Fortunately, it makes rich, full-bodied cold brew that tastes as robust as any other method I’ve tried, sometimes better. Those pads and paper filters are annoying, but they work. If you’re OK with a little inconvenience, the Toddy makes a damn good cold-brew concentrate. It’s similar to the Filtron Brewer, but more well constructed. There’s even a giant 2.5-gallon Toddy that’s used in coffee shops. —Jeff Van Camp
A Fantastic French Press
I used French presses as a quasi control in my testing, and the Secura is the nicest I’ve tried. To my dismay, I haven’t been able to get any French press to produce cold-brewed coffee with flavor that’s as smooth or rich as with other methods. It’s usually a little bitter and too gritty. But it’s still quite drinkable, and if you play around enough or find the right coffee grounds, you can probably make a batch that you like.
You might already own a French press for hot coffee; if you don’t, I recommend the Secura. It’s made of stainless steel and well insulated to keep cold brew cold or hot coffee hot, and the handle doesn’t get too hot. —Jeff Van Camp
Best Compact Brewer
If kitchen real estate is a bit scarce, the Oxo Compact Cold Brewer is a great pick. First off, it’s adorable: It comes with a cute little glass carafe with a cork lid, and the brew cone includes the rain head we enjoy so much on the full-size Oxo cold brewers. It’s small enough to leave on your countertop, and it’ll look good sitting there.
The small size makes it great for a finer grind, making a stronger brew that you can dilute more when you drink it, which I’ve come to prefer. That way I can dilute with milk to a latte-esque strength, or keep it a little stronger for sipping.
Coffee & Accessories
Best Reusable Filter for Aeropress Cold Brew
I like the Fellow Prismo for all my Aeropress use, and it’s great for cold brew. It comes with a reusable filter and replaces the cap that goes on the end of your Aeropress with one that’s a little thicker and has single hole. This config makes the coffee come out of the Aeropress under more pressure than with the standard Aeropress cap. That way you get a little aeration and, in my experience, a cleaner cup than from just metal filters in the traditional Aeropress cap.
Great For Reducing Cold Brew Sediment
If you prefer cold brew with as little coffee silt as possible, the Shimmy can definitely help. It’s a sieve you fill with coffee grounds then shake to separate out more of the fine particles, or fines, from your coffee. During testing, I found it significantly reduced the silty dregs from the bottom of my cup, but a little bit remained, though not nearly enough to spoil that last sip the way too much sediment can.
Ready-to-Brew Coffee Pouches
These ready-to-brew pouches from Partners are like big tea bags full of coffee. They’re great for turning any pitcher or big jar into a cold-brew maker. Given their size, I found I got the best coffee after at least 24 hours of steeping, and it was fully flavored, rich, silky, and sweet with just a hint of acidity.
More Great Cold-Brew Beans
In my quest to make the perfect cold-brewed coffee, I tried at least half a dozen types of beans. Stone Street’s Arabica Colombian Supremo dark roast and Bizzy’s organic Smooth & Sweet Blend are two of my favorites. They’re made specifically with cold brewing in mind and come coarsely ground (a coarse grind is best for cold brew) or as whole beans if you own a grinder. The 1-pound bags aren’t too expensive.
They were less bitter than some brands I tried and got closest to delivering that perfect, smooth cold-brew flavor I was craving. Cold brewing requires a lot more grounds than normal hot brewing, so I appreciated its lower price.