Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker: Top Models RANKED (Updated For 2023)

Americans drink over 3.4 billion pounds of coffee per year.

Whether it’s cold brew coffee, French press, or more rarely, a dainty ristretto, we love our caffeine.

However, not everyone loves a bold cup.

Many people add milk, sugar, creamer, or any number of flavored syrups to their morning cup of Joe to mask a distinct coffee characteristic:

Bitterness.

But what if there were a way to brew coffee with less bitterness?

There is, and it involves brewing coffee a different way.

(Hint: It’s in the title.)

To help you craft the perfect cup of low-acid coffee, we put together a list of the best cold brew coffee makers.

Let's check it out.

Why You Can Trust The Coffee Maven

Quick Picks
Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers

What's best for us may not be best for you. Let's expand upon the Top Picks above and highlight a few more of the Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers by category:

Not sure which is right for you? The next section should help...

3 Tips When Buying

Before we get to the individual Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker reviews, let's take a look at the rankings.

Overall
93
Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Enjoy bright, clean, low-acid coffee with the Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It comes in 2 sizes, 34 oz and 51 oz, with a shatter-resistant body and easy-clean immersion chamber for a no-mess, no-fuss experience.
Overall
92
Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker

Cold brew coffee maker or science experiment? The Yama Glass Cold Drip is an expensive option but it's as functional as it is beautiful and brews the best cold brew coffee you've ever had in just 3-4 hours.
Overall
90
Toddy Cold Brew System

Toddy Cold Brew System

Toddy Cold Brew System

Toddy Cold Brew System

The Toddy Cold Brew System brews 56 oz of low-acid cold brew concentrate. It comes with 2 felt filters that do an excellent job of straining your coffee for a quality cup without a ton of sediment.
Overall
90
Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker uses a precision-cut stainless steel filter and direct immersion in the carafe. We love the tight-sealing lid to keep your cold brew fresh, but the modest 32 oz capacity is only so-so.
Overall
90
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a no-frills slow brewer made from borosilicate glass with an innovative rainmaker top to evenly distribute water for up to 32 oz of low-acid, low-bitterness cold brew coffee.
Overall
88
Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker brews 32 oz of cold brew concentrate that easily decants into an insulated, sealable decanter so you can take your coffee with you and keep it cold in the process.
Overall
86
Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker is an easy, inexpensive way to brew a whopping 64 oz of cold brew coffee. The downside? The stainless steel filter allows a decent amount of sediment through.

Is This Guide For You?

Our editors have rated and ranked each option. Without further ado, here are our official reviews in this all-encompassing buying guide.

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Overall Rating
93
Coffee Quality (40%)
93
Design & Features (20%)
90
Durability (20%)
93
Ease of Use (10%)
94
Brand Reputation (10%)
89
The Bottom Line
Enjoy bright, clean, low-acid coffee with the Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It comes in 2 sizes, 34 oz and 51 oz, with a shatter-resistant body and easy-clean immersion chamber for a no-mess, no-fuss experience.

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker
Overall Rating
92
Coffee Quality (40%)
95
Design & Features (20%)
94
Durability (20%)
90
Ease of Use (10%)
85
Brand Reputation (10%)
90
The Bottom Line
Cold brew coffee maker or science experiment? The Yama Glass Cold Drip is an expensive option but it's as functional as it is beautiful and brews the best cold brew coffee you've ever had in just 3-4 hours.

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker Pros

  • The elegant design is both beautiful and functional
  • Larger capacity makes a great option for families and batch brewing
  • Adjustable valve allows you to control the rate of extraction
  • High-quality glass parts
  • Reusable ceramic filter

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker Cons

  • Pricey when compared to other cold brew coffee makers
  • Not suitable for families with young children or pets
  • Takes up a fair amount of counter space
  • Needs quite a bit of clearance as the product is 44.5″ tall

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 100 oz
  • 3-tiered, glass cold brewing system
  • 4-stage filtration
  • Reusable ceramic filter
  • Holds up to 1 pound of ground coffee
  • Brass valves for customizable water flow
  • Dimensions: 11.8″W x 11.8″D x 44.5″H
  • Weight: 27.9 pounds

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker Pros

  • The elegant design is both beautiful and functional
  • Larger capacity makes a great option for families and batch brewing
  • Adjustable valve allows you to control the rate of extraction
  • High-quality glass parts
  • Reusable ceramic filter

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker Cons

  • Pricey when compared to other cold brew coffee makers
  • Not suitable for families with young children or pets
  • Takes up a fair amount of counter space
  • Needs quite a bit of clearance as the product is 44.5″ tall

Yama Glass Cold Drip Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 100 oz
  • 3-tiered, glass cold brewing system
  • 4-stage filtration
  • Reusable ceramic filter
  • Holds up to 1 pound of ground coffee
  • Brass valves for customizable water flow
  • Dimensions: 11.8″W x 11.8″D x 44.5″H
  • Weight: 27.9 pounds
Toddy Cold Brew System
Overall Rating
90
Coffee Quality (40%)
94
Design & Features (20%)
88
Durability (20%)
88
Ease of Use (10%)
89
Brand Reputation (10%)
83
The Bottom Line
The Toddy Cold Brew System brews 56 oz of low-acid cold brew concentrate. It comes with 2 felt filters that do an excellent job of straining your coffee for a quality cup without a ton of sediment.

Toddy Cold Brew System Pros

  • 56 oz capacity is perfect for families and batch brewing
  • Proven method for making the best cold brew
  • Dual filtration and classic methods allow for some customization and tweaking
  • Reusable filters and filter bags make the process clean and hassle-free

Toddy Cold Brew System Cons

  • Poorly-designed brewing chamber makes it awkward to pour coffee concentrate into the carafe
  • The 56 oz capacity may be too much for someone looking to make one or two servings at a time

Toddy Cold Brew System Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 56 oz
  • Comes with two reusable felt filters
  • High-quality glass decanter with lid
  • Brew container with stopper
  • Includes recipe guide
  • Dimensions: 7.2″W x 7.2″D x 12.5″H
  • Weight: 2.15 pounds

Toddy Cold Brew System Pros

  • 56 oz capacity is perfect for families and batch brewing
  • Proven method for making the best cold brew
  • Dual filtration and classic methods allow for some customization and tweaking
  • Reusable filters and filter bags make the process clean and hassle-free

Toddy Cold Brew System Cons

  • Poorly-designed brewing chamber makes it awkward to pour coffee concentrate into the carafe
  • The 56 oz capacity may be too much for someone looking to make one or two servings at a time

Toddy Cold Brew System Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 56 oz
  • Comes with two reusable felt filters
  • High-quality glass decanter with lid
  • Brew container with stopper
  • Includes recipe guide
  • Dimensions: 7.2″W x 7.2″D x 12.5″H
  • Weight: 2.15 pounds
Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Overall Rating
90
Coffee Quality (40%)
92
Design & Features (20%)
86
Durability (20%)
90
Ease of Use (10%)
90
Brand Reputation (10%)
85
The Bottom Line
The Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker uses a precision-cut stainless steel filter and direct immersion in the carafe. We love the tight-sealing lid to keep your cold brew fresh, but the modest 32 oz capacity is only so-so.

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • Perfect capacity for small families
  • Great materials and build quality
  • Reliable, precision-cut filter ensures there's minimal sludge at the bottom of your cup
  • Airtight seal keeps cold brew coffee fres
  • Easy-to-read markings

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • 32 oz capacity may be too small for large families or office use
  • Not much room for customization

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 32 oz
  • 304 stainless steel laser-cut mesh microdot filter and lid with BPA-free silicone sealing rings
  • Carafe made from thick, durable, borosilicate glass
  • Silicone sleeve at the bottom prevents slipping, cracking, and condensation build-up
  • Easy-to-read volume markings
  • Dimensions: 5.0″W x 5.0″D x 8.0″H
  • Weight: 1 pound

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • Perfect capacity for small families
  • Great materials and build quality
  • Reliable, precision-cut filter ensures there's minimal sludge at the bottom of your cup
  • Airtight seal keeps cold brew coffee fres
  • Easy-to-read markings

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • 32 oz capacity may be too small for large families or office use
  • Not much room for customization

Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 32 oz
  • 304 stainless steel laser-cut mesh microdot filter and lid with BPA-free silicone sealing rings
  • Carafe made from thick, durable, borosilicate glass
  • Silicone sleeve at the bottom prevents slipping, cracking, and condensation build-up
  • Easy-to-read volume markings
  • Dimensions: 5.0″W x 5.0″D x 8.0″H
  • Weight: 1 pound
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Overall Rating
90
Coffee Quality (40%)
82
Design & Features (20%)
90
Durability (20%)
88
Ease of Use (10%)
92
Brand Reputation (10%)
88
The Bottom Line
The OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a no-frills slow brewer made from borosilicate glass with an innovative rainmaker top to evenly distribute water for up to 32 oz of low-acid, low-bitterness cold brew coffee.

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • 32 oz capacity is great for small families
  • Ultra fine filter does an excellent job at filtering out coffee silt
  • One-touch brew release button is convenient and mess-free
  • High-quality glass carafe and stopper keeps cold brew fresh
  • Rainmaker lid ensures coffee grounds are evenly saturated

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • 32 oz capacity may not be ideal for larger families or larger cold brew batches
  • Some units are prone to leakage

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 32 oz
  • Borosilicate glass carafe has easy-to-read markings
  • Reusable, ultra fine stainless steel filter keeps coffee silt out
  • Included stopper keeps fresh in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
  • Perforated Rainmaker lid evenly distributes water over coffee grounds
  • One-touch brew release
  • Dimensions: 9.5″W x 9.5″D x 14.7″H
  • Weight: 3.97 pounds

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • 32 oz capacity is great for small families
  • Ultra fine filter does an excellent job at filtering out coffee silt
  • One-touch brew release button is convenient and mess-free
  • High-quality glass carafe and stopper keeps cold brew fresh
  • Rainmaker lid ensures coffee grounds are evenly saturated

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • 32 oz capacity may not be ideal for larger families or larger cold brew batches
  • Some units are prone to leakage

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 32 oz
  • Borosilicate glass carafe has easy-to-read markings
  • Reusable, ultra fine stainless steel filter keeps coffee silt out
  • Included stopper keeps fresh in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
  • Perforated Rainmaker lid evenly distributes water over coffee grounds
  • One-touch brew release
  • Dimensions: 9.5″W x 9.5″D x 14.7″H
  • Weight: 3.97 pounds
Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Overall Rating
88
Coffee Quality (40%)
88
Design & Features (20%)
90
Durability (20%)
90
Ease of Use (10%)
85
Brand Reputation (10%)
80
The Bottom Line
The Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker brews 32 oz of cold brew concentrate that easily decants into an insulated, sealable decanter so you can take your coffee with you and keep it cold in the process.

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • Great build quality
  • Effective, double-walled mesh filter
  • Perfect size for taking on-the-go
  • Simple brewing process

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • Not designed for large families
  • Some models of this product are prone to leakage

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 40 oz
  • 8 oz brewing Chamber made from BPA-free non-breakable tritan
  • Filter made from 18/8 rust-free superfine double wall stainless steel mesh
  • Stainless steel, double-insulated, 32 oz carafe
  • Works with both hot and cold brew coffees
  • Can brew loose leaf tea
  • Dimensions: 4.8″W x 4.8″D x 12.2″H
  • Weight: 2.5 pounds

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • Great build quality
  • Effective, double-walled mesh filter
  • Perfect size for taking on-the-go
  • Simple brewing process

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • Not designed for large families
  • Some models of this product are prone to leakage

Asobu Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 40 oz
  • 8 oz brewing Chamber made from BPA-free non-breakable tritan
  • Filter made from 18/8 rust-free superfine double wall stainless steel mesh
  • Stainless steel, double-insulated, 32 oz carafe
  • Works with both hot and cold brew coffees
  • Can brew loose leaf tea
  • Dimensions: 4.8″W x 4.8″D x 12.2″H
  • Weight: 2.5 pounds
Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Overall Rating
86
Coffee Quality (40%)
85
Design & Features (20%)
85
Durability (20%)
90
Ease of Use (10%)
88
Brand Reputation (10%)
80
The Bottom Line
The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker is an easy, inexpensive way to brew a whopping 64 oz of cold brew coffee. The downside? The stainless steel filter allows a decent amount of sediment through.

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • Compact, simple design
  • Easy-to-clean
  • Perfect capacity for small families
  • Fewer moving parts yields a more consistent result
  • Very economical, making it a great choice for a barista new to cold brew

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • Not much room for customization
  • Mesh filter does not filter out all coffee grounds from the cold brew concentrate
  • Poorly-designed spout leads to leaking while pouring

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 64 oz
  • Airtight, leak-proof lid
  • Non-slip silicone handle
  • Made from BPA-free material
  • Built-in BPA-free filter
  • Dimensions: 4.1″W x 6.1″D x 12.2″H
  • Weight: 1 pound

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros

  • Compact, simple design
  • Easy-to-clean
  • Perfect capacity for small families
  • Fewer moving parts yields a more consistent result
  • Very economical, making it a great choice for a barista new to cold brew

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker Cons

  • Not much room for customization
  • Mesh filter does not filter out all coffee grounds from the cold brew concentrate
  • Poorly-designed spout leads to leaking while pouring

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker Features & Specifications

  • Capacity: 64 oz
  • Airtight, leak-proof lid
  • Non-slip silicone handle
  • Made from BPA-free material
  • Built-in BPA-free filter
  • Dimensions: 4.1″W x 6.1″D x 12.2″H
  • Weight: 1 pound

Frequently Asked Questions

The Typical Coffee Brewing Process

Whether you choose to roast and grind the beans yourself or buy pre-roasted and pre-ground coffee, the brewing process after that is virtually the same.

Your ground coffee is exposed to hot water, which gradually extracts the soluble compounds from the grounds:

  • Caffeine
  • Fats and other volatile/aromatic oils
  • Sugars
  • Organic acids from plant fibers

Each of these compounds is responsible for a particular characteristic of your coffee.

Extraction rates vary by compound being extracted.

The oils and fats are responsible for the fruity, floral notes.

The sugars are, well, sweet. And towards the end of the extraction process, the hot water finally has enough times to break down the plant fibers into bitter organic acids that give your coffee the harsh flavors most people dislike.

Why Is Your Coffee Bitter?

How sweet or bitter the final product will be depends on a several factors:

  • The type of roast you’re using
  • How long the coffee is allowed to steep
  • The granularity, or the coarseness or fineness of the ground coffee beans
  • The temperature of the water you’re using to brew your coffee

If you source great beans — those that have been expertly (and recently!) roasted to optimize both the caramelized and fruity notes — and optimize your brewing process so that your coffee grind size, water temperature, and brew times are just right, you should get a pretty balanced cup.

In other words, you should get noticeably less of the harsh bitterness, which makes most reach for their hazelnut creamers.

The Cold Brew Difference

Whereas an optimized brewing process can give you a hot cup of coffee with less bitterness, the hot water still breaks down some of those plant fibers and extracts at least some bitter compounds in your coffee.

To combat that, you may want to give cold brewed a shot. Instead of brewing with hot water, you brew with room temperature water. The lower temperature prevents the breakdown of the plant fibers and keeps the bitter organic acids where they belong: in the bean.

A cup of cold brew coffee is typically described as full-bodied, sweet, and smooth, a perfect complement to a hot summer day and that after-dinner dessert.

Cold Brew Coffee vs Chilled Coffee

While it’s true that many coffee shops sell both iced coffee and cold brew coffee, they are actually two very different drinks.

In your run-of-the-mill iced coffee, double-brewed coffee is mixed with water, half-and-half, and flavored syrup, all served over some ice cubes.

Unfortunately, because it’s double-brewed coffee, it still has the potential to be bitter if the barista let the grounds steep for too long, the water was too hot, or the grounds were too fine for the brew method being used.

To sum up the downsides of regular iced coffee:

  • Can still have bitter compounds
  • Ice cubes tend to water it down (unless you let it chill)

Now let’s look at cold brew coffee.

how to make cold brew coffee

How Do You Make Cold Brew Coffee?

The concept of cold brew coffee is simple. I’ve reduced it to 4 steps:

  1. Find your coarse ground coffee beans
  2. Combine with cold or room temperature water in a ratio by volume of 5:1
  3. Allow to sit for 12-24 hours — longer if you do it in the refrigerator
  4. When finished, dilute with cold water to taste

(That’s only one method, though — see below.)

Since the soluble compounds in the beans have been extracted with cold or room temperature water, the coffee lacks a lot of the acidity and bitterness normally found in conventionally brewed coffee. This makes for a sweeter, smoother cup that’s easier on your stomach and tooth enamel.

If acidity bothers you, try one of the best low-acid coffees.

Who Should Drink Cold Brew Coffee?

You’ll want to drink cold brew coffee if any of the following describe you:

  • You don’t like the taste of regular coffee.
  • You have a sensitive stomach.
  • You just want to drink coffee that is lower in acidity.

2 Methods: Immersion & Pour Over

There are essentially two basic methods for making cold brew.

  1. Immersion: Steeping the coffee grounds in cold water via an infuser or disposable filter
  2. Pour Over: Slowly dripping cold water over coffee grounds via a cold drip coffee maker

Allowing the coffee grounds to steep in the cold water for up to 24 hours is the most convenient method. As long as you use the right water-to-coffee ratio and don’t over extract your coffee, you should turn out a perfectly good cup.

But if you want to optimize your cold brew, then you may want to think about getting a cold drip coffee maker.

In certain models, a perforated lid allows the home barista to slowly drip coffee into the brewing chamber. This allows for more even extraction from the coffee grounds and reduces or eliminates the need to stir your coffee grounds as it’s brewing.

Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The Coffee Maven's Top Pick

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Enjoy bright, clean, low-acid coffee with the Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It comes in 2 sizes, 34 oz and 51 oz, with a shatter-resistant body and easy-clean immersion chamber for a no-mess, no-fuss experience.

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About The Coffee Maven
bryan de luca
Bryan De Luca

I'm Bryan but most people know me as The Coffee Maven. I grew up outside Boston, Massachusetts and received my Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Providence College. My first introduction to coffee was during my college days, when I used it as a source of caffeine to fuel late-night study sessions, but soon I became obsessed with the chemistry of coffee. How did changes to water temperature or contact time affect its taste? Why do beans from Africa taste fruity while beans from Indonesia taste spicy? I launched The Coffee Maven in February 2017 to explore these questions and help others brew their perfect cup. Welcome to my site, and thanks for reading!