- You are here:
- Home »
- Buyer's Guides »
- The 10 Best Iced Coffee Makers | Ultimate Guide for 2021
The 10 Best Iced Coffee Makers | Ultimate Guide for 2021
There are few things more refreshing than a perfectly brewed iced coffee.
Especially in spring and summer when the sun is out, I love a nice strong cold brew in the morning or an iced latte to get me through the afternoon.
A great coffee maker can help make iced coffee quick and easy and it doesn’t have to be expensive.
This list is a researched compilation of our very favorite cold brew makers. There’s a little something for every style and budget and all of these options will help satisfy your caffeine addiction, keeping you out of the Starbucks drive thru.
The Final Shot: The Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker and Tea Infuser is my favorite. Simple, easy and makes great iced coffee.
But what is it and why is it so popular? They avoid acidic flavors that can sometimes be found in heat extracted filter or espresso systems. It is the preferred method for those who enjoy milder flavored coffee.
Like the name suggests, selected coffee grinds are steeped in water in a special container in a refrigerator, for long periods of time, which allows the aromatic flavors of the coffee to release. The resulting concentrated brew stays fresh enough to drink for several days, so you can enjoy the result whenever you choose.
Cold brews are great, but a basic iced coffee doesn’t require nearly as much time to make. When it comes to making basic iced coffee, you essentially take a serving or two of your chosen brew and add a desired amount of ice, iced water or cold milk in a ratio of about 1:3 coffee to cold liquid. If you wish to sweeten it, you can add simple syrup, rather than sugar crystals for a better mix.
One of my favorite methods is to take a shot or two, 3-4 cubes of ice, 2/3 cup of ice cold milk, 1 tsp simple syrup and blend them all together before serving with piped cream around the rim of the cup which makes a rich smooth iced coffee/frappe mix.
Contents
The 10 Best Iced Coffee Makers in 2021
Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
Product Name- 4.6Rating
- $Price
- Cold BrewMachine Type
Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker and Tea Infuser
Product Name- 4.4Rating
- $Price
- Cold BrewMachine Type
KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Product Name- 4.4Rating
- $Price
- Cold BrewMachine Type
1. Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker and Tea Infuser
I’m a big fan of this sweet and simple little set-up from Ovalware.
So what does it include and how does it work?
It includes a 1.0 liter glass carafe with a rust-free medical grade stainless steel filter and cap. The silicone seal is BPA free and airtight. The carafe itself is made of extra-thick borosilicate glass that’s lab-tested for strength. It also has a newly added non-slip rubber base for added protection for your surfaces and the carafe.
It is designed to tuck conveniently onto your fridge shelf and includes a slim handle for easy pouring.
To use, simply grind your favorite beans (or purchase pre-ground), load into the stainless steel inner infuser chamber, fill the carafe with room-temp water to the desired amount, then pop the whole thing into your fridge and let the magic happen as the flavors mix with the water and create a deliciously strong pitcher of cold brew concentrate.
The ideal brew time is 12-24 hours, so starting the evening before is perfect to have it ready to go the next day. All of the components for this set up are dishwasher safe, so in addition to being really simple, it’s also easy to maintain.
This setup can also be used with both loose leaf tea and tea bags if you want to try making a little iced tea too.
Ovalware also makes a 1.5 liter version if you’re brewing for more than just yourself and want to have extra on hand for thirsty friends and family.
This is the perfect example of great design, with no complicated frills, just a simple, fast way to make great cold brew from the comfort of home.
Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker Hot Features:
- SMOOTHER COFFEE, EVERY TIME – Cold brewing is 70% less acidic than hot brewing. And richer in taste. Our cold brewer extracts coffee concentrate which can be stored and mixed with an endless variety of beverages to create your own perfect, personal cup of joy. Recommended grind size: Coarse
- LOCKS IN FRESHNESS AND FLAVOR FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS – Airtight seal. Easy-access handle. Engineered to perfectly fit within your fridge shelf. Experience refined craftsmanship you can always count on
- QUALITY YOU WON’T REGRET – 18/8 rust-free superfine laser cut filter, medical-grade stainless steel filter & cap. Extra-thick, lab-tested borosilicate glass. BPA-Free silicon airtight seal. Dishwasher safe. New upgrade: Non-slip rubber cushion base for extra protection. Professional home brewing has never been this easy: just mix and pour
- ICED AND HOT TEA COMPATIBLE – Great for loose-leaf tea. Or tea bags. Brew it hot like a traditional teapot, or brew it cold in the fridge. Take your brewing & hosting skills to the next level
- WE WANT YOU! TO BE HAPPY – Choose OVALWARE if you care about quality and customer service. We have great confidence in the quality of our products, and we have the best customer service here on Amazon – which is why we are offering you a Risk-Free purchase. In the unlikely event our product fails to meet or exceed your expectations, you may return our product within 90 DAYS post-purchase to receive a FULL refund
2. Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, 1 Quart
Takeya makes a comparable option to the Ovalware that we also really enjoy for the straight-forward simplicity.
This is another carafe style set-up and functions just like our first pick design. It includes a durable, BPA-free pitcher with airtight lid and a silicone handle. Keep in mind, this is a plastic carafe whereas the Ovalware option is glass.
The center chamber is made of a fine mesh filter with plastic reinforcement. The lid is also a heavy Tritan plastic.
Making coffee with this set-up is the same as the Ovalware – you fill the inner infuser with fresh or pre-ground coffee, add water and store in the fridge for up to 36 hours to create your concentrate. It can be watered down as needed to taste.
This model is also designed to work with hot water to make hot coffee as well as tea. It is dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
Takeya also produces a range of sizes, including 1 and 2 quart options.
The simplicity and ease of use is the major advantage to this type of iced coffee maker and users rave about how fast the prep work is.
Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, 1 Quart Hot Features:
- THE NEW DELUXE cold brew coffee maker is a durable BPA-Free Tritan pitcher with an airtight lid & non-slip silicone handle. It produces 4 servings of smooth cold brew with any type of coffee grounds and is less acidic than traditional coffee brewing.
- THE FINE-MESH COFFEE FILTER in this cold brew coffee maker keeps grounds out of your freshly brewed pot – differing from other coffee machines. Tritan plastic withstands hot temperatures if you want a hot cup of coffee. Fits in most refrigerator doors.Top rack dishwasher safe
- PREMIUM BOTTLES AND LIDS: Our innovative line of insulated hydration solutions come in a range of sizes. We offer water bottles in 18, 24, 32, 40, and 64 oz sizes, beverage makers and pitchers in 1 Qt and 2 Qt sizes.
- BPA FREE HYDRATION SOLUTIONS: From insulated stainless steel water bottles to beverage makers and pitchers, as well as a variety of product accessories, Takeya USA products help you stay cool, refreshed and hydrated for an active, on-the-go lifestyle.
- INNOVATIVE HYDRATION SOLUTIONS: Takeya brings over 55 years of Japanese design heritage to our line of insulated, BPA-free water bottles & our sustainable iced tea, fruit infusion, & cold brew pitchers.
3. KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker-Brushed Stainless Steel
The design of the KitchenAid is a little different from our first two options, but this is a solid, easy alternative with a couple fun features.
The overall design is a rounded square, a lot like a big tupperware container. There is an inner fine mesh, stainless steel, steeper chamber and lid that you fill with your favorite ground coffee. The glass brew jar gets filled with water. It sits on a stainless steel base and has a great stainless steel tap to pour from.
The handle on top is a nice addition instead of a handle and helps keep the overall footprint inside your fridge compact, so you have more room for storing food and other beverages.
It also looks great at parties and makes it easy for guests to dispense cold brew from on their own. Kitchen air makes an optional stand you can add to your purchase to elevate it on your counter for easy pouring.
The whole set up is dishwasher safe so cleaning is quick and hassle free.
This model can be purchased in both a 28 and 32 ounce size, making up to 14 servings of concentrate. We recommend diluting to taste based on the desired strength of your final beverage.
This is a great alternative to our first two picks if you want something a little shorter to tuck neatly inside your fridge for steeping and storage.
KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker Hot Features:
- Enjoy the smooth, rich full-bodied flavor; simply, fill with Coffee and cold water, steep, & enjoy
- Small footprint ideal fit for any refrigerator or kitchen counter
- Built in stainless steel tap to dispense your cold brew from your refrigerator and carrying handle for easy portability
- Beautiful, streamlined design with glass and stainless steel components to preserve taste, for easy use and cleaning
- Reusable stainless steel steeper allows you to brew the Beverage of your choice and is labeled with fill level indicators to take the guesswork out of the brewing process
- Make up to 14 servings* with this cold brew Coffee maker. Simply mix 2 oz of Coffee concentrate with every 6 oz of your favorite milk, water or ice. This brewer makes up to 28 oz of Coffee concentrate that stays fresh in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. *Servings may vary based on Coffee or tea type.
4. Godinger Cold Brew Coffee Maker, Iced Coffee Dispenser
The Godinger cold brew coffee maker is reminiscent of a vintage ice tea jug and is a really fun option if your style is a little more farmhouse, less modern.
This model functions the same as the earlier designs – a simple loading of ground coffee, fill with water and then steep for a day or two.
The design includes a screw on stainless steel airtight lid for keeping your concentrate fresh, a stainless steel fine mesh filter infuser, a glass jug style body measuring 1 gallon and capable of producing about 10 cups of coffee.
An adjustable spigot mounted on the front of the main jug makes it easy to dispense the concentrate when finished steeping.
The whole set up is easy to clean, just pop it into the dishwasher when you’re done.
5. Asobu Coldbrew Portable Cold Brew Coffee Maker
This portable cold brew model from Adobe is a great alternative if you’re looking for something you can grab and go with.
Instead of a cylindrical stainless mesh infuser tube in the middle of the carafe, this design offers a conical filter basket in a smaller plastic carafe mounted above a portable stainless steel lower mug that is designed to be spill proof and ready to take on the go.
Once the coffee is brewed, it is released using a simple push-button into the mug below.
The lower mug is double-walled and insulated so your brew will stay cold for hours. It is all BPA-free but should be hand cleaned to ensure the longevity of the mug.
This is a really easy option if you want an all-in-one set up with portability so you can take your cold brew on your morning commute, out running errands or just around the house.
6. Nostalgia CI3BK Iced Coffee Maker and Tea Brewing System, Glass Pitcher
The CI3BK model from Nostalgia offers a bit of a different set-up from most of the options on our list.
Instead of cold-brewing your iced coffee, this design brews it hot, much like a regular coffee maker. It has a filter basket and shower head on top that can be filled with coffee grounds or loose leaf teas. A strength-selector dial allows you to choose your intensity from 1 to 8. It has a refillable water reservoir in the back.
When turned on for brewing, the coffee shower pours into a lower glass carafe that has a 3 quart capacity. The carafe lid has 3 settings so you can customize for pouring freely, with ice or closed.
A few users have found the glass to be weak and not withstand particularly hot water temps, so sue with caution and stick to room temp when possible.
7. Mr. Coffee 2-Quart Iced Tea & Iced Coffee Maker
An alternative to the Nostalgia model this Mr. Coffee version functions much the same way. If you aren’t a fan of the cold steep in the fridge style, this is a great pick.
This model includes a 2 quart plastic pitcher with simple twist lid, a removable brew basket, and water reservoir. It does require filters, which is something I like better about the other options on this list.
It also offers an auto-shutoff feature and has a programmed cleaning cycle.
It is fast, requiring just a few minutes to complete the cycle. Keep in mind, this brews actual iced coffee or tea, not concentrate, so no need to water it down further.
8. Airtight Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Glass Carafe
Back to my favorite steeper-style iced coffee makers, this newer model from Zulay is a good comp to the Ovalware maker in our top spot.
It features a reinforced, shock-proof glass carafe designed to accommodate up to a liter of coffee concentrate. A silicone guard on the base prevents slippage and is resistant to extreme temps. A stainless steel mesh infuser filter is designed for era fine grounds.
The glass carafe has measurement marks along the side so you can make a full pot or enough for just yourself.
Like the other options on this list it can be washed in the dishwasher, sits comfortably on a fridge shelf and is capable of brewing loose or bagged teas
9. Bean Envy Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Bean Envy’s steeper-style carafe cold brewer offers the same great features of the Zulay model above.
It includes a microdot stainless steel filter infuser, dual silicone rings in the filter infuser to lock in flavor and protect the carafe, a tight fit silicone cap, a non-slip silicone base, and an extra thick borosilicate glass carafe with measurement markings.
This model is suitable for brewing both coffee and tea from loose leaves or bags, depending on your preference.
It can be cleaned in pieces in your dishwasher and fits easily in any fridge.
Pricing is pretty comparable to the other models in this style on our list.
10. Cold Brew Coffee Maker, Portable Iced Coffee Maker with Airtight Lid
A little less practical due to its small size, I love that this option is portable and perfect if you’re in the market for something designed to be single-serving.
Like the other steeper-style options, this includes a precision-cut, stainless steel filter chamber for storing the grounds, dual silicone rings in the cap for freshness and a thin, personal-sized glass carafe that is perfect if you’re brewing for one.
The slim size is a nice advantage, especially if you don’t have a ton of fridge space, as it’s basically water-bottle sized.
It can be used for coffee, tea or even fruit and water infusions, so it’s super versatile and flexible to your needs.
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about coffee is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better.
4-Week Free Espresso E-mail Course!
Week 1 - Home Espresso Machines
Week 2 - Coffee Beans
Week 3 - Types of Drinks
Week 4 - Advanced Brewing
Join Mike (me) and learn all the basics of making great tasting espresso!
You have Successfully Subscribed!
4-Week Free Espresso E-mail Course!
Week 1 - Home Espresso Machines
Week 2 - Coffee Beans
Week 3 - Types of Drinks
Week 4 - Advanced Brewing
Join Mike (me) and learn all the basics of making great tasting espresso!
You have Successfully Subscribed!
About the Author Michael York
I am a die-hard espresso fan. I love every form of the drink from straight espresso shots to lattes and cappuccinos. I currently use a Breville BES870XL Barista, it is an awesome machine. BUT, my dream machine is definitely an Italian Quickmill Andreja. Those bad boys make badass espresso. I love answering your questions, leave a comment or question below!
