Fortunately, it makes a rich, full-bodied cold brew that tastes as strong as any other method I’ve tried, sometimes better. Those pads and paper filters are annoying, but they work. If a little inconvenience is okay with you, Toddy is a great cold brew concentrate. It is similar to Filtron Brewer, but better built. There is even a Giant 2.5 Gallon Toddy which is used in cafeterias. —Jeff Van Camp
A fantastic French press
I used French presses as a quasi-control in my testing and the Secura is the best I’ve tried. Much to my dismay, I have not been able to find any French press that produces cold brew coffee that tastes as smooth or rich as other methods. It tends to be a little bitter and too gritty. But it’s still quite drinkable, and if you play around enough or find the right ground coffee, you can probably make a batch you like.
You may already have a French press for hot coffee; If you don’t, I recommend the Secura. It’s made of stainless steel and is well insulated to keep your brew cold or your coffee hot, and the handle doesn’t get too hot. —Jeff Van Camp
Best compact coffee maker
If kitchen space is a little tight, the Oxo Compact Cold Brewer is an excellent choice. First of all, it’s adorable: It comes with a cute little glass carafe with a cork lid, and the brew cone includes the rainhead we enjoy so much on the full-size Oxo cold brew brewers. It’s small enough to leave on the counter and it will look nice sitting there.
The small size makes it ideal for a finer grind, resulting in a stronger brew that you can dilute further when drinking, which I prefer. That way I can dilute it with milk to a concentration similar to that of latte or keep it a little stronger for drinking.
Coffee and accessories
Best Reusable Filter for Aeropress Cold Brew
I like Fellow Prismo for all my Aeropress use and it’s great for cold brewing. It comes with a reusable filter and replaces the cap that goes on the end of your Aeropress with one that is a little thicker and has a single hole. This setup causes the coffee to come out of the Aeropress under more pressure than with the standard Aeropress lid. That way you get some aeration and, in my experience, a cleaner cup than the metal filters in the traditional Aeropress lid.
Ideal for reducing sediment in cold beer.
If you prefer a cold brew with as little coffee sediment as possible, the Shimmy can definitely help. It is a strainer that is filled with ground coffee and then shaken to separate more fine particles from the coffee. During testing, I found that it significantly reduced the amount of sediment at the bottom of my cup, but there was a little left over, although not enough to spoil the last sip like too much sediment can.
Coffee bags ready to brew
These ready-to-brew bags from Partners are like big tea bags filled with coffee. They are great for turning any large jug or jar into a cold brew machine. Given its size, I found that I got the best coffee after at least 24 hours of brewing, and it was very flavorful, rich, silky, and sweet with just a hint of acidity.
More Great Cold Prepared Beans
In my quest to make the perfect cold brew coffee, I tried at least half a dozen types of beans. Colombian Supreme Arabica from Stone Street dark roast and Bizzy’s Smooth and Sweet Organic Blend They are two of my favorites. They’re made specifically with cold brew in mind and come coarsely ground (a coarse grind is best for cold brew) or whole beans if you have a grinder. The 1 pound bags are not too expensive.
They were less bitter than some brands I tried and came closer to delivering that perfect, smooth cold brew flavor I craved. Cold brew requires a lot more land than regular hot brew, which is why I appreciated its lower price.