There are some coffee drinks we’re happy to make ourselves, and others we reserve only for coffee shops. The thing is, though, these more luxurious drinks aren’t necessarily all that complicated to make. Sure, for espressos you need expensive equipment. And for cappuccinos, you need to know how to steam milk. But cold brew is surprisingly easy to make at home—especially if you have a cold brew coffee maker on hand.
Now, you don’t technically need a cold brew coffee maker to whip up this drink, but it does make the process a whole lot easier. To do things the old-fashioned way, you’ll need a coffee grinder and a fine mesh strainer. But if you’d rather take the guesswork out of the equation, a cold brew coffee maker is your best bet.
Here, the best cold brew makers.
Best Overall
OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker
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Amazon
OXO's Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker is versatile, easy-to-use, and relatively small space-friendly—making it a worthwhile buy for cold brew novices and experts alike. Simply fill the brewer with coffee grounds, add water to the rainmaker, and let the coffee maker work its magic. Within 12–24 hours, you’ll have 32 ounces of delicious cold brew. And when you’re finished, you can nest the pieces inside each other for compact storage.
Best Budget
Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
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Courtesy of Amazon
The Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a cold brew maker and a pitcher in one. Simply add 14-16 tablespoons of your favorite ground coffee to the fine-mesh diffuser, fill the pitcher with 32 ounces of cold water, and attach the airtight lid. Then just shake the coffee maker well and pop it in the fridge—within 36 hours, you’ll have a cold brew worth indulging in. And since the coffee maker doubles as a pitcher, you’ll have an easy way to serve your just-made drink, too.
Best Splurge
KitchenAid Brushed Stainless Steel Cold Brew Coffee Maker
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Amazon
Crafted from stainless steel, KitchenAid's Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a pretty hefty machine—and one that makes a seriously great brew. Add your favorite ground coffee to the stainless steel steeper in 2-ounce doses, and fill the glass around it with 6-ounce doses of milk, water, or ice. This versatility makes it easy to craft the exact brew you want, and since the coffee maker can handle up to 14 servings at a time, you’ll have plenty of coffee to go around.
Best Slow-Drip
Bruer Cold Drip System
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Many cold brew makers are bona fide diffusers that soak coffee in water, the way a French press does. But Bruer's Cold Drip Coffee Maker uses the traditional slow-drip method to craft its brew. Fill the middle compartment with coffee grounds and the top compartment with ice and water, and watch as the water slowly drips through the tower, turning into cold brew on its way down. Even better? You can adjust the drip rate, based on how strong you want your coffee—and how fast you want your brew.
Best for Quick Brewing
Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brew Coffee Maker
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Amazon
The Cuisinart Cold Brew Coffee Maker promises to make a ready-to-drink brew in as little as 25 minutes. (Though if you prefer your coffee bold, you might have to wait 45 minutes instead.) Compared to standard coffee making, 25 minutes might sound like a lot—but considering that cold brew can take between 12–36 hours to make, this machine is seriously fast.
Best Make-Ahead
Ovalware Cold Brew Maker and Tea Infuser
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Amazon
Want to make cold brew now and enjoy it later? The Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker was designed for exactly that. The pitcher can craft 1 liter of cold brew at a time (that’s nearly 34 ounces, making this coffee maker bigger-batch than many), and its airtight lid locks in freshness, keeping your brew good for up to two weeks at a time. Simply store the pitcher in your fridge, and whip it out whenever you need a little caffeine. And since the coffee maker comes with a built-in steeper, you can use it for tea, too.
Best for Small Spaces
OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
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Amazon
At 8.66 x 5.28 x 5.28 inches, OXO's Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker is veritably small space-friendly—but it can make a surprisingly hefty brew. Fill the machine with coffee grounds and water, and within 12–24 hours you’ll have 16 ounces of delicious coffee just waiting to be consumed. You can store your cold brew carafe in the fridge, and if the machine is empty you can nest the carafe inside the brewer to make the machine even more compact than it already is
Best Portable
Asobu Cold Brew Portable Coffee Maker
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The Asobu Cold Brew Coffee Maker was designed to be carried on-the-go, meaning it’s compact, lightweight, and spill-proof. Fill the brewer with coffee grounds and water, and you’ll have a delicious drink in 12-18 hours. When you’re finished, remove the brewer and cover your stainless steel carafe with Asobu’s airtight lid. Voilà—you’ve got a leak-proof thermos full of delicious cold brew, ready to accompany you anywhere you’re headed.
Best Press
Bodum Bean Cold Brew Coffee Maker
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Amazon
The Bodum Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a sleek and space-efficient way to whip up cold brew. And odds are, you already know how to use it—simply pour coffee grounds into the bottom of the press, and fill the rest of the press up with water. Let your coffee steep for 12-24 hours, and when you’re ready to test your creation, slide the press down. This will filter the grounds out of your cold brew without sacrificing any flavor, and you can take advantage of the press’s pitcher-like design to serve your just-brewed drink.
Best Mason Jar
County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Coffee Maker
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The County Line Kitchen Store Cold Brew Coffee Maker looks like a Mason jar—and acts like a coffee maker. Instead of boasting a classic metal lid, the coffee maker comes with a silicone one that attaches to a metal steeper, allowing you to craft your brew overnight. When you’re satisfied with the look of your cold brew, remove the steeper and reattach the lid. It promises to keep your coffee fresh with an airtight seal, and it comes with an adjustable flip cap you can open any time you need a refill.
Final Verdict
For a delicious, effortless pot of cold brew, the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker (view at Amazon) is our top pick. It stores easily and will be right at home in the kitchen of cold brew pros and newcomers alike. Another excellent (and more affordable) option is the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker (view at Amazon). The fact that you can serve it straight out of the maker is just the cherry on top.