If you can wait 24 hours, cold brewing is one of the simplest ways to brew coffee. The longer brew time and lack of heat make the brewing process more forgiving than using the best espresso machine or even a simple French press. You'll only need good beans, time, and the best cold-brew coffee maker.
I've spent a decade helping cafés troubleshoot their cold-brew systems and deliver truckloads of drinks. Plus, I tested some of the best coffee makers for Business Insider, and I drink cold brew all year. The best cold-brew coffee maker we tested is the Toddy Cold Brew System. It tucks neatly into any fridge and is an easy way to brew strong and rich concentrate. Our top budget pick is the Takeya Cold Brew Maker because it's nearly leakproof and can brew a satisfyingly intense concentrate.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and recommends kitchen products.
Top picks for the best cold-brew makers
Best overall: Toddy Cold Brew System - See at Amazon
Best budget: Takeya Cold Brew Maker - See at Amazon
Best for ready-to-drink: Coffee Gator Cold Brewer - See at Amazon
Best compact: Toddy Artisan - See at Toddy
Best overall
The Toddy Cold Brew System makes a strong and flavorful concentrate without any learning curve or trial and error and up to 28 cups of cold brew when diluted.
- Easy to use
- Large batch size
- Makes delicious cold brew
- Low build quality
- Requires a lot of coffee
Of all the brewers I tested, the Toddy Cold Brew System was the best cold-brew coffee maker because of its intuitive design. The first concentrate I brewed turned out perfect without any learning curve or trial and error.
There are two main components to the Toddy Cold Brew System: The brewer itself consists of a plastic brewing container, a gray silicone lid, and a rubber stopper that fits into the bottom. It also comes with a glass carafe and a plastic lid that seals the carafe tightly. It's the perfect size for storing a full batch of concentrate and fits easily in the fridge.
The Toddy requires 12 ounces of coffee to brew a full batch, which is a lot (at maximum, it handles seven cups of concentrate). I ground the coffee coarsely, covered it with seven cups of water, left it at room temperature for 24 hours, and came back to a perfectly brewed concentrate that tasted rich and full. One note: Set the Toddy somewhere it won't easily be knocked over. The silicone lid doesn't seal well, and the unit tips easily.
Felt filters and paper filters are included. When using the paper filter, the coffee grounds are placed in the paper before adding the water; with the felt filter, you put the grounds directly in the tank. I tried both and didn't notice much difference between the drinks, but someone might.
The KitchenAid Cold Brew Maker is also easy and convenient to use. It fits perfectly in my fridge and makes full-sized batches of cold brew. The only downside is the metal filter makes brewing a bit inconsistent. I found the Toddy to produce a more even, cleaner cup of coffee.
Best budget
Despite the low price, the build quality of the Takeya is solid — the plastic is durable (though prone to staining after many uses)‚ and the seals are tight so there was no leaking even when brewing on its side.
- Affordable
- Available in 1-quart and 2-quart sizes
- Easy to use and clean
- Did not leak
- Clear plastic can become stained after extended use
- Too tall to fit upright in most refrigerators
The Takeya is similar to the Coffee Gator brewer but more affordable and uses a plastic pitcher instead of glass. Plastic and glass don't make a difference in coffee flavor, but glass holds up better over time whereas plastic can become permanently stained after multiple uses.
The filter basket and cap on the Takeya screw together and then onto the pitcher — it's a secure fit. However, one drawback to this design is that it's hard to make sure all of the grounds are properly steeped if the brewer isn't placed sideways (the 2-quart size I tested was too tall for my refrigerator) or shaken throughout the brewing time. There is about an inch of space between the filter and the lid where grounds may become stuck and not exposed to the water for brewing. The Takeya didn't leak at all, but the grounds settled in the top of the lid and fell out when I tried to clean the brewer, which made a bit of a mess.
After 12 hours of brewing in my refrigerator, I got a tea-like drink. I brewed it for 24 hours and the results were much stronger, but not quite the same level as the concentrate from the Toddy. Overall, the finished cold brew was very well-rounded and balanced, earning it a spot as one of the best cold-brew coffee makers. The Takeya could easily be used to make a stronger concentrate if left to brew at room temperature as well.
For another option, the Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Maker works similarly to the Takeya, makes similar-tasting cold brew, and is a few dollars cheaper. However, the Hario is tall and didn't fit easily into my refrigerator. The lid doesn't make a perfect seal, so I couldn't store it on its side.
Read our full Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker review.
Best for ready-to-drink
The Coffee Gator Cold Brewer is a great immersion brewer for cold brew. Its no frills design makes it accessible and easy to use while allowing for customization.
- Very easy to use and clean
- Drinks can be customized to your preference depending on brew time
- Fits easily in the fridge
- Makes less cold brew than other brewers
- The metal filter allows more sediment than paper or felt filters
The Coffee Gator has a pretty standard design as far as immersion brewers go, and makes a ready-to-drink cold brew instead of a concentrate for convenience. The design is a glass pitcher with a detachable and reusable filter basket that doubles as a brewer and serving vessel. I was impressed by how sturdy and well-made this brewer is, and how tightly fitted all the pieces were, which helped prevent any leaks.
It's a bit smaller than comparable products and fits perfectly in the fridge. It disassembles easily and the bottom of the filter basket screws off for easy rinsing, though you want to be a little careful with the thin filter.
It's also easy to use. Ground coffee goes into the filter basket, then water is poured over the top of the coffee through the hole in the lid. The instructions call for about 2.5 oz (75g) of coffee to 1.1 liters of water, which almost completely fills the brewer.
The instructions call for a minimum brew time of eight hours, but that wasn't nearly enough time for a strong brew. I sampled a bit of the coffee after the recommended eight hours and found it to be weak and similar to tea. After 12 hours, I was more pleased with the stronger coffee it produced. It was better developed and some more of the fruity flavor notes came through. For my second round of tests, I let the coffee brew for a full 24 hours in the fridge, and it was much stronger but still smooth. The strongest batch was brewed for 12 hours at room temperature. This yielded a well-rounded, sweet and chocolatey cup of cold brew, almost as strong as a concentrate.
Best compact
If space is at a premium in your apartment or fridge, the Toddy Artisan can make great cold brew without taking up much space. The brewer also serves as a carafe for serving.
- Compact and fits in small fridges
- Can make concentrate or ready-to-drink cold brew
- Very easy cleanup
- Requires single-use paper filters
- Silicone lid doesn't form a perfect seal
- Thin glass
The Toddy Artisan is just as easy to use as the full-sized Toddy, the best cold-brew coffee maker overall. Like its larger counterpart, it made great coffee right away with very little need for any adjustment. The brewer is essentially a glass jar with a silicone lid and it comes with 12 paper filter bags, a metal filter basket, and tongs. The brewer itself doubles as a small carafe for easy storage after brewing; it's the smallest brewer I reviewed, slighter than a standard Mason jar.
The Toddy Artisan isn't the sturdiest product. The glass is a little thin and the silicone lid doesn't form a perfect seal, so be careful not to knock it over while it's brewing.
This brewer makes concentrate and ready-to-drink cold brew. I brewed my first batch of concentrate according to the instructions for 24 hours at room temperature. It was balanced and slightly chocolatey with low acidity. I also brewed it for eight hours to try the ready-to-drink version, and it also tasted great, just a bit lighter than the concentrate.
Cleanup couldn't be easier since the grounds are neatly contained in the paper filter bag. Once the coffee is allowed to drip from the bag, you just dump out the filter bag with the grounds, rinse off the metal basket, and serve or store the coffee in the glass brewer itself.
The Toddy Artisan won out on flavor, but the OXO Cold Brew Maker Compact is an affordable alternative that makes a well-developed concentrate that tasted a bit brighter and had slightly more grit. It also has a built-in reusable metal filter.
What to look for in a cold-brew coffee maker
Taste: First and foremost, you want the best cold-brew coffee maker to brew coffee with a strong and smooth flavor. We only recommend cold-brew makers that consistently produce delicious coffee. We found that the two automatic brewers we tested had less flavorful results, and we tasted slightly more grit in makers with metal filters.
Capacity: Cold brew makers range from making ready-to-drink single servings to batch-producing concentrate. If you have the fridge space and regularly drink cold brew, go for the larger brewing capacity. For the occasional cup, compact options take up less room, and you won't make too much coffee that ends up going to waste.
Brewing method: Immersion brewing is the standard style for the best cold-brew coffee makers. Coffee grounds are submerged in room-temperature water for an extended period of time. Drip cold brew makers use the Kyoto Method and are more complex machines; water is slowly dripped over a bed of coffee over 12 or more hours. The quickest method, and often the least flavorful, is the automatic cold-brew maker: a motor spins a filter basket around a water tank, agitating the grounds and creating a batch of cold brew in 25 to 45 minutes.
How we tested cold-brew makers
I worked in specialty coffee for almost a decade and handled countless tasks behind the scenes and behind the bar. For this guide, I consulted Eileen Rinaldi, founder and CEO of Ritual Coffee, and Ben Helfen, Education Support Specialist from Counter Culture Coffee.
I carefully weighed all the coffee and water using a digital kitchen scale according to the manufacturer's instructions. Unless instructed otherwise by the manufacturer, I used coarsely ground coffee (Ritual Coffee's Featherweight Blend) for each test and tap water filtered with a generic Brita pitcher.
Taste: The quality of the cold brew produced was the most important in my testing. Taste is subjective, of course, and because of that, I looked at how deep, strong, and complex the flavor was of each batch. I also looked at whether any sediment was left behind in the carafes after each batch was done.
Ease of use: For the first round of tests, I followed the directions from each brewer and noted the results. I looked at how easy each brewer was to set up, how easy the instructions were to follow, and how intuitive each product was to use. After the initial test, I tried longer brewing times, different brewing temperatures (refrigerator or room temp), and coarser grinds.
Quality: While testing, I noted the materials and whether the brewers felt durable enough to withstand extended use. I paid attention to the filtration method in each brewer, considering if they were reusable and easy to clean. For the brewers that screwed shut, I checked for leaks. I also noted how easy each brewer was to clean after use and whether there was any discoloration in the filters, pitchers, or carafes.
Cold-brew coffee FAQs
What is cold brew coffee?
Cold brew is coffee brewed cold or at room temperature, instead of with hot water. In the absence of heat, it takes much longer to brew coffee — up to 24 hours.
This process slightly changes the flavor. Helfen said, "Oftentimes, the nuance of the coffee is lost in cold brew, but because the sugars in coffee take longer to extract, the extra brew time can increase sweetness." According to Rinaldi, some of the more volatile organic compounds aren't extracted as readily; cold brew can produce a really clean and less acidic flavor profile.
How long does cold brew last?
Unlike hot coffee, which maintains freshness for no longer than a few minutes, cold brew can maintain its flavor in the fridge for a while. If stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator, it should stay fresh for up to two weeks.
What is the best coffee for cold brew?
Coarse ground coffee, similar to what you use in a French press, is best for cold brew. The major factor to consider with the grind size is filtration. Helfen said, "Most folks grind coarser for cold brew because of the long brew time and because filtering the liquid out of the grounds doesn't take as long."
There is no "correct" roast or blend of coffee in cold brew — feel free to use any coffee you like. Some experts recommend dark roasts: Rinaldi said, "Darker roasted coffee is more extractable, so you see a lot of espresso roasts being prepared as a cold brew."
What is the best cold brew ratio of coffee to water?
We recommend 1 part coffee to 5 parts water for cold brew concentrate and 1:7 for ready-to-drink brews. The one thing that's consistent across all brewers is that cold brew uses way more ground coffee than traditional brewing, so be prepared with your beans.
I suggest following the instructions included in your brewer and adjusting the ratio to taste.
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