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The Insider Pick:
A top-quality cold brew coffee maker produces a large quantity of full-bodied and flavorful concentrate, is easy to use, and can withstand years of regular use. The Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer is our top pick because it will supply you with rich, delicious coffee at a low cost per cup.
As the temperatures heat up, many of us put away our automatic drip coffee machines and turn to a cooler alternative. You can pick up some excellent cold brew concentrates at your local market or coffee shop. Or, for a fraction of the price and minimal effort, you can make your own using a cold brew coffee maker.
Even if the weather is freezing where you are, there are countless reasons why you might want to consider cold brew. The process produces a coffee that is less acidic and generally smoother. And, unlike hot-brewed coffee, you can store cold brew in the fridge for up to two weeks without a noticeable decline in flavor. Also, cold brew coffee makers do not require any electricity, so you can take it with you camping or just reduce your carbon footprint.
If you own a French press and are not sure if you want to invest in a cold brew coffee maker yet, you can try a test batch. Use four ounces of water for each once of coarse coffee grounds. After letting the mixture sit for 12 to 24 hours, put it through a cheesecloth or paper filter. If you like the results, you are sure to enjoy the concentrate produced by cold brew coffee makers, which are much easier to clean and use.
We should point out that cold brewers produce a highly concentrated coffee. Therefore, you will want to dilute it with milk, water, or pour it over ice. As tempting as it may be, do not drink an entire carafe of the stuff. We’ve read enough horror stories.
While researching the best cold brew coffee makers, we looked at hundreds of ratings and reviews of countless cold brewers from both experts and buyers. The ones included in our guide are durable, user-friendly, and, most importantly, produce cold brew concentrate that is smooth and full of flavor.
Read on in the slides below to find out why Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer is our pick and why you might prefer the Toddy Cold Brew System, the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, the Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, and the Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Iced Coffee Pot.
SEE ALSO: The best pour-over coffee gear you can buy
The best cold brew coffee maker overall
Why you'll love it: If you would like to save money by cold brewing coffee that rivals what you can buy at the store, the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer is your best bet.
What sets the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer apart from other brewing systems is its use of a water bowl. This system evenly saturates the coffee grounds to draw out the flavors of the beans and make delicious coffee.
To use the brewer, you first plug the bottom of the coffee bowl and insert the reusable sealed filter. For easy cleanup, insert a large coffee filter on top of that and fill it with up to a pound of ground coffee. Next, place the plastic guard on the coffee and put the water bowl on top. You then fill the water bowl to the appropriate level and let the coffee steep for 12 to 24 hours. Lastly, you place the setup over the 1.5-liter carafe and pull the plug.
The Filtron Brewer comes with two sample paper filters and a measuring cup. One unique and somewhat irritating feature is that the reusable filter pad must be stored in the refrigerator in water to stave off mold.
Expert reviewers and buyers alike agree that this cold brew coffee maker is excellent. CNET recommends the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer because of the rich and delicious quality of the coffee it produces. As for downsides, the reviewer found that the Filtron was more difficult to use than others because of the multi-chamber filter. Still, the reviewer recommends it as an affordable, effective cold brew option.
Of the half dozen cold brew systems The Wirecutter tested, the Filtron brewer consistently supplied the best tasting concentrate. The reviewer also found that the brewer produced the least expensive cold brew per cup. However, the writer noted that it is more cumbersome to replenish its supplies and to store it.
About 86% of the people who reviewed the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer on Amazon gave it four or five stars. One buyer named Dan commented that he is hooked on how cost-effective and simple home cold brewing is with the Filtron system. He recommended using a whole pound of coarse grounds with 32 ounces of ice water and brewing for 24 hours for a strong concentrate.
Others buyers appreciated that they didn’t need to use Filtron-specific filters. Standard large coffee filters work well and are only needed for easier cleanup.
Pros: Takes many different filters, produces rich and delicious coffee at a low cost per cup
Cons: Hard to store, difficult to use at first
Buy the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer on Amazon for $39.95
The best no-hassle cold brew coffee maker
Why you'll love it: The Toddy Cold Brew System has a long track record of providing a great balance of simplicity and flavor.
Cornell chemical engineer graduate Todd Simpson developed the Toddy Cold Brew Systemin 1964. The system includes a brewing container with handle, two reusable filters, a rubber stopper, a glass decanter with lid, a recipe guide, and instructions. The filters are designed to last for 3 months or up to 12 uses, whichever comes first.
The process for making cold brew coffee is essentially the same as that of our top pick. The only difference is that the Toddy system does not have a separate water bowl. This may account for why many prefer the smoothness and flavor of the Filtron brewer. Still, many coffee bloggers who review coffee gear love the Toddy.
Seattle Coffee Gear recommends the Toddy Cold Brew System because of its design and ease of use. The reviewer found that a single filter did an excellent job of trapping bitter acids for up to a dozen uses and liked the smooth taste of the concentrate.
Coffee Review tested the Toddy, and while the reviewer appreciated the simplicity of the system and the quality of the concentrate it produced, the writer would have liked it if the system came with a lid to keep out oxidation, dust, and more. The reviewer also found that the filter was prone to clogging, but still recommended it as an affordable and dependable option.
More than 1,000 people have left positive reviews of the Toddy Cold Brew System on Amazon. One buyer named Bryan had used his Toddy gadget regularly for five years until one morning the handle gave way and the whole setup crashed onto his floor sending concentrate and broken glass all over the floor. Nonetheless, he still had positive things to say about the quality of the coffee.
Another buyer hooked up a vacuum pump to their Toddy to speed up the drip process, which tends to be slow otherwise.
Pros: Easy to use, produces smooth tasting cold brew
Cons: Doesn’t have a lid, long-term durability concerns
Buy the Toddy Cold Brew System on Amazon for $33.95
Buy the Toddy T2N Cold Brew System and Toddy Filters (2-pack) Bundle on Amazon for $38.94
Buy the Toddy Filters (2-pack) on Amazon for $4.99
Buy the Toddy THMPF20 Paper Filter Bags (20-pack) on Amazon for $14.99 (originally $19.50)
The best cold brew coffee maker for stylish kitchens
Why you'll love it: If you don’t mind spending a little extra for style and convenience, the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is the ideal brewer for your kitchen.
There are a few features that set the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker apart from the coffee makers we’ve looked at so far. First, there is a unique perforated “rainmaker” top that helps distribute the water evenly over the coffee grounds, which is key for optimal flavor extraction. Also, rather than using a stopper or plug at the bottom of the coffee bowl, there is a valve that is easy to turn on and off.
The OXO cold brew maker features a fine, stainless steel mesh filter that you can reuse, though you may still want to use a paper filter for easier cleanup. The carafe is made of borosilicate glass, which is quite resilient since it does not expand or contract like normal glass. The carafe is shaped like an Erlenmeyer flask, which is sure to appeal to chemists. Lastly, this OXO gadget can produce up to 32 ounces of cold brew at a time.
Expert reviewers rate the OXO machine highly. Wired recommends the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Makerbecause of the smart design. The reviewer was impressed with how easy it was to measure out grounds and water with the markings and that it came apart easily for storage and cleaning. However, the writer didn’t like that it takes up so much space.
CNET gave this brewer high marks for design and performance. Since it is more expensive than other models, the reviewer only recommended this coffee maker for people who plan to use it often and who appreciate the aesthetics of it.
The OXO coffee maker was the top pick at The Wirecutter. The reviewer liked its attractive appearance and how it could be broken down for easy storage. It was also easier to pour than the alternatives they tested. The writer also noted that it brought out more flavors from the coffee than other options.
About 79% of the buyers who reviewed the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker on Amazon had positive things to say. The most helpful reviewer provides a comparison to the Toddy, which he used for a decade before trying out the OXO. Overall, he found the OXO brewer is superior because of the pouring valve, which allows him to pull a cup and let it brew a little bit longer. With the stopper of the Toddy, it’s hard to “recork” it. Plus, you could potentially lose the stopper.
Pros: Stylish design, easy to store, uses a valve for pouring
Cons: Relatively expensive
Buy the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker with 10 Paper Filters on Amazon for $49.95
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