Here's a confession: Fork in the Road Coffee started with a Cuisinart DCB-10.
Back in 2020, Jason was obsessed with cold brew. He picked up the Cuisinart automatic cold brew maker, the one that promised a full batch in 25 to 45 minutes instead of waiting overnight, and started making cold brew at home daily. He delivered a gallon of it to Jamie every week. Because of this, she married him. Then they turned thier love for cold brew into a coffee company together. The Cuisinart method still works great! Disclaimer: it doesn't come with a girlfriend!
But the coffee world has come a long way since then, and there are now genuinely excellent cold-brew makers at every price point and brewing style. We've gone through the research on Amazon best-seller lists, thousands of verified buyer reviews, and independent testing sources, and picked the best options for every kind of home brewer.
Jump to a pick
-
#1 — Toddy Cold Brew System — Best overall ($45)
-
#2 — OXO Brew Compact — Best for beginners ($27)
-
#3 — Takeya Tritan Pitcher — Best budget pick ($25)
-
#4 — Ovalware Glass Carafe — Best-looking, best gift ($43)
-
#5 — County Line Kitchen — Best no-frills option ($27)
-
#6 — Cuisinart DCB-10 — Best for speed, ready in 25–45 min ($65)
-
Quick comparison table
-
What to look for when buying
-
FAQs
Quick Comparison: All Six Makers at a Glance
| Maker | Price | Capacity | Best for | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toddy Cold Brew System | $45 | 36–38 oz concentrate | Best flavor, large batches | ★★★★½ 4.6/5 |
| OXO Brew Compact | $27 | 24–28 oz concentrate | Beginners, clean design | ★★★★½ 4.5/5 |
| Takeya Tritan Pitcher | $25 | 32 oz / 1 quart | Budget, dishwasher-safe | ★★★★½ 4.5/5 |
| Ovalware Glass Carafe | $43 | 51 oz / 1.5L | Countertop display, glass | ★★★★½ 4.4/5 |
| County Line Kitchen | $27 | 64 oz / 2 quart | Simple, large, no fuss | ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 |
| Cuisinart DCB-10 Auto | $65 | 7 cups / 56 oz | Speed — ready in 25–45 min | ★★★★☆ 4.2/5 |
The Best Cold Brew Makers, Reviewed
PICK #1 — BEST OVERALL
Toddy Cold Brew System
The gold standard since 1964
The Toddy is the original. It's been the professional cold brew standard since 1964, and it still wins blind taste tests against more expensive modern systems. It uses a double-filtration system — a reusable felt filter plus optional disposable filter bags that produce an exceptionally clean, sediment-free concentrate. One batch makes 36–38 oz of concentrate, enough for 12-19 drinks, depending on how you dilute. If you want the absolute best-tasting cold brew from a home brewer, this is it.
✓ Pros
- Best flavor of any manual brewer tested
- Largest batch size — great for households
- Double filtration = ultra-clean concentrate
- Classic design used in professional coffee shops
- Includes reusable felt filters + disposable bags
✗ Cons
- Brewing container isn't airtight — use the included decanter
- Felt filters can slow drainage vs. mesh
- Purely functional design — not pretty on a counter
- Takes up more fridge space during steeping
PICK #2 — BEST FOR BEGINNERS
OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Consistent, clean, foolproof
The OXO Brew wins on design and ease of use. Its standout feature is the "Rainmaker" lid, a perforated top that distributes water evenly over the grounds, ensuring every bit of coffee gets saturated from the start with no stirring needed. When steep time is done, you flip a switch, and the concentrate drains cleanly into the included glass carafe below. The carafe seals and goes straight into the fridge. For anyone who wants a no-mess, no-guesswork process, this is the one to buy.
✓ Pros
- Rainmaker lid ensures even, consistent saturation
- Clean flip-to-drain design — zero pouring mess
- Compact size fits most refrigerators easily
- Carafe doubles as a serving and storage vessel
- Includes 50 paper filters for extra clarity
✗ Cons
- Smaller yield than Toddy (24–28 oz concentrate)
- Plastic brewer isn't as attractive as glass options
- Paper filters add an ongoing cost unless you skip them
🛒 Find the OXO Brew on Amazon →
PICK #3 — BEST BUDGET PICK
Takeya Tritan Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Shatterproof, dishwasher-safe, leakproof
Amazon's #1 best-selling cold brew maker, and the reviews back it up. The Takeya is made from BPA-free Tritan plastic that's shatterproof, stain-resistant, and odor-resistant. The lid creates a genuinely airtight seal, so you can tip it upside down without a drip. Everything, including the fine-mesh filter, is top-rack dishwasher-safe. At 50,000+ reviews and under $25, it's the most proven option on this list. It won't produce quite the flavor complexity of the Toddy, but for an everyday grab-and-go cold brew pitcher, it's exceptional value.
✓ Pros
- 50,000+ reviews — proven at massive scale
- Shatterproof — great for any kitchen
- Fully leakproof — store sideways in any fridge
- Completely dishwasher-safe top rack
- Available in 1-quart and 2-quart sizes
✗ Cons
- Plastic, not glass — some prefer glass for purity
- Mesh filter occasionally lets very fine sediment through
- Not the most attractive open countertop option
PICK #4 — BEST LOOKING
Ovalware Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
Borosilicate glass, minimal design, coffee bar worthy
If you want a cold brew maker that looks as good as it works, the Ovalware is it. The conical borosilicate glass carafe has laser-etched measurement markings, a nonslip rubber base, and a stainless steel lid with an airtight BPA-free silicone seal. No plastic touches the brewing path at all. Borosilicate glass handles temperature changes without cracking and doesn't absorb flavors or odors the way plastic can. At 51 oz, it makes a generous batch. Multiple reviewers call it the nicest thing on their kitchen counter, and it's our top pick for gifting.
✓ Pros
- Beautiful borosilicate glass — display-worthy
- Airtight silicone seal — fresh up to 2 weeks
- Laser-etched measurements — precise and permanent
- No plastic in the brewing path at all
- Our top gift recommendation for coffee lovers
✗ Cons
- Glass can break if dropped — handle carefully
- Smaller capacity than Toddy or County Line
- Slightly more expensive than plastic pitchers
🛒 Find the Ovalware on Amazon →
PICK #5 — BEST NO-FRILLS OPTION
County Line Kitchen Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker
64 oz, heavy-duty glass, just works
Sometimes, simple is best. A wide-mouth 64 oz heavy-duty glass jar with a stainless steel mesh filter and a leakproof lid — that's it. No gimmicks, no proprietary parts, no special cleaning routine. If the jar ever breaks, any standard wide-mouth Mason jar lid fits. If the filter wears out, replacements are standard-size. At 64 oz, it makes the largest batch of any pitcher on this list, great for households that go through a lot of cold brew, or anyone who likes to batch-brew for the whole week on Sunday night.
✓ Pros
- Largest batch size on this list — 64 oz / 2 quarts
- Standard Mason jar format — replacement parts everywhere
- Simple to clean, nothing to break
- Heavy borosilicate glass — feels solid and substantial
- Often under $27 on Amazon
✗ Cons
- Wide-mouth means you pour to filter, not flip-and-drain
- Less precise extraction control than OXO's Rainmaker
- No carry handle — need two hands when full
🛒 Find the County Line Kitchen Maker on Amazon →
PICK #6 — BEST FOR SPEED
Cuisinart DCB-10 Automatic Cold Brew Coffeemaker
Cold brew ready in 25 to 45 minutes, not 18 hours
This is the one that started it all for us, and honestly, it's still one of our favorites. Every other maker on this list requires 12 to 24 hours. The Cuisinart DCB-10 requires 25 to 45 minutes. It uses a low-temperature brewing process with a spinning mechanism that accelerates extraction without heat — so you get something genuinely close to traditional cold brew's smooth, low-acid character in a fraction of the time. Three settings: Mild (25 min), Medium (35 min), Bold (45 min). It dispenses directly into a 7-cup glass carafe via a touch-lever. If you want cold brew on demand without overnight planning, this is the one.
✓ Pros
- Cold brew in 25–45 minutes — no overnight planning
- Three strength settings — mild, medium, bold
- Clean lever-dispense into included glass carafe
- Compact countertop footprint
- Makes both concentrate and ready-to-drink
✗ Cons
- More expensive than manual pitchers (~$65–70)
- Requires a power outlet — less portable
- Flavor is close to but not identical to 18-hour cold brew
- More parts to clean than a simple pitcher
🛒 Find the Cuisinart DCB-10 on Amazon →
Which Cold Brew Maker Is Right for You?
Not sure which one to go with? Here's the shortcut:
| Your situation | Best pick |
|---|---|
| You want the best-tasting cold brew, period | Toddy Cold Brew System (#1) |
| First cold brew maker — want something foolproof | OXO Brew Compact (#2) |
| Budget under $30, want it dishwasher-safe | Takeya Tritan Pitcher (#3) |
| You want it to look beautiful on your counter | Ovalware Glass Carafe (#4) |
| You want simple, big, glass, no-nonsense | County Line Kitchen (#5) |
| You never plan ahead, and need it fast | Cuisinart DCB-10 (#6) |
| You're buying a gift for a coffee lover | Ovalware (#4) or Toddy (#1) |
| You drink cold brew daily and batch-brew weekly | Takeya 2-quart (#3) or County Line (#5) |
What to Look for When Buying a Cold Brew Maker
Filter type
Fine-mesh stainless steel filters are the most practical, reusable, easy to clean, and never need replacing. Felt filters (Toddy) produce the cleanest concentrate but need more maintenance. Paper filters add clarity but add ongoing cost.
Capacity
Think about how much cold brew you drink per week. A 1-quart pitcher makes about 6–8 drinks. A 2-quart pitcher makes 12–16. The Toddy makes enough concentrate for up to 19 drinks. If you're batch-brewing for a household or for the week, go bigger.
Glass vs plastic
Glass doesn't absorb flavors or odors, looks better, and many people feel it produces a slightly cleaner-tasting concentrate. The trade-off is breakability. BPA-free Tritan plastic (Takeya) is shatterproof and nearly maintenance-free. Both are valid choices.
Airtight seal
Your concentrate needs to stay fresh in the fridge for up to two weeks. Look for a lid that creates a proper airtight seal. Loose-fitting lids let concentrate oxidize and go stale faster. The Takeya, Ovalware, and County Line Kitchen all seal very well.
Ease of cleaning
After an 18-hour steep, you'll need to disassemble and rinse everything. Dishwasher-safe components (Takeya, County Line) make this effortless. Glass carafes with wide mouths are easy to hand-wash. Felt filters (Toddy) require hand-rinsing and occasional sanitizing.
Cold Brew Maker FAQs
Do I really need a special cold brew maker, or can I use a Mason jar?
A plain Mason jar works fine. You'll just need to filter through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth afterward, which can be messy. A dedicated cold brew maker makes the process cleaner and more consistent. For under $27, the County Line Kitchen maker is essentially a Mason jar with a built-in filter best of both worlds.
How long do I steep cold brew in these makers?
For all manual pitchers, 16 to 18 hours in the refrigerator is the sweet spot. 12 hours produces a lighter concentrate; 24 hours can start tasting bitter with some coffees. Start at 16 hours and adjust. The Cuisinart brews in 25 to 45 minutes.
What grind size should I use?
Coarse grind similar to a French press. Fine grounds over-extract in a long, cold steep and produce a harsh, bitter concentrate. They're also much harder to filter out. If buying pre-ground, look for "coarse" or "French press grind" on the label.
Can I use these for iced tea, too?
Yes — all of them work beautifully for cold-steeped tea. Cold-steeped tea is smoother and less tannic than hot-brewed tea. Same 12–18 hour steep applies. It's a great bonus use that makes any of these makers more versatile than a single-purpose purchase.
How long does homemade cold brew last?
Up to 14 days in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge. After that, the flavor degrades, not spoiled, but stale. Most households finish a batch in 5 to 7 days anyway. The Takeya and Ovalware's airtight lids are especially good for maximizing shelf life.
Start With Great Beans
A cold brew maker is only half the equation. For cold brew, you want a medium to dark roast with naturally bold, low-acid flavor. Bright, acidic light roasts can taste sharp in concentrated form. Bold, chocolatey, caramel-forward roasts produce the smooth, rounded concentrate cold brew is known for.
Our Cold Brew Bean Recommendations
Rogue Traveler Blend — $22.99
Our #1 cold brew pick. Bold, smooth, made for concentrate.
Shop Rogue Traveler →French Roast — $22.99
Dark, rich, stands up beautifully to dilution with oat milk or water.
Shop French Roast →Medium Roast — $22.99
A lighter, more delicate concentrate. Great for ready-to-drink batches.
Shop Medium Roast →
1 comment
I love the Cuisinart DCB-10 Automatic Cold Brew Coffeemaker. I use mine all the time! Thanks for this helpful info