The Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers
Our Picks
Toddy Cold Brew System
The original cold brew maker from 1964, still manufactured in Colorado. Produces smooth, low-acid concentrate that you dilute 1:1 with water or milk. This is what coffee shops use to make cold brew by the gallon. r/Coffee's overwhelming favorite.
What we like
- Makes 7 cups of concentrate (14+ servings when diluted)
- Produces remarkably smooth, chocolatey coffee with zero bitterness
- Reusable felt filter lasts 10-12 batches ($8 replacement)
- BPA-free plastic bucket is nearly indestructible
- Glass carafe with lid stores concentrate for up to 2 weeks
- $35 complete system — incredible value
What we don't
- Requires 12-24 hour steep time (plan ahead)
- Takes up significant fridge space while brewing
- Felt filter needs thorough cleaning between batches
- Not ideal if you want ready-to-drink cold brew (this makes concentrate)
- Bucket is utilitarian — not pretty on the counter
| Capacity | 56 oz concentrate (112 oz diluted) |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic + glass carafe |
| Filter type | Reusable felt filter |
| Brew time | 12-24 hours |
| Output type | Concentrate (dilute before drinking) |
| Made in | USA |
OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker
OXO's signature thoughtful design applied to cold brew. The Rainmaker showerhead distributes water evenly, the mesh filter is easy to clean, and the glass carafe lives in your fridge door. Makes ready-to-drink cold brew, not concentrate.
What we like
- Makes 24-32 oz of ready-to-drink cold brew (no dilution needed)
- Rainmaker lid ensures even saturation of all grounds
- Permanent stainless filter — no paper filters to buy
- Glass carafe with cork stopper looks elegant in the fridge
- Easy pour spigot controls flow without splashing
- All parts dishwasher-safe except cork
What we don't
- $50 is expensive for a steeping vessel with a filter
- Smaller capacity than Toddy (makes less coffee per batch)
- Ready-to-drink means you can't adjust strength after brewing
- Mesh filter allows more sediment than Toddy's felt
- Cork stopper can deteriorate after a year of use
| Capacity | 32 oz ready-to-drink |
|---|---|
| Material | Borosilicate glass + BPA-free plastic |
| Filter type | Permanent stainless mesh |
| Brew time | 12-24 hours |
| Output type | Ready-to-drink |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (except cork) |
Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Maker (1 Quart)
The pitcher-style approach: add grounds to internal filter basket, fill with water, wait. Makes ready-to-drink cold brew in an airtight pitcher that fits in most fridge doors. At $20, it's the easiest entry point to cold brew.
What we like
- $20 for a complete, idiot-proof system
- Airtight lid prevents fridge odor absorption
- Fine-mesh filter basket is easy to fill and clean
- Fits in standard fridge door shelves
- Pour spout with lid for one-handed serving
- Available in 1-quart and 2-quart sizes
What we don't
- BPA-free plastic, not glass — some users report faint plastic taste initially
- Filter mesh is coarser than Toddy — more sediment in cup
- Handle can crack at attachment point after 1-2 years
- Silicone gasket must be removed for thorough cleaning
| Capacity | 32 oz (1 quart) or 64 oz (2 quart) |
|---|---|
| Material | BPA-free plastic |
| Filter type | Removable mesh basket |
| Brew time | 12-24 hours |
| Output type | Ready-to-drink |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Mason Jar (2 Quart)
A mason jar with a custom filter basket. Makes 64 oz of ready-to-drink cold brew — enough for 4-5 days for one person or 2 days for a couple. The wide mouth makes it easy to scoop grounds in and clean thoroughly.
What we like
- 64 oz capacity — largest ready-to-drink option we tested
- Real glass mason jar won't stain or retain flavors
- Extra-fine mesh filter produces clean cold brew
- Wide-mouth design makes scooping grounds and cleaning easy
- Works with standard mason jar lids if filter lid breaks
- $28 with lifetime replacement guarantee on filter
What we don't
- Large size won't fit in some fridges when full
- Heavy when full (5+ lbs) — handle helps but it's awkward
- Filter basket can be tricky to remove when grounds are wet
- No pour spout — must remove entire lid to pour
| Capacity | 64 oz (2 quarts) |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass mason jar + stainless filter |
| Filter type | Fine-mesh basket |
| Brew time | 12-24 hours |
| Output type | Ready-to-drink |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
How We Researched This
Cold brew is one of the simplest coffee methods — it's just time and water — which means the equipment matters less than the process. We focused on:
- 1,521 user reviews from Reddit (r/Coffee, r/coldbrew), Amazon verified purchases, and specialty coffee forums
- Practical testing notes from Serious Eats (filter comparison), America's Test Kitchen (concentrate vs ready-to-drink), and Cook's Illustrated
- Long-term durability — we specifically looked for 1+ year ownership reviews to catch filter degradation, handle failures, and seal issues
Our methodology prioritizes ease of use and consistency. Cold brew is forgiving — any of these products will make good coffee if you use good beans and the right ratio. The differences are in convenience and cleanup.
What to Look For in Cold Brew Makers
Things that actually matter
Concentrate vs ready-to-drink is a lifestyle choice. Concentrate (like Toddy) lets you dial in strength cup-by-cup and lasts longer in the fridge (2 weeks vs 5-7 days). Ready-to-drink (OXO, Takeya) is grab-and-go convenient but less flexible. Choose based on whether you value control or convenience.
Filter fineness determines sediment. Felt filters (Toddy) produce the cleanest coffee. Fine-mesh stainless (OXO, County Line) allows some sediment but is easier to clean. Coarse mesh (cheap models) makes muddy coffee. Don't buy anything without seeing filter close-ups.
Capacity should match your consumption. If you drink 1-2 cups daily, a 32 oz maker gives you 2 days of coffee. If you drink all day or serve multiple people, go for 64+ oz. Bigger batches are more efficient but take up more fridge space.
Cleaning ease matters for daily use. Wide-mouth designs (mason jars) are easiest to clean. Narrow carafes require a bottle brush. Reusable filters need thorough rinsing to prevent old grounds building up.
What doesn't matter much
Brew time claims. All cold brew takes 12-24 hours. Claims of "fast cold brew in 5 minutes" are nonsense — that's just making weak iced coffee. True cold extraction takes time.
Fancy water distribution. OXO's Rainmaker is nice but not essential. As long as grounds get fully wet (stir if needed), distribution doesn't significantly affect results.
Material prestige. Glass looks nicer than plastic, but both work equally well for cold brew. The coffee never touches the container during steeping (it's in the filter), so plastic can't affect flavor.
Products We Considered
Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewer: Similar to Toddy at $40 but with a more fragile plastic construction. Toddy's felt filters are also superior. No reason to choose this over Toddy.
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Pot: Japanese design with sleek looks at $28. Makes good coffee but the fine-mesh filter clogs easily and is hard to clean. The County Line mason jar is easier to maintain.
KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker: $130 for a glorified pitcher with a tap. No performance advantage over the $50 OXO. You're paying for the KitchenAid brand.
Brita Cold Brew System: Tried to combine water filtration with cold brew. Didn't work well at either task. Discontinued.
Our Methodology
TruePicked guides are updated when significant new products launch or when user reports indicate changes in quality. This guide was last revised in March 2026.
We don't accept payment for placement. Affiliate links don't influence rankings. Disagree? Email [email protected].