Are you craving a refreshing cup of iced coffee? Look no further! We understand the importance of finding the perfect coffee maker for brewing the best iced java.
Table Of Contents
−- Iced Coffee vs. Cold Brew
- Types of Iced Coffee Makers
- Best iced coffee makers
- Buyer’s guide
- Final words
In this comprehensive review, we will guide you through the top iced coffee makers available, considering quality, performance, and user experience. Our aim is to provide you with expert insights and knowledge to help you make an informed decision.
| EDITOR’S CHOICE | 2ND PICK | 3RD PICK | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |
| Model | Cuisinart DCC-3200 14-Cup Coffeemaker | Cuisinart SS-10 Single-Serve Coffee Maker | Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker |
| Ratings | 5 | 4.5 | 4 |
| CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
Iced Coffee vs. Cold Brew
Before we dive into the reviews, let’s clarify the difference between iced coffee and cold brew. Iced coffee is simply hot brewed coffee poured over ice, while cold brew involves a specific brewing method. Cold brew is made by steeping coarse ground coffee beans in cold water for around 12 hours, resulting in a smoother, less acidic coffee with higher caffeine content.
Types of Iced Coffee Makers
There are two main types of iced coffee makers to consider: electric and manual.
Electric Iced Coffee Maker: These coffee makers offer faster brewing and often come with advanced features. They are convenient and provide a range of customization options.
Manual Iced Coffee Maker: Manual coffee makers don’t require a power source, making them more affordable and portable. However, they do require more time and patience to brew the perfect cup of iced coffee.
Now, let’s explore the best iced coffee makers available on the market.
Best iced coffee makers
Cuisinart DCC-3200 14-Cup Coffeemaker
Our overall top pick is Cuisinart’s DCC-3200 14-cup coffee maker. It can brew both hot and cold java with so much ease. It houses a large carafe, a gold-tone filter basket, various strength options, a hotplate, and programmable features. With any coffee maker, experimentation is key! Try out different grounds and customized settings until you find your perfect coffee.
With this machine, it’s easy to toggle the hotplate on or off, giving us the option to pre-set the brew if you want it to start before you wake up. This way, it’s cooler once it’s ready to receive some ice. To help disperse the heat, you can also opt to place the carafe on a metal trivet or some cooling rack to save some time. This will help preserve the flavor too!
Pros
- Programmable
- Strength setting options
- Easily toggled hotplate on or off
- Large carafe
Con
- Some may not enjoy the cone filter
Cuisinart SS-10 Single-Serve Coffee Maker
If you live alone and don’t need to brew a lot, this single-serve model from Cuisinart should fit you better. It’s easy to use and is customizable. There are different brew settings, so the choice is yours!
Another great thing with this one is that it is K-cup-compatible providing you with more coffee options. This is especially pleasant if you already have your favorite K-cup flavor! On top of that, the unit comes with a reusable filter cup to house your grounds. Another win is its brew temperature setting, where you can opt to brew at a lower temperature.
Pros
- K-Cup-compatible
- Temperature control
- Customizable
Cons
- Single-serve
- No carafe
Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Start with Takeya if you’re looking for cold brew versus coffee over ice. You can read our thorough review of the Takeya cold brew coffee maker here.
I’m always a big fan of cold brew coffee, but if you’re on a tight budget this past summer, go with this affordable cold brew coffee maker to make it easy at home, on my own. It’s been my go-to small appliance/tool! I use it daily to prepare a fresh cold brew, given its ease.
Pros:
- Extremely efficient mesh filter
- More robust and pitcher free from BPA
- Convenient handle
- The fixed lid protects the flavors of coffee
- Relatively more cost-effective
Cons:
- Coffee may not be as strong as some coffee drinkers want.
- Does not appear to use all the grounds for coffee
Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker
Bodum’s Chambord French Press is such a simple coffee maker yet does the job so well. Here, you can save yourself a lot of cash. This is our best value for money among the others on the list.
The simple way to do it is to brew a French press as you normally would and then add ice cubes! This one comes in various sizes. You can choose from 12 ounces to 51. This is perfect if you have a lot of people to brew for daily or you love hosting gatherings. Also, cleaning this is fuss-free. In reality, any French Press coffee maker will do. If you want to know more about how you can make awesome cold brew using a French Press coffee maker, here it is.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Reasonable price tag
Con
- No advanced features
OXO ‘Good Grips’ Coffee Maker
This coffee maker from OXO is what we recommend for some cold brew. It’s simple but provides a strong and delicious coffee. An interesting feature of the Good Grips is it brews straight into the carafe, like a lab beaker. The upper chamber is filled with grounds for steeping. Then, the rainmaker on top disperses the water evenly over the grounds for some great extraction.
If you do some cold brew, you’d know that time is gold. I’d recommend having this unit steep for 12 hours at the very least. Then, watch your coffee brew into the carafe with a quick toggling of the switch.
Pros
- Simple
- Easy to use
- Fits well in any kitchen
Cons
- Not customizable
- Small capacity
Ovalware 1.0 Liter RJ3 Coffee Brewer
Another option for cold brew is Ovalware’s RJ3 coffee brewer. Instead of having the concentrate flow out of the grind, this lets you pick them up to leave some ready-to-use concentrate in the carafe. It’s extremely simple to use, but we found some issues that made us rank this one last.
It does not let the grounds circulate evenly through the water, thus, decreasing the extraction quality. This requires you to stir the grounds once in a while; even that is not the easiest thing to do. Removing the grounds is quite tedious and challenging too. But for what it’s worth, this unit doubles as a tea infuser!
Pros
- Airtight
- Elegant design
Cons
- Tedious
- Uneven extraction
Hario Pour Over Starter Set with Dripper
For those who want to experiment with their iced coffee, Hario is probably the best option. It’s unlike the other ones where you set it and forget it. It’s also similar to using Aeropress for your ice coffee. You can degas your coffee and let your coffee bloom, or work on your coffee to water ratio, but there’s another thing you can use a device called Lilydrip coffee dripper.
It’s supposed to provide the depth of grounds -50%, therefore less duplicate extraction. And the working area of the filter is +100%, therefore less clogging. Heck, you can use a finer grind and not worry about over-extraction!
Look, there are no pros and cons for this one because it’s all up to you. You control the brewing from start to finish. Adding a modifier like Lilydrip can bring a more creative approach to your brewing needs. So for those who get bored every day and want something new, put it over ice, drip is slower, and go crazy with it.
Pros:
- Provides control and customization
- Suitable for experimenting with different brewing techniques
Cons:
- Requires more involvement in the brewing process
- Additional equipment may be needed for certain brewing methods
Buyer’s guide
Here, we have listed some important factors to consider before purchasing your iced coffee maker. This guide focuses mainly on iced coffee rather than cold brew.
Brew strength
As discussed, ice cubes will dilute your coffee, so you must brew your hot coffee extra strong to make way for the ice. This means you have to choose a coffee maker with a strong brew so you won’t end up with a cup that lacks flavor. This is when programmable brew strength features come in handy.
Material
Iced coffee makers are typically made of plastic and glass. Glass is a great option since it’s heat-proof, elegant-looking, and suitable for events. But, glass coffee makers may be heavy and are easy to break.
On the other hand, plastic is lightweight and is easier to pour. It also has a cheaper price tag. However, it wears off faster than glass.
Capacity
Iced coffee makers usually have 16 to 64 ounces (3 to 8 cups) capacity. There’s no one right option; find what best fits your lifestyle and household.
Final words
Now that we have broken down the best-iced coffee makers and some tips and tricks to brewing your best-iced cup, we hope you find your way to the one that suits you best. Now, check out the best coffee beans for your cold brew.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
