Best Cold Brew Coffee Maker We all have fond memories of hot, sunny summer days. Vacations, beaches, hamburgers sizzling on hot grills, and those cold drinks with condensation beads running down the exterior of a tall, slender glass. I can hear Homer Simpson moaning at the thought.

Wait, not that yellow carbonated adult beverage (Doh!). We’re talking about a glass of killer iced coffee and all those fancy cold blended coffee drinks that can cost as much as an entire steak dinner.

Good iced coffee is hard to beat in the summer heat, as is a flavored cold coffee with whipped cream and chocolate syrup drizzled over the top as a cool summer dessert.

But how can you make these cold coffee treats so that they are not watery and have that oh so smooth taste of the store-bought products? Well, it all starts with cold brewed coffee.

And if that were not enough, cold brewed coffee can also be used as a concentrate that is diluted and reheated to make your standard hot cup of joe.

With all that going for cold brewed coffee, it is not surprising to find that cold brewing has become quite popular and the market now offers a number of cold brew makers,

which leads us to an obvious question. What cold coffee maker is best? You have many options, including some things you might even have laying about the house right now.

So, let’s dig in and see if we can provide some guidance and motivation to get you brewing with this awesome method of brewing coffee.

Basic Cold Brewing Method The basic cold brew coffee process is quite simple. Most basic recipes you will find go something like this:

1. Coarsely grind your beans. 2. Add to a large jar. 3. Mix ground coffee with cold water (ratios are usually

in the range of 1:3 or 1:5 coffee to water by volume, YMMV and you will have to experiment)

4. Let steep for twelve to twenty-four hours. 5. Filter through a mesh strainer to remove coarse

grounds. 6. Filter through a paper coffee filter to remove fines. 7. Dilute or blend to make coffee drinks, hot or cold.

Advantages of Cold Brew Coffee With all the ways we have available to brew hot coffee, why even introduce a new process? If you do a quick internet search, you find claims for cold brewed coffee that range from it makes you smarter to it

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

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helps you lose weight. Those claims are probably a bit of a stretch, but cold brew does bring some advantages that are better than any hot brew method. These include:

1. Low Acidity – Using cold water means the extraction process results in a much different composition than when using hot water. Studies show there is about sixty-five percent less acidity in a cup of cold brewed coffee (depending on the beans and process used). It was interesting that pH measurements alone only indicated a slightly less acidic brew for some of the beans tested. But titration analysis showed the acid differences between hot and cold coffee to be significant. All that technical testing is great, but what do drinkers think? For those who like a great tasting, smooth cup of coffee, cold brew is a godsend (see number two on this list). Plus, the low acidity helps to prevent problems caused by acid, like heartburn and tooth damage. For those with sensitive tummies, the low acidity is good news since lower acid means a gentler, kinder coffee for your stomach.

2. Taste – Eliminating the use of heat during extraction greatly impacts the taste of the finished cup. Cold brew coffee is sweeter and smoother than its hot brethren. There is little to no bitterness, which is one of the traits many find objectionable with hot brewed coffee. Plus, the real character of the coffee seems to come through better and those fine notes, like chocolate and flowery hints, are better defined. Many have said they would never drink black coffee until they try cold brew. If you add a little milk, it becomes even smoother and sweeter on the tongue, and many who use sugar in hot coffee, forgo the sweet white crystals with their cold brewed drinks.

3. Ease and Versatility – There is no other method that can produce a variety of gourmet quality hot and cold coffee drinks. Once cold brewed, you have a concentrate to dilute to different strengths and blend into many types of drinks at your fingertips. One big advantage of this is for those who have multiple coffee drinkers in the house. With cold brew concentrate, each person can dilute their own coffee to the final strength they like. This also an easy way to make all those other different blended types of drinks you might be in the mood for once the concentrate is made. Simply dilute, add ice or heat, and add your milk (many like nut milks in their cold brew coffee) or other flavorings/sweeteners depending on the drink you are making. Conveniently, the concentrate lasts up to two weeks in the fridge, so after the steeping which is easy but does take some time, you have your coffee essence ready in the refrigerator to make a multitude of drinks in just a minute or two.

4. Reduced Waste – Since you make a batch of concentrate and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, you will never throw out a half pot of coffee left on the hot plate ever again (the horrors of that bitter swill once the dreaded hot plate does its foul work, the horrors!). When there is cold brew concentrate waiting in the chill box, it usually does not last a whole week, trust us on that one. But the point is, you use every drop brewed and never pour even a single cup of scalded coffee down the drain again.

5. Saves Money – If you ever bought a blended iced coffee drink at your local coffee house, you know they are expensive. Same goes for buying cold brew concentrate premade, which is becoming more available and popular. It is much cheaper to cold brew your own concentrate and enjoy whatever type of coffee drink you crave at home. Eliminating all those dollars spent at your local coffee shop can add up. Some of you may be saying boutique cold coffee blend recipes are magic and have an aura (a.k.a. marketing) that puts them beyond the reach of the home coffee brewer. To that we say hooey. In fact, you can make those expensive drinks with fancy names easier than you think.

Which Maker is Right for You? So, by now you hopefully have a better grasp of the benefits and the basic procedures for cold brewed coffee. But for those looking to step up their cold brew game, you may want to do things like refine the straining process to make it easier/more efficient, shorten the steeping time, or increase the size of your batches.

Then there are personal preferences like do you want a maker that is not too fussy about your grind size, maybe you want to use really cold water, or you want something that looks like an appliance that belongs on your kitchen countertop.

What all that means is the best cold brew maker for you depends on your needs. Further, the purchase of a dedicated cold brew coffee maker is worth considering since it may the best way to address and tweak the particulars of the process to meet your specific requirements.

So what unit is best for you? Well, like we just said that depends on your needs. So, what we need to do is take a more detailed dive into the types of makers available on the market, their advantages and disadvantages, then hopefully you will find a unit that matches up with your needs.

Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brew Coffee Maker – Speed Speed, people seem to have a need for it from the beginning. It would not be surprising to find that early human beings found a way to put saddles on velociraptors and raced them. Well, that may be hyperbole, but it is true that some people just cannot wait overnight for cold brewed coffee.

To those who are impatient, we say no problem! Look to a machine like the Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It uses centrifugal force to move the water through the grounds and shuns the use of heat. Alright, in simpler terms it spins the coffee basket really fast while the grounds are steeping in cold water. Users have the choice to make mild, medium, or bold brews and you can produce up to seven coffee cups.

How fast is it? The mild takes twenty-five minutes to brew, medium thirty-five, and bold forty-five. To filter the brew when it is done, you simply slide a lever and let gravity do the work. A nifty blue even comes on to let you know the valve is open.

This maker has surprised many users as a solid kitchen appliance and it did make a decent cup of cold brew. But while you gain speed, you do lose some of the bright bean character and many feel this type of maker produces a weaker coffee concentrate. When it comes to cold brewed coffee, time can almost be considered an ingredient and speeding the process does show up as a slightly reduced flavor in the final cup.

But if speed is your thing, you may be willing to put up with a weaker concentrate. Don’t get us wrong, the coffee made is good, it is just not quite the same as a lengthy steeped cold brewed coffee.

And finally, there is the price. This is an expensive product compared to some of the other available products.

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Cuisinart Automatic Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros Cons

· Fast, make mild in 25 minutes. · Aesthetically pleasing in the

kitchen. · Makes decent cold brew

concentrate.

· Is more expensive than other types of units.

· May get some grit in the cup. · Glass carafe can break. · The large spinning filter tore

on some users.

W&E Cold Brew on Tap – Quantity If you or someone else in your house is a heavy coffee drinker, making a pint, or even a quart, of concentrate may not last that long. To solve that problem, you want to go with a unit that makes bigger batches.

For starters, consider the W&E Cold Brew on Tap. This is a one-gallon glass container that incorporates a fine metal mesh cylinder that holds your coffee grounds and a stainless-steel spigot. You can brew and store the glass container in the refrigerator, and the stainless-steel spigot allows you to draw finished coffee concentrate right from the chilled gallon jar. Even the most avid coffee drinker will have trouble going through that much cold brew in just a day or two.

There are similar units on the market, but the mesh size matters. Too big, and you get too much grit in the final cup. Too small, you do not get good extraction. So, you want a maker like this one, which has dialed in the mesh size.

And the spigot on this unit is stainless steel. That is a nice touch as plastic spigots are known to break easily.

W&E Cold Brew on Tap Pros Cons

· Can make “one” gallon in one batch, which yields about two quarts of concentrate.

· Stainless spigot is more durable than plastic.

· Moderate cost compared to other makers.

· May get some grit. · May have to shake while

steeping, but that increases grit. · Glass jars can break.

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CoffeeSock 5 Gallon Cold Brew Kit – Quantity But you say a one-gallon maker is still not big enough, well how about five gallons? If that is more your size look at the CoffeeSock 5 Gallon Cold Brew Kit. This is for those who have industrial needs for cold brewed coffee, like restaurants, and is probably too large for most home users. And it is not the most aesthetic option.

To use these large “bucket” brewers, you fill the filter with grounds and steep overnight. After that, remove the filter with the coffee grounds, and voila! Cold brew coffee and lots of it. Simply open the spigot and draw as much concentrate as you need.

One thing to remember with these large steeping containers, they will not produce a number of cups/quarts equal to the container size. The filter and grounds will displace a fair amount of water, and the grounds do absorb and hold some of the liquid. Most yield just a little more than half the container size of cold brew concentrate per batch.

The downside for these types of “big” makers, the filters let some grit through. The recommended unit use a fine filter, but some do use coarser filters and those units should be avoided. Some of the manufactures recommend shaking the unit while the grounds are steeping. But that seems to make the grit problem even worse. You may solve some of the problem with a good grinder and getting your coarse grind dialed in, but that is a bit of tweaking and can be hit or miss if you do not have a burr grinder.

CoffeeSock 5 Gallon Cold Brew Kit Pros Cons

· Can make “five” gallons in one batch, which yields about two and a half gallons of concentrate.

· Moderate cost compared to other makers.

· Simple process.

· May get some grit. · Plastic spigot. · May have to shake while

steeping, but that increases grit. · A bit pricey for a five-gallon

bucket with a filter. · More be best suited for a

professional kitchen. · Wet filter bag can be heavy for

some, and is a bit more labor to clean and wash the bag.

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Toddy Cold Brew System – Low Grit

We just mentioned the grit that can show up in some of the large batch cold brew makers. But what if you hate grit in your cup? Well, fret not, the market has not forgotten about you. There are units made that incorporate paper filters to remove the grit, even the fine stuff.

The Toddy Cold Brew System uses a plastic tub lined with a large paper filter that is placed over a carafe, and a drain hole in the bottom is plugged with a rubber stopper. You fill the unit with coffee and water, then let it all steep for twelve to twenty-four hours. After the steeping, you pull the plug on the bottom and let gravity drain the finished concentrate through the paper filter into the carafe below.

This basic unit has built an almost cult-like following, and for this it is included on our list. It does make good cold brew coffee. The tub is made of plastic and the carafe is glass. But the unit is clunky looking and it may not fit your kitchen’s décor.

Then there is the stopper, which is an issue. When you put in the stopper you have to push gently or you can crack the tub. Then, when you pull the stopper, it is a bit awkward and impossible to avoid getting coffee all over your hand, plus there is a good chance some will splash on the counter. Another problem, the stopper has a habit of just falling out sometimes, which leads to premature draining, or a spill. All in all, it is awkward and can lead to a bit of a mess.

Also, the filter system does get the grit out, but it is a bit complicated. There is a filter bag placed in the tub that holds the grounds and it is disposable. After brewing, you simply lift out the bag and throw the filter and grounds in the trash. But a second filter disk sits in a recess on the bottom of the filter basket. This filter disk is reusable for ten to twelve batches or three months. So, you need to regularly replenish the paper bags and the filter disks. That is a cost, but those looking to reduce trash generation for mother earth will not like throwing out the filters.

Toddy Cold Brew System Pros Cons

· Almost no grit. · Makes good cold brew coffee. · Moderate cost compared to other

makers. · Fairly easy process. · Makes around one and a half quarts

of concentrate.

· Not the best-looking maker. · Rubber stopper is awkward and

makes a mess. Plus, it can fall out at unwanted times.

· Have to buy filter bags and disks, not the most ecological maker on the market.

· Some feel the paper absorbs oils that provide some of the bean character.

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OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker – Low Grit

Want low girt cold brew with a maker you can leave out on the counter? Consider the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker. While it was originally designed to use a metal mesh filter built into the unit, they do make paper filters for added filtration, should you want that.

The advantage of this machine is it looks like an appliance and is at home on your kitchen countertop. Plus, the unit is easier to use compared to the other units that use a rubber plug in the bottom of the filter basket. There is a slide lever used to open a valve when it is time to drain the tub. No coffee covered hand, no mess.

The filters used are a small disk that is placed over the metal mesh filter in the tub. The generate less trash that the larger Toddy maker’s big bags and disks, but may be a little finicky to get into place.

This unit also has a specially designed top, with lots of holes, that sprinkles the water evenly over your coffee grounds. This is a benefit for those who want to try blooming their coffee just before brewing. And the carafe is a flask that is something that Walter White might have used on Breaking Bad, so there is a cool factor for those who want to make coffee like Gale Boetticher (for those who did not get that reference, Google it, you will be surprised at the science behind what that character did to brew coffee).

Speaking of the glass carafe, it also includes a snug fitting cover for storage in the refrigerator. That cap doubles as a measuring cup when preparing your coffee drinks. The carafe is capable of holding about a quart of concentrate.

One last point worth mentioning about the Oxo unit is the ability for users to experiment. Use the filter paper, or not. Try a different grind, the unit can handle differing degrees of coarseness. Vary the prewetting process (some say this is important or you may get some bitterness) using their specially designed “shower” top. So, if you like to tinker and dial in your gear, you will like this machine.

Overall, there is much to like with this unit, but it is a bit pricier than the Toddy, about five or ten dollars depending on where you buy. But for a tub style maker with a paper filter, many feel the Oxo maker is one to consider.

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker Pros Cons

· Minimal to no grit. · Makes good cold brew coffee. · Moderate cost compared to other

types of makers. · Beaker style carafe has cool factor. · Carafe cap doubles as measuring

cup. · Simple process. · Make about a quart of concentrate.

· A few dollars more than the Toddy maker it competes with.

· The small round filters are a bit finicky to get into place.

· Have to buy filters, not the most ecological choice.

· Some feel the paper absorbs oils that provide some of the bean character.

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The Yama Glass Cold Brew Tower – Ice Water Drip We have been cowardly up until now and left a topic alone. There is a great cold brew debate we have sidestepped up until now; should you steep in the refrigerator or on the countertop? Room temperature vs. refrigerator climate.

In the eyes of many, both work just fine. But depending on your water, beans, and process, you may find one temperature preferable. You will just have to experiment to find out.

All that said, there are some who believe, no make that insist, that cold brewing means very cold water percolating through the grounds. Like the water should be below 35˚F. One way to accomplish this, place your cold brew maker in the refrigerator while you steep. But as with the Skywalkers, there is another.

Ice water dripping is for those who believe cold water makes all the difference. The reason for this is they feel ice water makes the lowest acidity coffee possible.

They work as you might imagine. A tub of ice water is placed over a filter basket holding the grounds, and the cold water is dripped through very slowly.

Sounds like your hot drip brewer but with ice water instead? Oh no, contraire. Take a look at The Yama Glass Cold Brew Tower. If you want to impress your friends, and you have a few hundred bucks to burn, then this is your baby. For sheer wow factor, this unit is hard to beat.

The tower unit does make good coffee, and it can also be used to infuse liquors with things like fruit or to make tea. But it is not as simple to use as some of the other makers presented on our list. You will need to experiment with grind, flow rates, and bean selection to get that perfect coffee. And you cannot just let it go on its own, unsupervised, you do need to keep an eye on the unit as it brews.

After brewing, users claim a wide range on quantity. But all users found somewhere between 4 and 8 cups of coffee.

This may not come as shock after a quick look at the Yama tower, it costs substantially more than other makers on our list. Also, just looking at the unit you can see a number of glass components, which are easy to clean. But glass can also break easily.

The Yama Glass Cold Brew Tower Pros Cons

· Uses the coldest possible water. · Makes very low acid coffee. · Makes good cold brew coffee. · Jaw dropping good looks. · Great for those who like to tinker

with the brew process. · Makes around a quart of

concentrate.

· Cost far more than other cold brew makers.

· Fussy and requires attention while brewing. Need to find the right valve/flow for your water, beans, and grind to make good cold brew.

· Bulky, needs its own space. · Lots of glass parts, glass can

break.

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Fentac Cold Brew Coffee Machine – Ice Water Drip So, you say two hundred smackers plus is too much for a coffee maker like the Yama Tower? Well, if you want something that drips ice water, but is a little more cost effective, and less bulky, then you might look at the Fentac Cold Brew Coffee Machine.

With the Fentac, you have something that looks more like a conventional coffee maker and it can be used on the countertop. It is also a more straightforward process to fill and operate than the glass tower.

The tub on top is constructed of plastic, but the carafe is made of borosilicate glass. That means it can take rapid changes in temperature and not explode. This makes this unit a little more usable for brewing hot coffee or tea.

You will have a learning curve with the “tap,” as they call it. This tap is a lever that controls the flow valve and it can be set over a wide range, and finding the perfect flow is a matter of trial and error. Also, flow rates can change as the brew proceeds, so you need to monitor the brew process. For those who like to play and tweak, you may find this fun. For those who just want load up and walk away then come back for good coffee on the first batch, well not so much. But on a more positive note, this maker can produce just under one and a half quarts of concentrate.

Fentac Cold Brew Coffee Machine Pros Cons

· Uses the coldest possible water. · Makes very low acid coffee. · Makes good cold brew coffee. · Impressive looking unit at home on a

kitchen countertop. · Makes just under one and a half

quarts. · Can use carafe to make hot drinks. · Moderate cost.

· A little busy and requires attention while brewing. This is for those who like to play with their coffee makers. Need to find the right valve/flow for your water, beans, and grind to make good cold brew.

· Glass parts can break.

County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Make – Basic

There are a large number of simple makers that use a very simple design of a metal mesh cylinder inside a jar. The metal mesh contains the grounds for easy removal at the end of the brew process but allows the water to “mingle” while brewing.

The bulk of units on the market use collection jars that are around two quarts. But they vary quite a bit in build quality and the cupped coffee also differs from one maker to another. Most can be left on the counter or stored in the refrigerator while brewing, making them versatile in the room temperature of ice temperature debate.

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To start, you can consider the County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Maker. It is a dead simple maker, using a two-quart mason jar, stainless steel filter, and a specially designed flip cap.

The unit is sized such that it should easily fit in any chill box. The mesh is fine enough to keep the amount of grit low and the lid design allows you to easily store the maker in the refrigerator, then pour what you need with a flip of a cap. The two-quart unit will yield about a quart of finished cold brew concentrate.

The Country Line maker is one of the cheaper units and it comes in one- and two-quart sizes. But the mesh is sized properly and the lid is solid. You will get many batches out the Country Line maker without much fuss or maintenance.

But you do get lower quantities of concentrate compared to other types of cold brew makers on the market. Plus, there is the risk that you may get some grit in the finished cup.

County Line Kitchen Cold Brew Maker Pros Cons

· Nice basic maker with good filter mesh.

· Makes good cold brew coffee. · Easily stored in refrigerator. · Makes about one quart of

concentrate. · Can use carafe to make hot drinks. · Low cost.

· Not a countertop unit. · Glass parts can break. · Mesh filters can let some grit

through. · Yield may too low for some

users.

Coffee Gator Cold Brew Kit – Basic For those who want more of a conventional carafe design, then consider the Coffee Gator Cold Brew Kit. The container is made from BPA free glass and the assembled height is just under ten inches, which makes it easy to find a spot in the refrigerator for it. But that does not mean it is small, it still produces a quart of coffee concentrate.

The other thing users like are the accessories that come with the Coffee Gator. There are a metal scoop and collapsible funnel for measuring and loading your grounds. These little gadgets work so well that many started using them with every coffee maker they own. That could describe all the details with this unit, they seem so simple, but they are done right and the result is a cold brew maker that is very easy to use and clean. And most importantly, it makes a great cup of coffee.

The carafe is made from borosilicate glass and can take heat, making it a bit more versatile for your general brewing needs. Also, the lid can be found in black and gray for those who are particular to color.

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Photo Courtesy of Amazon

On the downside, the handle is a bit cheap, and the glass can break. The mason jars seem more rugged than the container supplied with the Coffee Gator, but in fairness, breakage is not a major complaint with users.

Coffee Gator Cold Brew Kit Pros Cons

· Nice basic maker with good filter mesh.

· Makes good cold brew coffee. · Easily stored in refrigerator. · Looks good on kitchen countertop. · Makes about one quart of

concentrate. · The measuring cup and collapsible

filter are quite handy. · Can use carafe to make hot drinks. · Low cost.

· Glass parts can break. · Mesh filters can let some grit

through. · Handle is a bit flimsy. · Yield may too low for some

users.

Primula Burke Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker – Basic Another product you might want to consider is the Primula Burke Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker. While it does not come with accessories like the Coffee Gator just discussed, it is the least expensive commercial maker on our list and it makes a good cup of cold brew. Part of this has to do with the filter, which is fine enough to prevent too much grit from getting into your finished coffee. As for yield, it makes just under a quart of finished concentrate.

The unit is a bit squatter, so some may find it does not fit on their refrigerator door. As for the carafe construction, it a borosilicate glass and as such the carafe can be used with hot brews as well as cold. There are a few negative reviews that claim the glass is too thin and breaks too easily. But the handle and plastic that wraps the top

and bottom of the glass container do make this unit feel solid and durable.

The yield is on the low side at just under a quart, but many will find its low price attractive.

Primula Burke Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker Pros Cons

· Nice basic maker with good filter mesh.

· Makes good cold brew coffee. · Looks at home on the kitchen

countertop. · Makes just under one quart of

concentrate. · Can use carafe to make hot drinks. · Lowest cost on our list.

· Glass parts can break. · Mesh filters can let some grit

through. · May not fit on refrigerator door. · A few complaints from users

that glass is thinner than other makers and broke easily.

· Yield may too low for some users.

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Hario Coffee Brewing Bottle – Basic Finally, for those who do not want a carafe that looks like a modified French press, try the Hario Coffee Brewing Bottle. It only brews about four cups at a time, so it is smaller than the other units presented her, but it is more stylish while still using the simple metal cylinder in a jar concept. You can get a brown or mocha version if color matters to you.

Once you have steeped the coffee, you simply pour out the concentrate as if you were pouring a fine wine. But the small size and the dual use as the serving container means you might find you run out and have to wait while a new batch of cold brew coffee steeps overnight. And no one likes waiting for more coffee because when you need a cup, you need a cup.

Something to note, the glass used to make the bottle is heat resistant, so it can be used with hot drinks as well. The hot tea fans out there may find this a unique way to make their favorite drinks.

Hario Coffee Brewing Bottle Pros Cons

· Nice basic maker with good filter mesh.

· Makes good cold brew coffee. · Easily stored in refrigerator. · Makes and serves coffee with style. · Can use carafe to make hot drinks. · Low cost.

· Not a countertop unit. · Glass parts can break. · Mesh filters can let some grit

through. · Need a good bean grinder to

minimize fines. · Low yield, only four cups at a

time. DIY Soak and Filter – Basic We would not be doing our job if we did not finish with one last entry. Some will want to use the equipment lying around the house. If you are one these of these thrifty people who like multi-taskers in the kitchen (yes that is an Alton Brown reference), then you will like this option. It is technically a cold brew maker and we must present it.

The process is essentially a soak then filter process. Two most common vessels to make a DIY cold brew coffee are a French press or a mason jar you may already own. The steeping is easy, just add grounds and water, and wait. Then it is time to tackle the harder part, filtration.

If you use a French press, yes you will simply push down on the plunger, but make sure to go slow. And unless you have a good French press used with a coarse grind with no fines, and we mean coarse, you will probably find a second filtration through a paper coffee filter will be needed. Sorry to all those thinking the French press had a leg up on the mason jar because it would eliminate the paper filtration step.

French presses do vary. So, it is best to find one where the plunger seals against the glass or stainless-steel container. Avoid plastic French press containers, which scratch and the plunger never seals properly against the plastic walls.

Also, pay attention to the filter assembly at the end of the plunger. Of course, you need one fine enough to leave little grit. But you also want one that can be disassembled and

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Photo Courtesy of Amazon

easily cleaned. (An example of a great French press is this Frieling French Press, with a double filter on the plunger.)

When using a mason jar, many choose to strain through a metal mesh colander/sieve with a coffee filter place in it. It takes some time, so be patient, you will get there and the coffee is worth the effort.

One advantage of the mason jars, most people have a number of them lying around and you can have multiple batches brewing at a time.

The down side is the you need a good coffee grinder that makes a consistent coarse grind with little fines. That usually means a

good burr grinder, which can be expensive. But if you own a good coffee grinder already, and you are patient with the filtering, the soak and filter method (with either a mason jar of French press) may be the option you like.

DIY Soak and Filter Pros Cons

· No equipment to buy to soak grinds and filter, use what you have.

· Makes good cold brew coffee. · Easily store mason jar or French

press in refrigerator. · Simple process. · No cost if you already have good

grinder.

· Filtering is slow and takes patience.

· Yield is smaller than many of the commercial makers (limited by the vessel you choose).

· Need a good bean grinder to minimize fines. If you have to buy, that can be expensive.

· May get fine grit in finished cup.

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