Top 10 Best Cold Brew Coffee Makers to Buy Online 2020

There are two common types of coffee brewing: hot and cold. Compared to the traditional method of hot brewing, cold brewing has significant differences in the resulting coffee flavors and brewing time.

Cold brew coffee is not simply iced coffee which is brewed hot and then served cold. It is produced by steeping coffee grounds in either cold or room temperature water for 6 to 12 hours. Afterwards, you will have a coffee concentrate that can later be mixed with milk, cold water, ice, or other ingredients based on your preferences.

Even though both methods use the same grounds and water source, cold brew coffee tastes smoother in comparison to hot brew coffee. It is also more concentrated since the brewing time of cold brew coffee is much longer. 

Since the cold brew method can bring out the unique and subtle flavors of the coffee beans, you may even find hints of chocolate or citrus flavors in your coffee that you didn't notice when brewing it hot!

Furthermore, the mild brewing process reduces the acidity of coffee up to about 67%. So if you have a sensitive stomach but still crave coffee, why don't you give cold brew coffee a try? It is unlikely that you will feel tingling or pain in your stomach like with regularly brewed coffee.

Based on various categories such as materials, capacity, and safety features, we were able to compile top 10 cold brew coffee makers that are highly recommended by users. Scan our suggestions to see if you find any suitable choice! 

Making cold brew seems difficult, but it has become much easier with the assistance of various cold brew coffee makers currently available on the market. Choosing a suitable one, however, is not an easy task, since there are various things you need to think about including cold brew methods, time,  and capacity, among others. 

Hopefully, this buying guide can provide you with some tips so that you can purchase a coffee maker at ease. 

There are two types of cold brew methods that you can choose from: cold drip or immersion cold brew. Each method has slightly different effects on the coffee flavors and production time. 

The immersion cold brew method is more common than the cold drip one. Coffee produced using this method is strong and very concentrated. As this method requires no special technique or equipment, you have the flexibility to create your own cold brew kit. 

The science behind this method is simple: you just need to submerge coffee grounds in cold water and let them sit for more than 12 hours. The longer the time, the better the flavor is, since cold water can gradually draw out oils and acids from the coffee grounds.

The brewing time may even be longer if you brew the coffee in the fridge. As temperature drops, it will take more time for water to bring out a strong flavor from the grounds. 

Compared to the immersion method, the cold drip method is more hands-on, but also more convenient for people who lack time. After 3 to 5 hours, you will probably be able to taste your freshly brewed coffee already. With this method, cold water directly drips on coffee grounds and then passes through a filter into a carafe. 

The time is less, so the flavor is lighter and less concentrated than that of immersed cold brew coffee. You will probably need to rely on special equipment; however, another plus is that this method is visually stunning. It won't be surprising at all if you end up spending your whole time looking at your coffee dripping.

Currently on the market there are both manual and automatic options available for cold brew coffee makers. Which one is better for you?

If you're short on time and enjoy customizing your coffee flavors, you should choose automatic coffee makers. They tend to have various strength modes ranging from light to concentrated for you to choose from, and the brewing time can be as short as 15 minutes depending on each mode. However, the prices are relatively high. 

Meanwhile, manual coffee makers are more affordable, and the coffee flavors are usually rich and concentrated. However, depending on your technique, the results of coffee may vary, and the brewing time tends to be pretty long. 

Typically, cold brew can be stored in the fridge for one to two weeks after it is brewed. Therefore, if you don't have a lot of time, you can just brew a lot of coffee at once and enjoy it throughout the week.

You should consider how many people you're sharing coffee with when thinking about the size. For a lot of people, choosing a coffee maker with a large capacity (over 40 ounces) may be a great choice. 

However, be sure to check the available space in your fridge as well. If you don't have a lot of space, you should look for coffee makers that are slim or short. 

Cold brew coffee makers come in a range of different materials such as glass, plastic, or stainless steel. Some parts, such as filters, can also be reusable or single-use. Since materials can affect the quality of coffee as well, you should pay attention to them. 

For many people, coffee is an indispensable part of their daily routine, and in fact, if you drink coffee in moderation, it has a lot of health benefits to offer. 

Be careful though, since your coffee may contain toxins which actually come from the material of your coffee maker. Some people who have a coffee maker made from plastic have experienced an odd plastic taste from their coffee. 

So what materials are safe for your health? Generally, glass and stainless steel are some choices that you can opt for. If a plastic coffee maker catches your eyes, make sure it is BPA-free. 

Compared to single-use paper filters, reusable metal filters are not fine enough to prevent all the tiny coffee grounds from settling at the bottom of your cup. As a result, your coffee maybe a bit grainy and less smooth. 

Besides coffee sediments, oils and micro-fines are some components that can also leak through the metal filters, making your coffee look cloudy and dark. The taste, therefore, also becomes rich and strong. 

On the other hand, paper filters are finer and can capture most of the oils and micro-fines, leaving your coffee with a brighter appearance. The taste, therefore, is lighter and has a subtle sweetness.

It is easy to clean up paper filters as well, since you can just dispose them after using. Metal filters may be a bit more difficult, as you have to clean them thoroughly to make sure that no coffee grounds are left behind. 

Looking to make the perfect cup of tea or coffee? Check out these other product suggestions!

Cold brew coffee, with its rich taste and great health benefits, can greatly enhance your coffee time experience. Choosing a coffee maker may be tedious and difficult, but hopefully with our buying guide and top 10 products, you will find it much easier to decide on a coffee maker.

Author: Thuy Nguyen

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