Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker (2023): Our Picks from OXO, Filtron and More

Nowadays, cold brew coffee systems are ubiquitous to the point that the caffeinated beverage is no longer exclusive to coffee shops in the practical sense or limited to DIY brewing at home. In fact, these coffee makers make the whole process such a simple endeavor that the drink is a pragmatic alternative to more traditional hot brewing methods for a morning cup—or in this case, glass—of joe.

That said, it isn’t a good idea to simply get the first brewer you see on store shelves, and so we’ve compiled a couple that stand out from the rest of the pack: the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker, the OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker, the ESPRO P5 French Press and the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewing System. All of them have one thing in common: they’re capable of making rich-tasting cold coffee. Still, there are a few key differences among them that distinguish each one from the other.

Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker Comparison Chart

Model		Highlight	Price
OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker		Best cold brew coffee maker in general	Check Price at OXO.com
OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker		Best compact cold brew coffee maker	Check Price at OXO.com
ESPRO P5 French Press		Best French press for cold brew coffee	Check Price at ESPRO.com
Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewing System		Best cold brew coffee maker for large batches	Check Price at Filtron.com

OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker Overall

Excellent design and performance—the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker is arguably the cold brew coffee maker to beat.

Just by looking at it, it’s easy to tell that the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker is one of the sleekest of its kind. Its straightforward design isn’t just for show, though, as it’s equally simple to set up and use.

Similar to its counterparts, you fill its container with ground coffee and pour water into it to let the steeping process begin. However, what sets it apart is its perforated Rainmaker top that promises to evenly distribute water over the coffee to optimally extract its flavor. Thanks to that, there’s no need to stir, which makes it easy to brew cold coffee.

Moreover, it features a reusable ultra-fine steel mesh filter to which its resulting nuanced brews are attributed. Lastly, all it takes is a flick of a switch to transfer its contents to the carafe once it’s ready.

OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker — Best Small Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker doesn’t take up that much space, making it perfect if you have limited room in the kitchen.

If space is a premium in your kitchen, then the OXO Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker is hard to pass up. It’s similar to its larger sibling the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker in that it also uses a Rainmaker top to evenly saturate coffee grounds and a stainless steel filter to keep stray grounds at bay from your brew. But as its name suggests, it has a smaller form factor, making it easier to find a spot for on a countertop.

One important difference is, it somehow makes stronger coffee with less consistency and a more bitter note. However, the strength and bitterness are nothing that a little diluting can’t fix. Another, albeit less important, difference is it automatically drains its contents once it’s placed on its carafe, as opposed to the aforementioned switch of the bigger model.

ESPRO P5 French Press — Best French Press Style Cold Brew Coffee Maker

With two filters, the ESPRO P5 French Press makes sure coffee grounds won’t get into your brew.

The problem with French presses is you’re bound to end up with coffee grounds slipping through and floating about in your brew, particularly if the beans you used don’t have a coarse grind. The ESPRO P5 French Press has a solution for this: a two-stage filtration system that consists of not one but two stainless steel micro mesh filters.

The result is a fairly rich cup with a smooth body. The best part is, it’s flexible enough that it’s also perfect for steeping hot tea and the like.

Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewing System — Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker for Big Batches

With a large carafe and a huge coffee bowl, the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewing System can serve a lot of people at a time.

If you’re serving a crowd, then you’ll need a pretty large cold coffee brewer. That’s where the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewing System shines with its sizable carafe. It can brew about 32 ounces of concentrated coffee that’s meant to be diluted afterward. Needless to say, the perfect ratio is subjective, but at any rate, it can deliver flavorful and full-bodied cups.

The thing is, it uses a wool felt filter, which can be a bit of a hassle to use. After all, if you don’t store it properly (it comes with a plastic storage container), then it’s likely to get moldy after some time.

Verdict

There are a ton of options in the market, but OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker, OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker, ESPRO P5 French Press and Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewing System are hard to beat.

In summary, our recommendation is the OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker, as it just gets everything right from flavor to ease of use. However, if it’s too big for you, then the OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker is the obvious option for its smaller size and decent brewing capabilities. 

Meanwhile, the ESPRO P5 French Press is our pick if you’re looking for a French press to prepare your cold brew. Last but not least, the Filtron Cold Water Coffee Concentrate Brewing System is likely your best bet for making large batches if you often have guests over.

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