Cold brew is made overnight, so how much you produce per batch matters as much as the result itself. The Toddy handles a full pound of coffee at once; the OXO yields about 32 oz of concentrate; the Takeya holds 2 quarts; the Hario makes about 1 liter ready to drink. Match batch size to how fast you go through coffee, since cold brew concentrate keeps for up to two weeks.

Some makers separate the brewing vessel from the storage carafe, requiring a transfer step and two spots in the fridge (OXO, Toddy). Others brew and store in the same airtight pitcher (Takeya, Hario). A combined design takes up less space and removes a step but limits how much you can brew in one go. Check the dimensions against your fridge's available door and shelf height before buying.

The filtering approach determines sediment levels and cleanup complexity. Gravity-drain systems like the OXO extract more liquid and leave less residue than simple mesh immersion. The Toddy's paper-plus-felt combination produces the clearest concentrate of any method here. A basic mesh filter (Takeya, Hario) is the easiest to clean but lets through the most fines, especially with finer grinds.

Concentrate vs. Full Strength

Most dedicated cold brew makers produce concentrate that needs to be diluted before drinking. The Hario Mizudashi brews at a lower coffee-to-water ratio and can be poured straight without measuring. Concentrate is more flexible since you control the strength per cup, but it adds a dilution step every morning. Think about whether you want to measure and dilute or simply pour and go.

The Toddy requires periodic paper and felt filter replacements, which add up meaningfully over time. The OXO uses a reusable mesh filter that handles most batches fine, but optional paper filters (available separately) improve clarity noticeably. The Takeya and Hario use permanent mesh filters with no replacement cost beyond rinsing.

Top 4 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers of 2026

NRBy Nina ReyesKitchen & Home AppliancesApril 12, 2026

Cold brew sits in your fridge all week, so the maker you choose shapes every cup until the batch runs dry. After testing four systems, the OXO Good Grips earned the Best Overall spot for its consistent gravity-drain results and sediment-free concentrate. Best Fridge-Friendly Pitcher is the most practical pick for crowded fridges and tight budgets, Best for Large Batches is what dedicated drinkers and large households need at scale, and Best for Beginners is the simplest possible introduction to the whole process. Here is what to know before you pick one.

Product	Ease Of Use	Filter Quality	Fridge Friendliness	Batch Size	Value
Best OverallOXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker 32 oz	9.0	9.0	6.5	7.5	7.5	See PriceAmazon
Best for Large BatchesToddy Cold Brew System	7.0	9.5	4.0	10.0	5.0	See PriceAmazon
Best Fridge-Friendly PitcherTakeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker 2 Quart	9.5	7.5	9.5	7.0	9.5	See PriceAmazon
Best for BeginnersHario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker 1000ml	9.5	7.0	9.0	4.5	9.0	See PriceAmazon

Best Overall

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker 32 oz

$44.99

Ease Of Use9.0

Filter Quality9.0

Fridge Friendliness6.5

Batch Size7.5

Value7.5

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Who is this best for?

This is the pick for someone who wants a dedicated cold brew setup that reliably delivers clean, low-acid concentrate without any babysitting. The rainmaker top and gravity-drain design solve the two things that trip up simpler makers: uneven saturation during steeping and a messy filtering step at the end. Those who need something that brews inside an airtight vessel in the fridge will find the lidless bucket inconvenient and should look at the Takeya instead.

Why we love it

The rainmaker top distributes water evenly across the grounds before steeping, which means more consistent extraction than simply pouring water in from one side. Once steep time is up, a single switch flip starts the gravity drain into the included borosilicate glass carafe: no squeezing, no mess, no lengthy paper filter wait. You get about 32 oz of concentrate per batch, enough for roughly 14 drinks when diluted. The reusable stainless mesh filter handles most of the work cleanly, and the included paper filters take it a step further if you want completely clear coffee. Compared to the Hario Mizudashi, the OXO produces a true concentrate rather than ready-to-drink strength, giving you precise control over how strong each cup ends up.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you want the most polished all-in-one cold brew experience at this price. The main caveats are that the brewing bucket has no lid (plastic wrap it if fridge odors are a concern) and the plastic release handle can stiffen and eventually crack after years of heavy use. If you regularly brew at large scale or want the absolute clearest possible concentrate, the Toddy is built for that.

Best for Large Batches

Toddy Cold Brew System

$128.99

Ease Of Use7.0

Filter Quality9.5

Fridge Friendliness4.0

Batch Size10.0

Value5.0

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Who is this best for?

The Toddy is for the household or dedicated cold brew enthusiast who goes through coffee fast and needs the cleanest possible concentrate at commercial scale. Its combined paper and felt filter produces results that many coffee shops use as their standard, and the 9.5L bucket handles a full pound of coffee at once. If you brew once a week for yourself alone, the OXO delivers very similar quality at a fraction of the cost and without the ongoing filter expense.

Why we love it

The double-filter system produces concentrate that is noticeably cleaner and more transparent than what you get from the OXO's mesh-only approach or the Takeya's fine-mesh filter, with nearly zero sediment in the final result. At 9.5L capacity, a single Toddy run can yield multiple gallons of concentrate if you push the grounds hard, which is why the system has become the coffee-shop standard for high-volume cold brew. The plastic bucket construction eliminates any cracking risk during use. Reviewers who switch from the OXO specifically for volume reasons consistently describe the result as richer and more complex, though the difference narrows when the OXO is used with paper filters.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you drink enough cold brew to justify the $128.99 price and are willing to budget for replacement paper and felt filters over time. The glass carafe is fragile and not airtight, so you will want a separate sealed container for storage once the concentrate has drained. For most home brewers who do not need commercial-scale output, the OXO is the smarter buy.

Best Fridge-Friendly Pitcher

Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker 2 Quart

$20.33

Ease Of Use9.5

Filter Quality7.5

Fridge Friendliness9.5

Batch Size7.0

Value9.5

See PriceAmazon

Who is this best for?

The Takeya is the pick for anyone with a crowded fridge who wants a single vessel that brews, seals, and stores without any transfer. The airtight lid and slim pitcher profile let it stand upright or lay on its side with zero leaking, which is something the lidless OXO brewing bucket simply cannot do. The low price also makes it easy to buy two and rotate them so there is always a batch ready.

Why we love it

At $20.33, the Takeya is the least expensive dedicated cold brew maker in this guide and holds more volume than the Hario Mizudashi at twice the size. The patented airtight lid keeps coffee fresh for a full week in the fridge without off flavors, and a large number of regular users buy a second one so a fresh batch is always steeping while the previous one is being used. The fine-mesh filter pulls out cleanly for disposal and rinsing, and the entire pitcher is dishwasher safe. Sediment levels are a bit higher than the OXO's gravity-drain design, but coarse grinding brings it down to a negligible amount. The shatter-proof Tritan construction also removes the breakage concern that comes with the glass body of the Hario.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you want a low-maintenance, fridge-ready pitcher at a very competitive price. The one real limitation is that the solid-bottom filter insert means some grounds can re-soak in the remaining liquid, making later pours slightly stronger than early ones. Those who want completely consistent concentrate from first pour to last should consider the OXO or the Toddy.

Best for Beginners

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker 1000ml

$21.75

Ease Of Use9.5

Filter Quality7.0

Fridge Friendliness9.0

Batch Size4.5

Value9.0

See PriceAmazon

Who is this best for?

The Hario Mizudashi is for first-timers who want to try cold brew with the fewest possible moving parts. There is no carafe, no switch, no separate filter stage: fill the mesh tube with coarse grounds, lower it into the glass bottle, add cold water, and put it in the fridge door overnight. If you end up brewing every week, you will likely want to graduate to the OXO or the Takeya, but this is the clearest way to find out whether home cold brew fits your habits.

Why we love it

The tall, slim bottle fits upright in most fridge door shelves without taking up precious shelf space, which is where the Takeya has to compete when it lays flat. Unlike the Toddy, the Hario brews at a lower coffee-to-water ratio that produces a ready-to-drink strength you can pour straight without any measuring or dilution. The process could not be simpler, and the most common beginner mistake (coffee ground too fine) is easy to course-correct on the next batch. The glass body is attractive, does not absorb odors, and gives you a clear view of how the brew is progressing. The trade-off is that glass breaks easily if dropped, and the 1L filter height limits how concentrated a brew you can make if you eventually want to experiment with higher ratios.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you want the simplest possible introduction to cold brew at a reasonable price. The 1000ml batch is small for anyone brewing for more than one person, so expect to refill it every two to three days. When you outgrow it, the OXO is the natural upgrade if you want more control and a cleaner concentrate, or the Takeya if you want more volume with the same minimal effort.

What to Consider Before Buying

Batch Size
Cold brew is made overnight, so how much you produce per batch matters as much as the result itself. The Toddy handles a full pound of coffee at once; the OXO yields about 32 oz of concentrate; the Takeya holds 2 quarts; the Hario makes about 1 liter ready to drink. Match batch size to how fast you go through coffee, since cold brew concentrate keeps for up to two weeks.
Fridge Compatibility
Some makers separate the brewing vessel from the storage carafe, requiring a transfer step and two spots in the fridge (OXO, Toddy). Others brew and store in the same airtight pitcher (Takeya, Hario). A combined design takes up less space and removes a step but limits how much you can brew in one go. Check the dimensions against your fridge's available door and shelf height before buying.
Filtration Method
The filtering approach determines sediment levels and cleanup complexity. Gravity-drain systems like the OXO extract more liquid and leave less residue than simple mesh immersion. The Toddy's paper-plus-felt combination produces the clearest concentrate of any method here. A basic mesh filter (Takeya, Hario) is the easiest to clean but lets through the most fines, especially with finer grinds.
Concentrate vs. Full Strength
Most dedicated cold brew makers produce concentrate that needs to be diluted before drinking. The Hario Mizudashi brews at a lower coffee-to-water ratio and can be poured straight without measuring. Concentrate is more flexible since you control the strength per cup, but it adds a dilution step every morning. Think about whether you want to measure and dilute or simply pour and go.
Ongoing Filter Costs
The Toddy requires periodic paper and felt filter replacements, which add up meaningfully over time. The OXO uses a reusable mesh filter that handles most batches fine, but optional paper filters (available separately) improve clarity noticeably. The Takeya and Hario use permanent mesh filters with no replacement cost beyond rinsing.

Honorable Mentions

Best Budget Option

Bodum Brazil French Press 34 oz

If you already own a French press, it doubles as a cold brew vessel at no extra cost: steep coarse grounds overnight, plunge, and run the result through a paper filter for a cleaner cup. The method leaves more sediment than any dedicated maker in this guide, but the results are genuinely solid and the price of entry is zero.

See PriceAmazon

Best for Nitro Cold Brew

NitroPress DS Electric Nitro Cold Brew Maker

For those who already make cold brew regularly and want a cascading, nitrogen-infused pour at home, the NitroPress DS delivers results that reviewers consistently describe as close to a specialty cafe. It uses air compression rather than disposable nitrogen cartridges, which keeps ongoing costs reasonable given the $382 upfront investment.

See PriceAmazon