Cold brew at home is shockingly simple — coarse grounds, cold water, 12–18 hours of steeping, filter the result. You don't need anything expensive, just something that filters cleanly. Here are the three setups we'd buy.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- Best Overall: Toddy Cold Brew System, T2N — The Toddy is the original cold brew system — its felt filter and 50-year-old design produce the smoothest, lowest-acid concentrate available.
- Best Premium: OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker — The OXO Compact's rainmaker top distributes water evenly across the grounds and the all-glass carafe stores neatly in the fridge door.
- Best Value: County Line Kitchen Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Filter, 2 Quart — The County Line 2-quart mason jar with stainless filter is the cheapest way to brew real cold brew without paper filters or felt to replace.
1. Best Overall: Toddy Cold Brew System, T2N
Toddy Cold Brew System, T2N
Toddy
- Patented two-step brewing system invented in 1964
- Reusable felt filter strains coffee oils for low-acid concentrate
- Glass decanter holds about 6-7 servings of concentrate
- Brews enough concentrate to dilute into roughly 2-3 quarts of coffee
Why we picked it: The Toddy is the original cold brew system — its felt filter and 50-year-old design produce the smoothest, lowest-acid concentrate available.
3. Best Premium: OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
OXO
- Rainmaker top for even water distribution over grounds
- Makes up to 24 oz of cold brew concentrate per batch
- Glass carafe fits in standard refrigerator doors
- BPA-free with reusable stainless steel mesh filter
Why we picked it: The OXO Compact's rainmaker top distributes water evenly across the grounds and the all-glass carafe stores neatly in the fridge door.
2. Best Value: County Line Kitchen Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Filter, 2 Quart
County Line Kitchen Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Filter, 2 Quart
County Line Kitchen
- 2-quart heavy glass mason jar with airtight lid
- Reusable laser-cut stainless steel filter — no paper needed
- Doubles as both brewer and storage in the fridge
- BPA-free with silicone gasket and flip-top spigot
Why we picked it: The County Line 2-quart mason jar with stainless filter is the cheapest way to brew real cold brew without paper filters or felt to replace.
Quick Comparison
| Pick | Brand | Product | Key spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Toddy | Toddy Cold Brew System, T2N | Patented two-step brewing system invented in 1964 |
| Best Premium | OXO | OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker | Rainmaker top for even water distribution over grounds |
| Best Value | County Line Kitchen | County Line Kitchen Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Stainl... | 2-quart heavy glass mason jar with airtight lid |
What to Look For
Filtration quality is everything. Cheap cold brew systems use mesh that lets sediment through, leaving you with gritty coffee at the bottom of every cup. Toddy's felt filters and OXO's paper filters both produce sediment-free brew.
Concentrate vs ready-to-drink: Toddy-style makers produce concentrate you dilute 1:1 with water or milk (and store for 2 weeks). Single-strength makers (OXO Compact) make brew you drink immediately. Concentrate is more space-efficient if you drink cold brew daily.
Glass vs plastic carafe: glass is dishwasher-safe and doesn't retain coffee oils; plastic is lighter and won't shatter. The County Line Kitchen mason jar is the simplest, cheapest, and most replaceable design.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does cold brew take to make?
12–18 hours at room temperature, or 18–24 hours in the fridge. Stronger flavor comes from longer steeping (up to 24h); past that you get over-extracted bitterness. Most people brew overnight.
What coffee grind do you use for cold brew?
Coarse — like raw sea salt. Fine grinds clog filters and over-extract. If you don't have a grinder, ask your local roaster to grind for cold brew or French press.
How long does cold brew keep?
Cold brew concentrate keeps 2 weeks in the fridge. Cold brew at drinking strength keeps 7–10 days. Both lose flavor noticeably after a week, but the safety window is longer than a hot-brewed pot of coffee (which goes stale in hours).
Want to dig deeper? See our guides to Best Drip Coffee Maker (2026), Best Electric Kettle (2026), and Best Espresso Machine (2026).