Guide · Manual brewers
Best cold brew coffee maker: jugs, bottles and filters for smooth cold brew
Cold brew jugs, steeping systems and a cold-drip tower sold in the UK, compared on capacity, brew time and fridge fit, with prices checked 3 Oct 2026.
Cold brew is coffee steeped in cold water for hours, then filtered. It’s smooth, easy to make in batches and keeps in the fridge, which makes it handy for iced coffee all week. The best cold brew coffee maker for you depends on how much you drink and how much fridge space you can spare. We’ve compared five makers sold in the UK, from a simple jug to a glass drip tower. We haven’t tested this in person. Our picks are based on published specs, the retailers’ listings and UK prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Best cold brew coffee maker UK: the short answer
Buy the Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot for the easiest start. It’s £17.00 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026. It’s a 600ml glass jug with a permanent mesh filter: add coffee and cold water, stir, then leave it in the fridge for 8–12 hours.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a big batch for the week. 600ml goes quickly.
Get the Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker if you want lots of concentrate. It’s £54.90 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026. The listing’s recipe uses 340g of coffee and 1.6 litres of water, steeped for 12–18 hours, then served at two parts concentrate to three parts water or milk.
Who it isn’t for: small kitchens. The brewing container and glass decanter take up space, and you need to plan a day ahead.
Choose the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer if you can’t wait overnight. Check price at Lakeland. Lakeland says it makes a cold concentrate in about five minutes, or hot in two, using a stainless filter and a pump.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants traditional long-steeped cold brew. A quick press isn’t quite the same thing.
Skip the drip tower unless it’s a hobby. The Tiamo Cold Water Coffee Dripper 10-Cup is £169.99 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026, a glass-and-steel tower that drips iced water through coffee over 3–7 hours.
Who it isn’t for: almost everyone else. It’s big, slow to set up and costs ten times the Hario.
Cold brew makers explained
Mesh-filter jugs like the Hario Mizudashi hold the coffee in a fine mesh basket inside the jug. You lift the basket out when it’s done. Simple and fridge-friendly.
Brew-and-store bottles like the Toddy Artisan (£54.90 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026) are designed to brew and keep the coffee in the same container. Barista Shop lists a 500ml capacity, says it’s sized to fit most fridge doors, and that it can be used for tea as well.
Concentrate systems like the Toddy domestic brewer steep a large amount of coffee, then drain it through a filter into a separate decanter. You dilute it to drink, so one batch goes a long way.
Drip towers like the Tiamo let iced water drip slowly through the coffee, rather than steeping it. It’s a different style, and quicker than overnight steeping.
Who it isn’t for: if you only drink iced coffee now and then, our iced coffee at home guide shows quicker ways using hot coffee.
Capacity and fridge fit
Measure your fridge shelf before you buy. A jug that won’t stand upright in the door is a nuisance. As a rough guide:
- One person, a few glasses a week: 500–600ml, such as the Hario or Toddy Artisan.
- Daily drinkers or households: a concentrate system like the Toddy, which you dilute.
- Occasional, quick glasses: the OXO Rapid Brewer, which doesn’t need fridge time.
The Toddy listing says its concentrate stays fresh for up to two weeks when refrigerated. For other makers, follow the guidance on the product page.
Who it isn’t for: anyone with a packed fridge should choose the smallest maker that suits them.
Ratio, steeping time and grind
Cold brew is forgiving, but a few basics help. Use a coarse grind, similar to cafetière coffee, so it filters cleanly. Follow the maker’s recipe first: the Toddy’s is given above, and the Hario’s is 8–12 hours in the fridge. Longer steeping makes a stronger, heavier brew; if it’s too strong, dilute it rather than steeping for less time. Fresh beans make a difference too; see our coffee beans page.
A machine alternative
Some coffee machines now have a cold brew mode that makes a cold coffee in minutes. Our Ninja Luxe Café review covers one of them. Lakeland lists De’Longhi machines “with Cold Brew”, such as the Eletta Explore. These are expensive if cold brew is all you want, but worth knowing about if you’re buying a machine anyway.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who just wants cold brew. A simple jug like the Hario does that.
Cleaning
Rinse the mesh or filter straight after use, before the grounds dry on. Lakeland says the OXO’s parts are dishwasher safe except the pump, and Barista Shop lists the Toddy Artisan as dishwasher safe. For the rest, follow the maker’s care guidance. Paper or cloth filters, where used, need replacing over time.
Downsides
- You need to plan. Most cold brew takes 8 hours or more.
- Fridge space. Bigger systems take up a shelf.
Where to go next
FAQ
What’s the easiest cold brew maker? A mesh-filter jug like the Hario Mizudashi, at £17.00 at Barista Shop, checked 3 Oct 2026.
How long does cold brew take? Usually 8 to 18 hours depending on the maker. The Hario listing gives 8–12 hours, and the Toddy listing 12–18.
Can you make cold brew in a cafetière? Yes. Steep coarse coffee in cold water in the fridge, then press. A dedicated jug is just tidier.
How long does cold brew keep? The Toddy listing says its concentrate keeps for up to two weeks refrigerated.
Where can you buy these? Hario Mizudashi at Barista Shop, Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Barista Shop, Toddy Artisan at Barista Shop, OXO Brew Rapid Brewer at Lakeland and Tiamo Cold Water Coffee Dripper at Barista Shop.