Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers for Home: Pitchers, Brewers and Machines
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The best cold brew coffee maker for most homes is the OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker: it brews 32 oz of concentrate, up to 14 drinks, and drains it into a glass carafe at the flip of a switch. If fridge space is tight, the Takeya Deluxe 1-quart pitcher fits a fridge door at 9.5 inches tall, and if you want cold brew in about 10 minutes, the Ninja CM371 coffee maker has a Rapid Cold Brew setting.
A cold brew maker (also sold as a cold brew pitcher, cold brew system or cold press coffee maker) steeps coarse coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, then filters out the grounds. I chose 6 makers from the Good Housekeeping and Business Insider recommendations and checked every Amazon listing on October 25, 2026 for stock, rating and size. This guide is research-based; I haven’t brewed with all 6 myself.
The best cold brew makers at a glance
The 6 cold brew makers below range from a 34 oz (1.0 L) glass pitcher to a 12-cup coffee machine, and 5 of the 6 steep for 12 to 24 hours. This table compares capacity, material and who each cold brew maker suits.
| Pick | Best for | Capacity | Material | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 32 oz | Best overall countertop cold brew maker | 32 oz concentrate, up to 14 drinks (listing) | Borosilicate glass carafe, plastic brewer | Check Price for OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 32 oz on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1 Quart | Iced coffee and cold brew fans | 1 quart | BPA-free Tritan | Check Price for Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1 Quart on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 2 Quart | Best for big batches and households | 2 quarts / 64 oz | BPA-free Tritan, fine-mesh filter | Check Price for Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 2 Quart on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 38 oz (KCM5912) | Best for pouring from a tap in the fridge | 38 oz concentrate, up to 19 servings (listing) | Glass jar, stainless steel tap and steeper | Check Price for KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 38 oz (KCM5912) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| OVALWARE Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1.0 L / 34 oz | Best glass pitcher for a fridge door | 1.0 L / 34 oz (listing) | Borosilicate glass, stainless steel mesh strainer | Check Price for OVALWARE Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1.0 L / 34 oz on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew (CM371) | Best machine: hot coffee and rapid cold brew in one | 12-cup glass carafe; 6 to 24 oz single serve | Glass carafe, plastic body, permanent filter | Check Price for Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew (CM371) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Which cold brew maker should you buy?
Buy the OXO Brew for clean concentrate on the counter, a Takeya pitcher for the fridge door, the KitchenAid for a tap jar, and the Ninja CM371 if you also want hot coffee. Every pick has a 4.4-star or higher rating from 900 or more Amazon buyers.
OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker: best overall
The OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a steep-and-release brewer: a perforated “rainmaker” lid spreads water over the grounds, and a switch drains the concentrate into a borosilicate glass carafe. Good Housekeeping and Business Insider both pick it.
- Capacity: 32 oz of concentrate, up to 14 drinks (listing)
- Size: 9.53 × 9.53 × 14.72 in while brewing
- Filter: reusable stainless steel mesh; paper filters optional
- Worth it if: you want smooth, low-sediment concentrate and have counter space.
- Skip it if: your coffee bar sits under a low shelf. It needs about 15 inches of height.
Best overall
OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 32 oz
- Best for
- Best overall countertop cold brew maker
- Why it's here
- A countertop steep-and-release brewer: a rainmaker lid spreads water over the grounds, a switch drains the concentrate into a 32 oz borosilicate glass carafe.
- Watch out
- Tall at 14.72 in while brewing; the brewer stand is hand wash only.
- Price
- $$ · Mid
What we like
- Pro: Brew-release switch makes draining tidy
- Pro: Glass carafe has measurement marks
- Pro: Mesh filter is dishwasher safe
Keep in mind
- Con: Needs 15 in of height while brewing
- Con: Only the carafe and filter go in the dishwasher
Check Price on Amazon for OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 32 oz (opens in a new tab)
Affiliate link · Price may change
Takeya Deluxe 1 Quart: best budget pitcher
The Takeya Deluxe is a 1-quart BPA-free Tritan pitcher with a fine-mesh filter insert and an airtight lid. You steep it in the fridge and lift the filter out.
- Capacity: 1 quart (32 oz)
- Size: 5 × 7.5 × 9.5 in
- Material: shatter-proof Tritan, dishwasher safe
- Worth it if: you want cold brew in a fridge door for the lowest cost.
- Skip it if: you want strong concentrate in big batches. The filter limits how much coffee fits.
Best budget
Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1 Quart
- Best for
- Iced coffee and cold brew fans
- Why it's here
- A 1-quart Tritan pitcher with a fine-mesh filter insert and an airtight lid. Add coarse grounds and water, steep in the fridge overnight, then pull the filter out.
- Watch out
- The 1-quart size makes a few days of concentrate, not a week for two heavy drinkers.
- Price
- $ · Save
What we like
- Pro: Fits in a fridge door
- Pro: Airtight lid keeps the brew fresh for days
- Pro: Dishwasher safe
Keep in mind
- Con: Needs coarse-ground coffee
- Con: Mesh filter needs a rinse after each batch
Check Price on Amazon for Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1 Quart (opens in a new tab)
Affiliate link · Price may change
Takeya Deluxe 2 Quart: best for big batches
The 2-quart Takeya Deluxe holds 64 oz, twice the 1-quart pitcher, with the same Tritan body, fine-mesh filter and airtight lid. Business Insider notes that Takeya pitchers make ready-to-drink cold brew rather than a strong concentrate, because the filter holds a limited amount of grounds.
- Capacity: 2 quarts (64 oz)
- Material: BPA-free Tritan, dishwasher safe
- Worth it if: 2 or more people drink iced coffee every day.
- Skip it if: your fridge shelves are short. Check the height before you buy.
Best big batch
Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 2 Quart
- Best for
- Best for big batches and households
- Why it's here
- The larger Takeya pitcher: a 2-quart BPA-free Tritan jug with a fine-mesh filter insert and an airtight lid. Steep in the fridge, lift out the filter, pour.
- Watch out
- Needs a tall fridge shelf, and the filter holds a limited amount of grounds for strong concentrate.
- Price
- $ · Save
What we like
- Pro: Twice the 1-quart batch
- Pro: Shatter-proof pitcher
- Pro: Airtight lid keeps cold brew fresh
Keep in mind
- Con: Tall for some fridge doors
- Con: Filter capacity limits strength
Check Price on Amazon for Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 2 Quart (opens in a new tab)
Affiliate link · Price may change
KitchenAid 38 oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker: best tap jar
The KitchenAid KCM5912 is a glass jar with a stainless steel tap and a reusable steel steeper. It makes up to 38 oz of concentrate, which KitchenAid counts as 19 servings at 2 oz concentrate to 6 oz milk or water.
- Size: 8 × 7.2 × 8.48 in
- Keeps: up to 2 weeks in the fridge, per the listing
- Worth it if: you want to pour from a tap without lifting a jar.
- Skip it if: you need fridge-door storage. The jar sits on a shelf.
Best tap jar
KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 38 oz (KCM5912)
- Best for
- Best for pouring from a tap in the fridge
- Why it's here
- A glass jar with a stainless steel tap and a reusable steel steeper. It brews up to 38 oz of concentrate, about 19 servings at 2 oz concentrate to 6 oz milk or water.
- Watch out
- The jar is wide at 7.2 x 8 in, so it suits a fridge shelf more than the door.
- Price
- $$ · Mid
What we like
- Pro: Built-in tap: no lifting the jar
- Pro: Stainless and glass look good on a coffee bar
- Pro: Fill marks on the steeper
Keep in mind
- Con: Wide footprint
- Con: Steeper needs a careful rinse
Check Price on Amazon for KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 38 oz (KCM5912) (opens in a new tab)
Affiliate link · Price may change
OVALWARE Cold Brew Maker: best glass pitcher
The OVALWARE cold brew maker is a 1.0 L (34 oz) borosilicate glass pitcher with a removable stainless mesh strainer, an airtight lid and a spout. It also steeps iced tea, so one pitcher covers summer drinks for the whole house.
- Capacity: 1.0 L (34 oz)
- Material: borosilicate glass, stainless steel mesh
- Worth it if: you prefer glass to plastic and want a slim pitcher for the door.
- Skip it if: the pitcher will get knocked around. Glass can break.
Best glass
OVALWARE Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1.0 L / 34 oz
- Best for
- Best glass pitcher for a fridge door
- Why it's here
- A borosilicate glass pitcher with a removable fine-mesh strainer and a spout. It makes 1 liter (34 oz) of cold brew or iced tea and fits most fridge doors.
- Watch out
- Glass can break if dropped; the mesh lets a little fine sediment through.
- Price
- $ · Save
What we like
- Pro: Glass doesn't hold coffee smells
- Pro: Slim enough for a fridge door
- Pro: Pours from a spout
Keep in mind
- Con: Breakable
- Con: Small batch for heavy drinkers
Affiliate link · Price may change
Ninja Hot & Iced XL CM371: best cold brew machine
The Ninja CM371 is a 12-cup drip coffee maker with 4 brew styles (Classic, Rich, Over Ice and Cold Brew) and 8 sizes from a small cup to a full carafe. Its Rapid Cold Brew setting makes cold brew in about 10 minutes.
- Size: 12.32 × 9.13 × 15.08 in
- Reservoir: 60 oz, removable
- Worth it if: you want one machine for hot coffee in winter and cold brew in summer.
- Skip it if: you want true long-steep flavor. A 10-minute brew tastes brighter than a 12-hour steep.
Best machine
Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew (CM371)
- Best for
- Best machine: hot coffee and rapid cold brew in one
- Why it's here
- A 12-cup drip coffee maker with 4 brew styles (Classic, Rich, Over Ice, Cold Brew) and 8 sizes. Its Rapid Cold Brew setting makes a cold-brew-style coffee in about 10 minutes.
- Watch out
- Rapid cold brew is not a 12-hour steep; expect a lighter, brighter cup. It needs 15.1 in of height.
- Price
- $$$ · Splurge
What we like
- Pro: Replaces a drip maker and a cold brew pitcher
- Pro: Single cup to full carafe
- Pro: 24-hour delay brew
Keep in mind
- Con: Big footprint
- Con: Not a true long steep
Affiliate link · Price may change
What are the types of cold brew makers?
There are 4 main types of cold brew makers: immersion pitchers, steep-and-release brewers, tap jars and electric machines. Good Housekeeping groups them into non-electric (immersion and slow drip) and electric models that cut brew time to 5 to 45 minutes.
This table matches each type to its steep time and where it lives on your coffee bar.
| Type | Example | Brew time | Where it lives | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immersion pitcher | Takeya, OVALWARE | 12 to 24 h | Fridge door | Some fine sediment |
| Steep-and-release (slow drip) | OXO Brew, Toddy | 12 to 24 h | Counter, then carafe in fridge | Tall while brewing |
| Tap jar | KitchenAid KCM5912 | 12 to 24 h | Fridge shelf | Wide footprint |
| Electric machine | Ninja CM371 | About 10 min | Counter, near an outlet | Brighter, less mellow taste |
The Toddy Cold Brew System is the classic slow-drip brewer many guides name, and Good Housekeeping rates it for sediment-free concentrate. I didn’t box it here because Amazon showed no featured offer for it on October 25, 2026.
Rapid cold brew vs a 12-hour steep
A rapid cold brew machine makes coffee in minutes by circulating or pushing water through the grounds, while a pitcher relies on time. Good Housekeeping’s testers liked the speed of an electric model but wished it had a smaller footprint, and electric models cost more. If you plan ahead the night before, a 12 to 24 hour steep costs less and gives the mellow, chocolatey cup most people buy cold brew for.
Cold brew vs iced coffee
Cold brew never touches hot water; iced coffee is hot coffee brewed strong and poured over ice. The “Over Ice” setting on the Ninja CM371 makes iced coffee, and its “Cold Brew” setting makes the rapid cold brew. A slow-drip “Kyoto” tower is a third style, dripping cold water through coffee for hours, but it is a specialty item rather than a coffee bar staple.
Will a cold brew maker fit your fridge or coffee bar?
A slim cold brew pitcher like the 9.5-inch-tall, 5-inch-deep Takeya fits a typical fridge door; wider jars and brewers belong on a shelf or the counter. Measure your door bin and the shelf gap before you buy, because height is the number that rules most makers out.
These sizes come from each Amazon listing, largest figure first.
| Maker | Size (in) | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Takeya Deluxe 1 qt | 5 × 7.5 × 9.5 | Most fridge doors |
| KitchenAid KCM5912 | 8 × 7.2 × 8.48 | Fridge shelf |
| OXO Brew 32 oz | 9.53 × 9.53 × 14.72 | Counter while brewing; carafe in the fridge |
| Ninja CM371 | 12.32 × 9.13 × 15.08 | Counter, 15 in or more under cabinets |
A few fit rules I’d follow:
- Measure the fridge door bin from its floor to the shelf above. The 1-quart Takeya needs 9.5 inches plus about an inch to tilt it out.
- Brew on the counter, store in the fridge. The OXO Brew’s carafe holds the concentrate on its own, so only the slim carafe needs fridge space.
- Keep the brewer near the sink, since every batch means rinsing a mesh filter full of wet grounds.
If your coffee bar has its own fridge, our coffee bar mini fridge guide covers door-bin heights and where to put one.
How do you make cold brew in a cold brew maker?
Steep 1 part coarse coffee in 5 parts cold water for 12 to 24 hours, filter it, and dilute the concentrate about 1:3 with water or milk. Business Insider recommends 1:5 for concentrate and 1:7 for ready-to-drink cold brew, and the method is the same in every pitcher or brewer in this guide.
- Grind coarse, like French press coffee. A fine grind clogs the mesh and turns the brew muddy.
- Measure by weight. For 1:5, use 100 g (3.5 oz) of coffee per 500 g (about 17 oz) of water.
- Wet all the grounds, then stir once so no dry pockets stay.
- Steep 12 to 24 hours, on the counter or in the fridge.
- Filter and store the concentrate in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Dilute to serve: KitchenAid suggests 2 oz concentrate with 6 oz milk, water or ice.
How long cold brew lasts
Cold brew keeps its flavor for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge, according to Business Insider and KitchenAid’s listing. I’d label the jar with the brew date so nobody guesses.
Cost per glass
Cold brew uses more coffee than hot brewing, but the math per glass stays low. At 1:5, each 2 oz shot of concentrate takes at least 11 g of coffee, about 40 cents from a $12, 12 oz (340 g) bag, before milk. The grounds hold back some water, so plan on a little more coffee than the ratio alone suggests.
Grind and gear
A burr grinder gives an even coarse grind, which keeps the filter from clogging. The same grinder covers drip, moka pot and French press, and our coffee grinder guide lists the settings.
Shop the cold brew station
Who should skip a cold brew maker?
Skip a cold brew maker if you drink iced coffee less than about 3 times a week, or if you already own a French press. A French press steeps coarse coffee the same way; you just press it after 12 hours and pour the concentrate into a jar.
- Occasional iced coffee drinkers: use a French press for cold brew instead.
- Hot coffee people: a pitcher sits unused from October to April. The Ninja CM371 makes sense only if it replaces your drip maker.
- Espresso-style iced drinks: a moka pot brewed over ice gives a stronger, darker iced latte in 5 minutes.
For more gear, see the coffee machines and gear hub or our Amazon coffee bar finds.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying a cold brew maker?
A cold brew maker is worth it if you drink iced coffee 3 or more times a week. It makes a week of concentrate in one 12 to 24 hour steep and filters it cleanly. For an occasional glass, a French press or a mason jar with a fine strainer works without new gear.
Can you leave cold brew steeping too long?
Yes. Most cold brew makers, including the OXO Brew, give a 12 to 24 hour steep window, and going well past it pulls out more bitter flavors. Set a reminder when you start the batch, then filter out the grounds and keep only the liquid in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Should cold brew steep in the fridge or on the counter?
Both work. Business Insider notes the OXO Brew is designed to steep at room temperature on the counter, which saves fridge space. Pitchers like the Takeya and KitchenAid steep in the fridge. Cold water extracts more slowly, so give a fridge batch the longer end of the 12 to 24 hour window.
Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?
Cold brew concentrate is stronger than drip coffee because it uses far more coffee per ounce of water, about 1 part coffee to 5 parts water. Once you dilute it with 3 parts water or milk, as KitchenAid suggests, a glass of cold brew lands much closer to a regular cup.
Free coffee bar size worksheet
Six numbers to measure before you buy a cabinet, cart or machine, plus a page of typical machine sizes and cabinet clearances.