Coffee maker
Cold brew maker
A steeping vessel with a filter used to steep coarse coffee grounds in cold water over many hours, producing a low-acidity concentrate.
How it works
Coarse grounds steep in cold or room-temperature water for 12-24 hours, then a built-in or separate filter removes the grounds, leaving a concentrate typically diluted before drinking.
Who it suits
- users who prefer low-acidity, smooth iced coffee
- users happy to plan a day ahead for their brew
Who it may not suit
- users wanting coffee quickly
- users wanting hot coffee
- Starting dose
- 100g
- Starting water
- 1000ml
- Coffee-to-water ratio
- 100–150 g per litre (typically 125)
- Grind
- Coarse.
- Capacity
- 4-12 cups
- Brew time
- 720-1440 min
- Skill level
- beginner
- Noise
- quiet
- Space
- medium
- Cleaning burden
- low
- Convenience
- low
- Manual control
- medium
Descriptive grind labels like this are illustrative starting points, not precise measurements — the same label can mean different particle sizes on different grinders. See the grind size guide for how to dial this in on your own equipment.
Uses the Cold brew steeping brewing method.
Equipment
Requires a separate grinder.
Advantages
- smooth, low-acidity result
- large batches keep well refrigerated for about a week
- no electricity needed
Disadvantages
- requires 12-24 hours of lead time
- takes up refrigerator space during steeping
Steps
- Combine coarse coffee grounds with cold or room-temperature water in the steeping vessel.
- Steep at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
- Filter thoroughly, then dilute the concentrate to taste before serving.
Cleaning & maintenance
Discard grounds and rinse the steeping vessel and filter thoroughly after each batch.
Replace reusable mesh filters if they become clogged or torn.
Consumables: paper or mesh filters (system-dependent)
Common faults
- concentrate too weak or too strong for the intended dilution
- cloudy or gritty concentrate
Cost
Purchase cost band: budgetWidely available at a low price point; DIY jar-and-filter setups are also common.
No filters strictly needed for mesh systems — ongoing cost is mainly beans, used at a higher dose than hot methods.
Suitable roast levels
Not sure if this is right for you? Try the coffee-maker selector.