The 4 Best Cold Brew Makers of 2025, Tested & Reviewed

When the trees start to bud and the flowers begin to bloom, I celebrate the return of cold brew coffee season. Cold brew is smoother and less astringent than percolated or pour-over coffee; to me, it’s the perfect caffeinated drink for warm mornings or afternoons. It’s not just the mild, chuggable flavor that I love. I’m a fan of anything that simplifies my routine, and storing a large batch of premade cold brew in the fridge does just that. 

Here’s the thing: You CAN make cold brew without a dedicated device. All you need to do is combine coffee grounds and water in a large jar or pitcher, let them steep, and pour the liquid through a filter into a clean vessel. No part of this process is technically challenging, but I find it annoying, as it requires two large containers and some back and forth. A dedicated cold brew maker is more convenient. It’s designed to steep, filter, and serve coffee—but not all cold brew makers are created equal, and some offer little advantage over the DIY approach. I tested eight cold brew coffee makers to find ones that justify their price and make brewing coffee nearly effortless.  

The Winners, at a Glance

The KitchenAid’s high-quality glass and stainless steel construction, built-in spigot, and convenient handle propelled this cold brew maker to the front of the pack. I loved its generous capacity—making a batch of coffee and dispensing a glass of it was a simple, mess-free experience. 

The Hario Mizudashi makes smooth, silt-free coffee. It’s easy to handle this light, compact model while brewing and pouring. It fits neatly on a fridge shelf and, if you’re a seasonal cold brew drinker, it’s small enough to pack easily away during colder months.

I loved the Ovalware’s sleek glass body, which is reminiscent of a laboratory beaker. The reusable mesh filter worked well, yielding silt-free coffee. The whole thing’s dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. 

The OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker is satisfyingly simple. The sturdy plastic body and glass beaker are both marked with fill lines—you can use these recommendations to brew a batch of cold brew without measuring. The small base tucked away easily, and the cork lid was nice for storage. 

The Tests

• Standardized Brewing Test: I used each brewer to make a batch of cold brew concentrate with a ratio of one ounce of coffee per 5.33 ounces of water, steeping the coffee for 16 hours at room temperature. I diluted the concentrate with equal parts water and tasted the results to evaluate the coffee’s flavor and body. 
• Manufacturer Brewing Test: I followed each manufacturer’s instructions for making cold brew. I tasted the results and diluted the concentrate when applicable.  
• Serving and Storing Test: I evaluated the ease of handling and storing by transporting the cold brew makers from the countertop to the fridge. I used each one to pour several cups of coffee, taking note of any dribbles or drips. I placed a portion of each sample into the fridge, let it sit for a week, and tasted again to see how the flavor held up. 
• Cleaning Test: I cleaned each cold brew maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions and checked the carafes for residue or discoloration. 

What We Learned

I Preferred a Minimalist Cold Brew Maker 

The cold brew makers I tested ranged from simple pitchers with filter inserts to elaborate, multi-part devices with beakers, stands, and separate lids. During testing, I found that the pared-down products were easier to use. 

The OXO Cold Brew Maker had the most parts. It included a plastic pitcher, a stand, a “rainmaker” pitcher lid, a glass beaker, and a plastic beaker lid. Brewing a batch of coffee involves setting the pitcher on the stand, adding grounds, pouring water through the perforated lid, and letting the mixture steep. When it’s ready, you place the glass beaker under the pitcher and toggle a switch that allows the coffee to flow through a filter into the container. To me, this seemed unnecessarily complicated, and the resulting coffee wasn’t noticeably different from that of models with fewer movable parts.

The KitchenAid, Hario Wine Bottle, Ovalware, Müeller, and Hario “Mizudashi” cold brew makers all use filter inserts to brew coffee directly in the storage and serving vessel. With these designs, making a batch of coffee was as simple as placing the filter in the base, adding grounds and water, leaving it to brew on the counter or in the fridge, and removing the filter after steeping. There weren’t any extra components to keep track of. 

Filter Quality Made a Huge Difference 

The filter can make or break cold brew—no one wants a mouthful of silty coffee. In addition to successfully separating the grounds, my favorite filters were reusable and fast-draining. 

For models with an inset filter, you need to pour water through the grounds to make a batch of cold brew. If the filter doesn’t drain quickly, this task can become tedious. The Müeller Cold Brew Coffee Maker’s mesh filter was so slow that I had to start and stop the pouring process more than 10 times, as the water threatened to overflow.

Filter speed wasn’t as crucial for models that filter after brewing, like the Toddy and OXO options. With these, you add all of the water to a large basin—there’s no need to carefully control the flow. I also didn’t find that extra filtration made better cold brew. The Toddy requires a paper coffee filter and cotton screen in addition to its built-in mesh strainer. This system did produce smooth, silt-free coffee, but it only performed slightly better than the Ovalware and KitchenAid’s sole, reusable stainless steel filters.  

Solid Handles Prevented Disasters 

Carrying a hefty container of coffee concentrate can be stressful. The full cold brew makers weighed between 1.5 and eight pounds. My favorite coffee makers had sturdy handles that made lifting and holding them easier.

The heaviest option, from KitchenAid, weighed 6.57 pounds empty. This model made up for its bulk with a sturdy, bucket-style handle. Other models, like the Toddy and the Müeller, had flimsy plastic designs that bent under the weight of the coffee. 

The small, narrow carafes without handles were easy to lift, with the exception of the Hario Cold Brew Coffee Wine Bottle. During testing, I grabbed this model by its silicone upper portion to move it from the counter to the fridge. The components didn’t separate completely, but the silicone top slipped about an inch, and the movement jostled the filter out of place, causing it to spill its contents into the coffee. When I pushed the lid back into position, a jet of coffee and grounds shot into the air and all over my kitchen. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Cold Brew Maker 

The best cold brew coffee makers are easy to use and won’t leak or drip in your fridge. For easy carrying and brewing, choose a model with a solid handle and an inset, reusable filter. Large households may prefer a bigger brewer, like the KitchenAid Cold Brew Maker, that can make 38 ounces of cold brew concentrate. If you stick to a single cup a day, a smaller option like the OXO Compact may be a better fit—it takes up less refrigerator space and still holds enough concentrate to make seven cups of coffee. 

Our Favorite Cold Brew Makers 

What we liked: My favorite part of the KitchenAid Cold Brew Maker was its convenient spigot. With it, you can dispense coffee one glass at a time without removing the brewer from the fridge. The KitchenAid’s solid stainless steel handle allowed me to easily and securely pick it up and carry it when needed. I also loved this model’s generous 38-ounce capacity. If you follow KitchenAid’s suggested instructions and dilute one part cold brew concentrate with three parts water or milk, you can make 19 servings in a single batch. 

What we didn’t like: Removing this model’s extra-large filter after brewing proved somewhat challenging. It’s hard to avoid dripping coffee onto the refrigerator shelf or countertop. This model’s heavy-duty construction comes at a cost. At over $100, it’s the most expensive cold brewer I tested.  

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel, glass
• Filter type: Reusable stainless steel 
• Capacity: 38 ounces
• Care instructions: Hand-wash all components

What we liked: I loved the simplicity of this petite cold brew maker. Its minimal components snap together firmly and come apart easily for simple cleaning. The Mizudashi is narrow enough to fit on a refrigerator shelf but still holds several days’ worth of cold brew. At room temperature, the Mizadushi cold brew maker yielded smooth coffee that was milder than other brewers.

What we didn’t like: The Mizudashi filter is too small to make a strong cold brew coffee concentrate. During testing, it wasn’t able to hold sufficient grounds for a recommended 1:5.33 brewing ratio. This model’s lid doesn’t form a tight seal—there’s a little airflow next to the spout. After a week in the fridge, the coffee took on a bitter taste.

Key Specs

• Materials: Borosilicate glass and plastic 
• Filter type: Reusable polyester resin mesh 
• Capacity: 20.29 ounces
• Care instructions: Hand-wash all components

What we liked: The Ovalware is constructed from solid borosilicate glass with a stainless steel filter, steel lid, and a protective silicone base, and I loved its sleek design and clean, elegant lines. The pitcher’s rounded handle is comfortable—it’s easy to get a good grip and control the coffee’s flow while pouring. The lid forms a tight seal, thanks to the rubber gasket, and preserves flavor well. After a week in the fridge, cold brew retained its original smooth flavor profile. The reusable stainless steel filter successfully separated grounds from coffee, and I appreciated its fast flow rate. After diluting with milk, the coffee combined a satisfying, robust flavor profile with cold brew’s signature mellow smoothness. I also appreciated this model’s protective base—the silicone cushion took the stress out of clinking a glass pitcher against a hard stone countertop. All of the components, including the base, separate easily for cleanup. 

What we didn’t like: The Ovalware’s glass pitcher is dishwasher-safe, but if you choose to hand-wash, the tapered design makes it difficult to reach the bottom. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Borosilicate glass, stainless steel 
• Filter type: Reusable stainless steel
• Capacity: 33.81 ounces
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe

What we liked: The OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker is so small that it’s downright adorable. The plastic brewing basin fits nearly in the palm of one hand. This model includes marked guidelines on both the pitcher and brewing container, making it easy to fill the brewing container with grounds and use the included pitcher to measure and add water. There’s no need to agitate the grounds—this model’s perforated lid disperses water to promote even saturation. The basin’s small footprint makes it easy to tuck away on a countertop while you wait for it to brew. This model features a clever spring-loaded release mechanism, and draining is only triggered when you set the basin on top of the carafe. Once it’s in place, coffee drains quickly. The OXO Cold Brew maker produced an intense concentrate with fruity and nutty flavors. 

What we didn’t like: This model may not be large enough for highly caffeinated households. One batch of cold brew concentrate makes enough for seven cups of coffee. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic brewing container, borosilicate glass pitcher, cork lid
• Filter type: Mesh screen
• Capacity: 24 ounces
• Care instructions: Hand-wash brewing container; glass pitcher is dishwasher-safe

The Competition

• Toddy Cold Brew System: The Toddy Cold Brew System is oversized and flimsy, and the plastic pitcher handle bent under the weight of the coffee.
• OXO Cold Brew Maker: This system brewed pleasant coffee, but its separate stand and multiple plastic lids made this product feel bulky and finicky.
• Müeller Cold Brew Coffee Maker: The Müeller Cold Brew Maker’s slow-draining filter overflowed during filling, and the flimsy handle made it unstable to pour from.
• Hario Cold Brew Coffee Wine Bottle: This model brewed pleasant coffee, but lost points when the filter came loose during testing, making a mess of my kitchen. 

FAQs

How do cold brew makers work? 

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds and room temperature or chilled water for a period of eight to 24 hours before filtering. Cold brew coffee makers simplify this process with specially designed carafes and filters. Many cold brew makers also double as storage and serving vessels. 

Does cold brew have more caffeine? 

If you used the same type and amount of grounds to make a cup of cold brew and a cup of hot coffee, the cold brew would have more caffeine. This is due to cold brew’s extended extraction time. 

How long does cold brew keep in the fridge? 

Cold brew coffee can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. After this time, it may start to lose flavor or develop a stale taste. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Madeline Muzzi is a writer, editor, and video producer.
• She has written many reviews for Serious Eats, including wine decanters and countertop ice makers.
• For this review, Madeline tested eight cold brew makers. She brewed two batches of cold brew with each model and evaluated storage, serving, and cleanup.