. Homes & Gardens named it the best cold brew maker for small spaces.
OXO recommends steeping for 12 to 24 hours on the counter or in the fridge. The carafe is dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup quicker than with most mesh-filter brewers.
Why we picked it: OXO quality in a size that suits apartments and one-person households.
Keep in mind: The batch is small, it costs nearly as much as larger brewers, and reviewers found it can get a little messy to use.
What owners say: Owners like the small footprint and the taste, but heavy drinkers find themselves brewing often.
6. Primula Burke Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker — Best large glass pitcher
The Primula Burke is a 51 oz borosilicate glass carafe with a fine mesh filter in the center. In Consumer Reports’ testing it earned the best overall score of the cold brew makers it rated, largely on the strength of excellent convenience. Bob Vila also recommends it for households that drink a lot of cold brew.
You add grounds to the filter, pour in water and steep it in the fridge for about 24 hours. The carafe is top-rack dishwasher safe. It’s one of the least expensive glass brewers you can buy, and the big capacity means fewer brewing days.
Why we picked it: A large, easy-to-clean glass pitcher at a budget price, with Consumer Reports’ top score.
Keep in mind: Taste scores were only middling, it needs a full day to brew, and some reviewers found fine grounds slipping through the mesh.
What owners say: People like the size, the glass and the price, but some find the flavor a little flat.
7. Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker — Best for the fridge door
Takeya’s pitcher is made from BPA-free Tritan plastic with a silicone handle, an airtight lid and a reusable ultra-fine mesh filter. It comes in 1 quart and 2 quart sizes and is built to lie flat or stand in a fridge door. CNN Underscored picked it as its best cold brew maker for travel, and Bob Vila names it a budget-friendly choice. All the parts are dishwasher safe.
Takeya’s recipe for the 1 quart size calls for about 106 grams of coarse coffee, steeped roughly 24 hours in the fridge. Because the pitcher is plastic, it won’t shatter if it gets knocked over, which makes it a good pick for busy households.
Why we picked it: Tough, airtight and slim enough for the fridge door, at a low price.
Keep in mind: Reviews are mixed: America’s Test Kitchen did not recommend it, citing under-extracted coffee and awkward handling, and CNN noted it can leak if tipped over.
What owners say: Owners value the durability and fridge-friendly shape, though some find the coffee on the weak side.
8. KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker (KCM4212SX) — Best premium pick
KitchenAid’s cold brew maker is the most polished-looking option here: a glass carafe with a stainless steel steeper and a built-in tap, so you can pour concentrate straight from the fridge without lifting the jar. It makes up to 28 oz of concentrate, enough for up to 14 servings, and KitchenAid says the concentrate keeps up to two weeks. Steep it at least 12 hours in the fridge.
Consumer Reports recommends it and rates it very good for cleaning and convenience, and Homes & Gardens calls it the most versatile cold brew maker it reviewed.
Why we picked it: The tap is the most convenient way to serve cold brew, and it looks good doing it.
Keep in mind: It’s the most expensive manual brewer here, the carafe is heavy, and Consumer Reports gave it a lower taste score than the cheaper picks.
What owners say: Owners love the tap and the look, but several feel the batch is small for the price.
How to choose a cold brew coffee maker
Concentrate or ready-to-drink?
Concentrate brewers like the Toddy, the OXO Good Grips and the KitchenAid use a lot of coffee relative to water and make a strong base you dilute with water, milk or ice. ATK notes that OXO’s instructions call for roughly 1 part coffee to 4 parts water, while most other makers fall between 1:6 and 1:10. Toddy suggests diluting its concentrate one part to two parts liquid. Pitchers like the Hario, Primula and Takeya brew weaker coffee you can pour straight over ice.
Cold brew is not the same as iced coffee
Cold brew steeps in cold or room-temperature water for many hours, while iced coffee is brewed hot, often at double strength, and then chilled or poured over ice. Stumptown describes cold brew as smoother and mellower and iced coffee as brighter. If you want iced coffee in minutes, a hot brewer from our pour-over guide may suit you better.
Use a coarse grind and give it time
Cold brew calls for a coarse grind, similar to what you’d use for a French press; fine grounds clog filters and make the coffee muddy. Most manual makers need 12 to 24 hours of steeping. Blue Bottle’s published recipe steeps up to 18 hours, and Stumptown’s runs about 16 hours in the fridge. A burr grinder gives the most even coarse grind; see our coffee grinder guide.
Think about filters
Stainless mesh filters are reusable and let more oils through for a fuller body. Felt (Toddy) and paper filters produce a cleaner cup, and ATK notes that paper-filtered coffee tends to stay fresh longer because more of the oils are removed. Felt filters need regular rinsing and replacement.
Plan for fridge space and storage time
Measure your fridge door or shelf before you buy. Tall pitchers like the Hario and Takeya are made for doors, while the OXO and Toddy take up shelf space. A Counter Culture Coffee representative told ATK that a tightly sealed batch is best within about a week, although Toddy and KitchenAid say their concentrate keeps up to two weeks.
Be skeptical of low-acid claims
Cold brew is often marketed as low-acid, but a 2018 study by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University, published in Scientific Reports, found hot and cold brew had similar pH levels. Hot brew had more titratable acids, but the researchers cautioned that cold brew isn’t a guaranteed fix for an upset stomach.
Manual or electric?
Electric rapid cold brewers promise coffee in minutes, but when America’s Test Kitchen tested four electric models, it found the results watery, gritty or muddy. That’s why every pick on this list is a manual brewer.
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FAQ
How long should cold brew steep?
Most manual cold brew makers call for 12 to 24 hours. Toddy allows 8 to 24 hours, and pitchers like the Primula and Takeya suggest about 24 hours in the fridge. Longer steeps make stronger coffee, so adjust to taste.
What coffee-to-water ratio should I use?
For concentrate, start around 1:4 to 1:5 by weight and dilute about one part concentrate to one or two parts water or milk. ATK found most cold brew makers call for somewhere between 1:6 and 1:10, with ready-to-drink pitchers at the weaker end. Always start with the maker’s own recipe.
How long does cold brew last in the fridge?
Aim to drink it within about a week in a sealed container. Some manufacturers, including Toddy and KitchenAid, say undiluted concentrate keeps up to two weeks.
Is cold brew less acidic than hot coffee?
Not by much. A 2018 study found hot and cold brew had similar pH, though hot coffee had more titratable acidity. Many people still find cold brew tastes smoother and less sharp.
Can I use any coffee for cold brew?
Yes, but medium and dark roasts tend to give the chocolatey, smooth flavor people expect, while light roasts come out brighter and fruitier. Use a coarse grind. Looking for beans? See our best coffee roasters guide.
Related guides
- All coffee buying guides
- The best French press
- The best pour-over coffee makers
- The best drip coffee makers
- The best coffee grinders
Sources
America’s Test Kitchen: Best cold brew coffee makers · Consumer Reports: Best cold brew coffee makers · Food Network: Best cold brew makers · CNN Underscored: Best cold brew coffee maker · Bob Vila: Best cold brew makers · Homes & Gardens: Best cold brew coffee maker · Toddy: Instruction manual · OXO 32 oz specs · OXO Compact specs · Prima Coffee: Hario Mizudashi · County Line Kitchen mason jar specs · Takeya Deluxe specs · Whole Latte Love: Primula Burke · KitchenAid: KCM4212SX · Stumptown: Cold brew vs iced coffee · Hario USA: Blue Bottle cold brew recipe · Rao & Fuller, Scientific Reports (2018) · EurekAlert: Cold brew acidity study
Owner feedback is summarized in our own words from public reviews. Photos courtesy of Unsplash.