Best Cold Brew Makers (2026)

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The short answer

The best cold brew maker for most people is the OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker: its rainmaker lid spreads water evenly over the grounds, a switch drains the concentrate cleanly into a glass carafe, and it makes about 32 ounces of concentrate. If you want bigger batches and lower acidity, the Toddy Cold Brew System is the long-time café favorite. For ready-to-drink cold brew in the fridge, the Hario Mizudashi is the simplest and cheapest, and the County Line Kitchen mason jar is the best budget large-batch option. If you can’t wait 12 to 24 hours, the Cuisinart automatic cold brew maker or a machine with a fast cold-brew mode makes it in under an hour.

Our picks at a glance

Pick	Model	Capacity	Filter	Best for	Amazon
Best overall	OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker	About 32 oz concentrate	Reusable mesh, optional paper	Clean, easy concentrate	Check price
Best for big batches	Toddy Cold Brew System	Large batch concentrate	Felt filter, optional paper liners	Smooth, low-acid concentrate	Check price
Best ready-to-drink	Hario Mizudashi (1000ml)	About 1 liter	Fine mesh	Simple fridge cold brew	Check price
Best budget large batch	County Line Kitchen 64 oz	2 quarts	Stainless mesh	Big batches cheaply	Check price
Fastest	Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brew	7-cup carafe	Reusable filter	Cold brew in under an hour	Check price

What is cold brew?

Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold or room-temperature water for a long time, typically 12 to 24 hours, then filtered. Because hot water never touches the grounds, cold brew extracts fewer of the compounds that taste sharp and bitter, giving a smooth, chocolatey, low-acid cup. Most methods make a concentrate you dilute with water or milk, while some make ready-to-drink coffee. It’s different from iced coffee, which is hot-brewed coffee poured over ice.

OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker: best overall

OXO’s design sits a brewing container above a glass carafe. The perforated rainmaker lid distributes water evenly over the grounds so you don’t have to stir, and when steeping is done you flip a brew-release switch to drain the concentrate into the carafe. A stainless mesh filter catches grounds, and paper filters are included for an extra-clean cup.

Who it’s for: anyone who drinks cold brew regularly and wants a tidy, repeatable process.

Good to know: it takes up some room on the counter while it steeps, and the carafe, not the whole unit, goes in the fridge.

Check the OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker on Amazon →

Toddy Cold Brew System: best for big batches

The Toddy has been used in coffee shops for decades. You steep coarse grounds in the brewing container, then pull a stopper to drain concentrate through a thick felt filter into a glass decanter. The felt filter produces a very clean, smooth concentrate, and Toddy says its process yields significantly lower acidity than hot brewing.

Who it’s for: heavy cold brew drinkers and households that want a week’s supply at once.

Good to know: felt filters need to be rinsed, kept damp and refrigerated between uses, and replaced periodically. Draining can be slow and a little messy until you learn it.

Check the Toddy Cold Brew System on Amazon →

Hario Mizudashi: best ready-to-drink

The Mizudashi is a slim glass pitcher with a fine-mesh coffee basket. Add coffee to the basket, fill with water, put it in the fridge overnight and remove the basket. You get ready-to-drink cold brew in a pitcher that fits in a fridge door.

Who it’s for: people who want the simplest, cheapest route to a liter of smooth cold brew.

Good to know: it makes drinkable-strength coffee rather than concentrate, so it doesn’t stretch as far. The mesh lets some fines through, giving slight sediment.

Check the Hario Mizudashi on Amazon →

County Line Kitchen 64 oz: best budget large batch

County Line Kitchen pairs a 2-quart wide-mouth glass mason jar with a heavy stainless mesh filter and a flip-cap lid you can pour from. It holds enough for several days of concentrate, and doubles as an iced tea pitcher.

Who it’s for: budget-minded families who drink a lot of cold brew.

Good to know: the mesh is fine but not as clean as Toddy’s felt; a second pass through a paper filter removes sediment if it bothers you. Glass jars are heavy when full.

Check the County Line Kitchen 64 oz on Amazon →

Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brew: fastest

Cuisinart’s automatic cold brew maker circulates room-temperature water through the grounds rather than letting them sit, which shortens brew time to roughly 25 to 45 minutes depending on the strength setting. It brews into a glass carafe that goes straight into the fridge.

Who it’s for: people who forget to start cold brew the night before.

Good to know: flavor is close to, but not identical to, long-steeped cold brew. It is a dedicated appliance that takes counter space.

Check the Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brew on Amazon →

Other fast options

Some coffee machines now include rapid cold-brew modes. The Breville Precision Brewer Thermal has a cold brew program, and the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo includes a Cold Extraction function for cold espresso-style drinks in minutes. They are convenient but don’t fully replace an overnight steep.

How to make cold brew

Step	What to do
1. Grind	Grind coarse, like rough sea salt. A burr grinder such as the Baratza Encore gives even particles and less sludge.
2. Ratio	For concentrate, start around 1:4 to 1:5 coffee to water by weight. For ready-to-drink, try 1:8 to 1:12.
3. Steep	12 to 18 hours in the fridge, or 12 hours at room temperature. Longer can turn woody and bitter.
4. Filter	Drain or remove the grounds; double-filter through paper for extra clarity.
5. Dilute and serve	Mix concentrate roughly 1:1 with water or milk over ice, then adjust to taste.
6. Store	Refrigerate in a sealed container and drink within about a week to ten days for best flavor.

Buying checklist

• Concentrate or ready-to-drink? Concentrate stretches further; ready-to-drink is simpler.
• Batch size: match capacity to your weekly consumption so it stays fresh.
• Filter type: felt and paper give the cleanest cup; mesh is easiest but leaves more fines.
• Fridge fit: check that the carafe or pitcher fits on your shelf or door.
• Material: glass doesn’t hold odors; look for BPA-free plastics if any.
• Food safety: keep cold brew refrigerated, use clean equipment, and discard anything that smells sour or off.

Best beans for cold brew

Medium and dark roasts with chocolate, nut and caramel notes are the classic choice because cold brew emphasizes body and sweetness. Light, fruity coffees can also be delicious cold-brewed, with a brighter, tea-like result. Whatever you choose, coarse, even grinding matters more than the bean.

FAQ

What is the best cold brew coffee maker?

The OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker is the best all-rounder for its even saturation and easy drain switch. The Toddy is best for large, very smooth batches, and the Hario Mizudashi is the simplest for ready-to-drink cold brew.

How long should cold brew steep?

Most recipes call for 12 to 18 hours in the fridge, or about 12 hours at room temperature. Steeping much longer can make it taste woody or bitter.

What is the ratio for cold brew concentrate?

A common starting point is 1 part coffee to 4 or 5 parts water by weight for concentrate. Dilute about 1:1 with water or milk to serve.

Is cold brew less acidic?

Generally, yes. Cold brewing extracts fewer of the acids and bitter compounds that hot water pulls out, so most people find it smoother and easier on the stomach.

How long does cold brew last in the fridge?

Concentrate kept sealed in the fridge typically tastes good for about a week to ten days. Diluted cold brew is best within a few days.