The Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker: Smooth, Chilled Coffee Waiting in Your Fridge

Our top picks

1. 1Best cold brew coffee maker overallHario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot 1000 ml (MCPN-14)Pitcher and filter in one, dishwasher safe, inexpensive and slim enough for a fridge door.See on brand site
2. 2Best for small kitchensOXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee MakerA compact brewer that makes about 16 oz of concentrate, which OXO says keeps about a week.See on brand site
3. 3Best for big batchesToddy Cold Brew System (Home, THM)A 1.8 l system built for large batches of concentrate, with optional paper filter bags.See on brand site

How we chose

We compared cold brew makers on their makers' published specs, our product catalog and what owners commonly report about filters, fridge space and cleaning. We did not test these brewers hands-on for this guide. We focused on what shapes your week: how much cold brew each one makes, whether it brews ready-to-drink coffee or concentrate, how it filters, and whether it fits in a normal fridge.

Why cold brew is having a moment

Cold coffee has become an everyday pleasure. In US surveys by the National Coffee Association, 17% of past-day coffee drinkers prepared cold brew (Fall 2025), and cold, iced and frozen coffee made up 31% of coffee drunk in a June 2025 survey, up from 23% in January ¹. Among past-day specialty coffee drinkers, 60% drink it cold ².

Cold brew is simple: you steep coarse coffee in cold or room-temperature water for many hours, then filter it. The long, gentle steep gives a smooth, rounded, chocolatey cup that many people find easy to love, especially over ice with a splash of milk.

What makes the best cold brew coffee maker

All cold brew makers do the same basic job: hold coffee and water together, then separate the grounds cleanly. The differences are in size, filter and convenience.

• Pitcher brewers like the Hario Mizudashi have a mesh filter basket inside a pitcher. You brew and serve from the same jug.
• Concentrate brewers like the OXO Compact and the Toddy steep a strong batch, then drain it into a separate carafe. You dilute each glass with water or milk.
• Filter type shapes texture. Fine mesh is easy and reusable but lets a little sediment through. Felt and paper filters give a cleaner cup but need care or replacing.

If you are still choosing between brewing styles, our quiz helps.

Machine MatchmakerAnswer 6 quick questions and get the machine type and models that fit your drinks, budget and patience, with a 3-year cost-per-cup comparison.→

Our picks for the best cold brew coffee maker

Hario Mizudashi 1000 ml: best cold brew coffee maker overall

The Mizudashi is the cheerful, no-fuss way into cold brew. Hario lists the 1000 ml model (MCPN-14) as a borosilicate glass pitcher with a built-in fine mesh filter, brewing about 1 liter (34 fl oz) of cold brew from roughly 80 g (2.8 oz) of coffee and about 1150 ml of water ³. It is dishwasher safe and slim enough to fit in a fridge door ³.

Because it makes ready-to-drink coffee, you just pour over ice in the morning. The glass is fragile, and the fine mesh lets a little sediment through compared with paper. For most people who want a jug of smooth iced coffee on hand, it is the easiest choice.

OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker: best for small kitchens

The OXO Compact suits a small fridge and a small household. OXO lists a 24 oz brewing container that makes about 16 oz (about 470 ml) of concentrate, and its guidance says the concentrate keeps about a week ⁴. Concentrate is handy: one batch becomes several drinks once you add water or milk.

It makes a smaller batch than OXO's full-size cold brew maker, and it was shown out of stock on OXO's own site when our catalog was checked, so availability may vary by retailer. If you have little counter or fridge space, it is a tidy way to keep cold brew going.

Toddy Cold Brew System: best for big batches

The Toddy is the classic big-batch system. According to our catalog, the home model holds about 1.8 l and is built for about 12 oz (340 g) of coffee with 7 to 8 cups of water per batch, steeped in a brewing container and drained through a reusable felt filter into a glass decanter. Optional paper filter bags reduce cleanup and help keep the felt from clogging.

It is bulky for small kitchens, and the felt filter needs care and eventual replacement. In return you get a large batch of concentrate that covers a whole week of iced coffees for a coffee-loving household.

Cold brew makers compared

How to make cold brew at home

This easy method works with any of the picks above, or even with a French press or a big jar.

1. Grind coarse, like coarse sea salt or breadcrumbs. Fine grounds make muddy, bitter cold brew and clog filters. Our coffee grind size chart shows the size.
2. Choose your strength. For ready-to-drink cold brew, a ratio around 1:14 by weight is a gentle start (the Mizudashi's 80 g to about 1150 ml is in that range ³). For concentrate, use much more coffee, around 1:5 to 1:8, and dilute later.
3. Add water slowly and stir so all the grounds are wet.
4. Steep 12 to 18 hours. In the fridge it extracts more slowly; at room temperature a bit faster, so taste earlier. In one lab study at room temperature, caffeine and 3-chlorogenic acid concentrations leveled off after about 6 to 7 hours ⁵. That finding does not establish when refrigerated brewing or overall extraction is complete.
5. Filter and store cold. Keep it sealed in the fridge and enjoy it within about a week, as OXO suggests for its concentrate ⁴.
6. Serve over ice with water or milk to taste.

Medium roasts are worth a try: in that same study, cold brew made from medium roasts ended up with more caffeine and more 3-chlorogenic acid than dark roasts ⁵. Our light roast vs dark roast guide explains the flavor side.

Bean MatchPick the flavors you enjoy, your brewer and how your stomach handles coffee. Get your roast, origins and processing, plus beans and subscriptions to try.→

Cold brew, caffeine and your stomach

Two honest notes. First, caffeine in cold brew varies a lot with ratio, roast and steep time, and we found no reliable per-serving figure. Concentrate in particular can be strong, so dilute it and count it toward your daily total. The FDA says up to 400 mg a day is generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults ⁶. Our how much caffeine is too much guide has the details.

Second, many people say cold brew feels gentler on their stomach. That is a personal experience worth trusting for yourself, but we did not find strong studies showing cold brew causes less reflux. In fact, a meta-analysis of 15 studies found coffee in general was not significantly associated with GERD ⁷. If reflux bothers you, see our coffee and acid reflux guide, and consider our best low acid coffee picks.

Cold brew drinks that make a warm day better

Once you have a jug of cold brew in the fridge, small treats are only a minute away:

• Classic iced coffee. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in cold brew (diluted if it is concentrate) and add milk to taste.
• Cold brew with sweet cream. Whisk a little cream, milk and vanilla until it thickens slightly, then float it on top. A handheld frother makes this easy; see our best milk frother guide.
• Cold brew tonic. Pour cold brew over ice and top with tonic water and a twist of orange peel. Bright, bubbly and very refreshing.
• Coffee ice pops. Mix cold brew with milk and a touch of sweetener, pour into molds and freeze.
• Decaf evening glass. Brew a batch with decaf beans for an iced coffee after dinner with much less caffeine; our best decaf coffee guide has good options.

Buying guide: what matters in a cold brew maker

Batch size. Think about how much you drink in a week. One person sipping a glass a day is happy with a 1 l pitcher. A household of iced coffee fans will love a big concentrate system.

Concentrate or ready-to-drink. Concentrate saves fridge space and lets you adjust strength per glass. Ready-to-drink means zero thinking in the morning.

Filter. Mesh is reusable and easy. Felt and paper give a cleaner, silkier cup but add upkeep or cost.

Fridge fit. Measure your fridge door or shelf. A slim pitcher is a small joy when space is tight.

Cleaning. Dishwasher-safe parts, like the Mizudashi's, make the weekly routine painless ³.

Who should skip a cold brew maker

If you only drink cold brew now and then, a French press or a large jar with a sieve and a paper filter does the job; see our best French press guide. If you love the bright, aromatic notes of hot coffee poured over ice (often called Japanese-style iced coffee), a pour over dripper is the better tool. And if you want iced lattes with espresso, look at an espresso machine instead.

Not sure yet? Try the free tool

Machine MatchmakerAnswer 6 quick questions and get the machine type and models that fit your drinks, budget and patience, with a 3-year cost-per-cup comparison.→

Price bands: $ under $100 · $$ $100–299 · $$$ $300–799 · $$$$ $800–1,999 · $$$$$ $2,000+. Prices change, so check the retailer.

Frequently asked questions

How long should cold brew steep?

Most home recipes steep for 12 to 18 hours, in the fridge or at room temperature. A lab study at room temperature found caffeine and 3-chlorogenic acid concentrations leveled off after about 6 to 7 hours [5]; it did not establish the same timing for refrigerated brewing or measure overall flavor development. Start at 14 hours, taste, and adjust. Very long steeps can turn woody or bitter, especially with fine or dark-roasted coffee.

Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

It depends entirely on how it is made. Cold brew concentrate is brewed with a lot of coffee and is meant to be diluted, so undiluted it can be very strong. Ready-to-drink cold brew made at a normal ratio is closer to regular coffee. Caffeine varies with ratio, roast and steep time, so treat strong concentrate with care and dilute to taste.

What coffee is best for cold brew?

Medium and medium-dark roasts with chocolate, caramel or nutty notes are crowd-pleasers in cold brew. Grind them coarse. In one lab study, cold brew from medium roasts held more caffeine and chlorogenic acid than dark roasts. Fruity light roasts can be lovely too, though they taste milder in cold brew than in a hot pour over.

How long does cold brew last in the fridge?

Store it sealed in the fridge and enjoy it within about a week. OXO, for example, says its cold brew concentrate keeps about a week. Flavor slowly fades and can turn flat or sour over time, so smaller, more frequent batches taste best. Always keep it chilled, and remove the grounds once steeping is done.

Can I make cold brew in a French press?

Yes. Add coarse coffee and cold water to the press, stir, cover and steep in the fridge for 12 to 18 hours. Press slowly, then pour the cold brew into a clean jar so it stops extracting. For a cleaner cup, pour it through a paper filter as well. It is an easy way to try cold brew before buying a dedicated maker.

Is cold brew less acidic than hot coffee?

Many people find cold brew tastes smoother and less sharp, and some say it feels easier on the stomach. Strong scientific evidence that cold brew reduces reflux is lacking, though, and a meta-analysis found coffee in general was not significantly linked to GERD. If your stomach is sensitive, try a small serving and see how you feel.

Sources

We link to the original studies and official pages so you can check every claim.

1. National Coffee Association USA (2025). Grounds for celebration: Americans remain committed to coffee (NCDT Fall 2025). NCA Newsroom.
2. National Coffee Association USA (2026). Specialty Coffee Consumption Remains at Record High. NCA Newsroom.
3. Hario USA (2026). Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot. Official product page.
4. OXO (2026). Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker. Official product page.
5. Fuller M, Rao NZ (2017). The Effect of Time, Roasting Temperature, and Grind Size on Caffeine and Chlorogenic Acid Concentrations in Cold Brew Coffee. Sci Rep.
6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?. FDA Consumer Update.
7. Kim J, Oh SW, Myung SK et al. (2014). Association between coffee intake and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis. Dis Esophagus.