4 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers, According to Kitchen Appliance Experts

We updated this story in September 2022 to update our top picks based on the most recent round of testing from the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. We slimmed down our original number of picks to the top-performing ones and added more info about each. We also added more details on our testing process and included a buyer's guide.

Sure, if you want iced coffee, you can brew hot coffee and pour it over ice. But you'll get smoother, bolder results if you start with cold brew. The gentle — and simple! — brewing process creates a richly flavored concentrate that can be served over ice or even combined with hot water for an Americano-style cup. Making cold brew starts by steeping coarse coffee grounds in cold water over a long period of time — usually 12 to 24 hours. The results are typically less acidic than coffee made in a drip coffee maker, a French press or other types of coffee makers. Plus, it can last up to two weeks in the fridge.

The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab tested more than a dozen of the most popular options on the market, including electric models, French press styles and ones with paper filters or wire mesh filters. Similar to the way we test coffee-making appliances like espresso makers, we brew coarsely ground coffee following the manufacturer’s instructions, then measure things like the amount of coffee extracted. We also conduct a blind taste test and rate each model's ease of use.

Our top picks:

Below, you'll find the full list of cold brew coffee makers hand-selected by the our pros. You can also read more about the different types of cold brew coffee makers and what to look for when shopping, plus how to use the small appliance to make smooth, rich cold brew at home.

OXO

williams-sonoma.com

$51.95

OXO's best-selling model made standout java with a smooth, balanced, chocolatey flavor. Our testers loved how simple it was to use: Just add coarsely ground coffee and pour water through the perforated "rainmaker" lid, which is designed to distribute the water evenly over the grounds. Once your grounds sit for 12 to 24 hours and are strained, the 32-ounce carafe will have enough coffee concentrate for about 14 cups. We appreciated that the appliance has a built-in feature to prevent messes: If the carafe moves out of place, the drip will stop.

While many experts say cold brew is best within a week of brewing, this particular model brews coffee concentrate that can be enjoyed for up to two weeks, thanks to a lid with a silicone seal that helps keep the beverage fresher for longer.

And though this pick is largely plastic, our testers rated the cleaning process a near-perfect 4 out of 5, thanks to an easy-clean reusable stainless steel filter and a dishwasher-safe glass carafe. Our pros liked the measurement markings on the carafe (helpful for dosing your water before brewing and your coffee after — and found it was easy to make space for in the fridge.

Our testers loved the convenience of this large capacity model — you'll likely have to brew only about once per week, even for two people. For those who prefer to make a smaller batch or have less space to spare, it's worth noting that OXO also offers a compact cold brew model that's just as effective and easy to clean as its bigger sister.

Takeya

amazon.com

$27.99

The Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker doesn't sacrifice quality for its affordable price. The pitcher-style cold brew maker received near-perfect scores across all areas of usability. The manual is exceptionally clear and helpful, but we found the device is overall very intuitive and easy to use. All parts are simple to clean, and it's dishwasher safe.

The fine mesh filter is similar to a tea infuser; it ensures the cold brew maker churns out a smooth, rich concentrate devoid of sediment. (It can also be used as an iced tea maker.) Overall, our testers were pleased with the flavor profile, especially given the price.

The design is thoughtful too. Choose from 1-quart or 2-quart sizes. Each is sized like a similar-capacity standard pitcher, so you can pop the whole thing in the fridge and easily pour portions. Just note: There are no measurements on the side of the carafe, so you'll have to eyeball it or use a separate measuring cup if you want precision.

Toddy

amazon.com

$59.95

The Toddy Cold Brew system may not be the prettiest cold brew coffee maker out there — the top is bulky and appears to defy gravity — but our experts say it is one of the best for your money.

The instructions, which earned a perfect score for being easy to follow throughout the entire setup, brewing and cleaning process, call for a coffee-to-water ratio that results in a deep, rich and silky-smooth concentrate. This pick is designed to help prevent sediment: It uses both a felt filter and a paper filter. The felt filters are reusable, which is cost effective and eco-friendly; the paper filters, which cost around $1 each, provide easy clean-up.

We also appreciated the output of the Toddy: A brewing mixture of 12 ounces of coffee and approximately 54 ounces of water yields nearly four full cups of concentrate — enough to easily make eight servings.

KitchenAid

amazon.com

$89.99

The stainless steel and glass construction of this KitchenAid cold brew coffee maker gives it an elevated aesthetic — we think it looks great on the counter or in the refrigerator. Our testers found it exceptionally intuitive and easy to use. The users' guide includes illustrations, clear step-by-step instructions and recipes for using the concentrate. The lid has an oversized knob that allows you to lift it off with minimal effort, and the reservoir has a fill guideline for coffee, so you don't have to spend time measuring in another container. One caveat is that our tester found the fill line wasn't entirely precise — the measured grounds sat just above the line (which is a reminder to use a kitchen scale for exact results since all grounds can vary in size).

After 12 hours of steeping, the results were smooth and had good flavor. Our tester had no trouble using the spout, which had a moderate pace that was easy to control, and found the concentrate enjoyable over ice as well as with hot water. You can also use this pick for brewing tea. The unit isn't dishwasher safe, and it can be a little tricky to make sure you've reached all the crevices.