Cold Brew Maker Test 2026
Cold brew is the perfect way to cool down on hot days. The right equipment make it quick and easy to prepare. To help you find the right product for you, we’ve thoroughly tested and compared various cold brew makers. In this review, we’ll introduce them to you and reveal our favourites.
We tested these Cold Brew Makers
You've only got two minutes? Our favourites at a glance.
All the cold brew makers we tested have their pros and cons, but two of them particularly impressed us.
Dripster 3 – The Allrounder
The Dripster 3 is a compact 2-in-1 cold brew coffee maker for rich cold brew without any bitterness. The Dripster combines two brewing methods in one: full immersion and cold drip. It opens up the whole world of cold brew and ice brew to you. Both brewing methods produce a fruity and well-balanced cold brew.
Brewjar – The Bargain
The Brewjar is as simple as it is ingenious: it looks great, is beautifully made, brews a fruity, tangy cold brew, is easy to clean and seals completely. We could list more great features, but we’re already on our way to the park with the Brewjar in our bag.
Flash Brew or Ice Brew – Where's the Difference?
Both methods deliver a refreshing coffee experience, but differ fundamentally in how they are prepared. With Flash Brew, hot filter coffee is poured directly over ice. This preserves the delicate flavours and lively acidity whilst the coffee is cooled down immediately – resulting in a clear, fresh and particularly aromatic brew.
With Ice Brew, on the other hand, the coffee is slowly extracted using ice-cold water – similar to a classic hand-filter method, but with ice-cold water. The cold extraction produces a smooth, clean flavour with subtle acidity and emphasises the sweet, gentle nuances of the coffee. Both methods result in a refreshing coffee, but offer different flavour profiles.
Our Favourites
Dripster 3 – The Allrounder
Pros
- Two brewing methods in one
- Excellent flavour
- Also works with ice instead of water
Cons
- Lots of separate parts
- Time-consuming to clean
Details
- Height: 29 cm
- Width: 10.5 cm
- Water tank: 600 ml
- Minimum fill level: none
- Filter capacity: 60 g
- Cleaning: partially dishwasher-safe
The Dripster 3 is the successor to the Dripster² and combines two brewing methods in one. This makes it possible to prepare cold brew using either the full immersion principle or the cold drip method.
Construction
Apart from the stainless steel filters and the glass carafe, the brewer is made entirely of plastic. The plastic lid protects the cold brew in the glass carafe from external odours, but does not seal it airtight. All components fit together well, with a little play. For our test, we tried out both brewing methods.
Cold Drip
The instructions provided are clear and very well illustrated. A little finesse is required when adjusting the drip rate using the black plastic ring. Cold water drips slowly and steadily onto the coffee, passes through a filter and is eventually collected as an aromatic coffee extract in the glass carafe. The drip rate can be adjusted continuously and tailored to individual preferences.
Full Immersion
The Full Immersion method is even simpler than the Brewjar method. To prepare the cold brew, first close the drip valve and place the cold brew in the upper water tank. A handy feature is that only the water tank is used for this. It fits neatly into the fridge. Once the cold brew is ready, place the water tank back onto the carafe and open the drip valve fully. Within a few seconds, the cold brew flows into the glass carafe. The result is a very clear cold brew, though it is less strong and complex than the cold brew produced using the Cold Drip method.
Conclusion
For cold brew enthusiasts, the Dripster 3 is the ideal upgrade from its predecessor. The Dripster 3 offers the chance to discover two types of cold brew with just one product, and at a more than fair price. We were thoroughly impressed by both brewing methods. Another advantage is that the Dripster 3 can also be used to make ice brew. The Dripster 3 consists of many individual parts, all of which need to be stored away and are easily lost. Cleaning by hand is a bit time-consuming. The plastic parts should not be washed in the dishwasher, as they will become cloudy.
Brewjar – The Bargain
Pros
- Airtight seal and suitable for taking on the go
- Easy to use and sturdy construction
- Made almost entirely of glass and stainless steel
Cons
- The glass doesn’t quite hold 1 litre
- Not ideal for serving
Details
- Height: 17.5 cm
- Width: 11 cm
- Capacity: 1000 ml
- Minimum capacity: 250 ml
- Filter capacity: 150 g
- Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe
The Brewjar is a new invention from the creators of the Dripster, which works on the full-immersion principle. It is impressively easy to use and is also suitable for brewing smaller quantities.
Preparation and use
The Brewjar consists of a classic Quatro Stagioni glass, a specially designed stainless steel filter and a lid with a rubber seal that seals the glass airtight. We recommend preparing a maximum of 900 ml, as the Brewjar is completely full when filled with 1 litre of water and 100 g of coffee, making it rather impractical. In general, preparation is very simple and, thanks to the airtight seal, the cold brew can be stored in the fridge without absorbing any odours. Cleaning takes hardly any time, as all parts are dishwasher-safe.
Flavour
The cold brew has a balanced flavour, ranging from fruity and tangy to nutty and chocolatey notes, and goes down well with a splash of milk. However, the result isn’t quite as clear as when using other methods. If you prefer crystal-clear cold brew, you can filter it again. We tried it as it was and were still delighted with it.
Conclusion
We can recommend the Brewjar to anyone who wants to make a great cold brew with as little effort as possible. As the filter reaches right to the bottom, it is also possible to make smaller quantities. The airtight glass jar allows you to transport the finished cold brew and store it in the fridge for several days without it absorbing any odours.
Hario Colors Cold Brew Coffee Pitcher An Exciting Alternative
Anyone who regularly makes cold brew knows that a good brewer can make all the difference. The Hario Colors Cold Brew Pitcher combines minimalist design with well-thought-out functionality, making it a stylish companion for hot summer’s days.
The integrated fine filter in the lid is particularly handy. It’s ideal for tea, fruit or herbs, but can also be used for cold brew coffee with a few simple tweaks. If you want to brew coffee directly in the pitcher, we recommend a very coarse grind (French press or coarser) and a brewing time of 12–18 hours. As the filter isn’t specifically designed for coffee grounds, fine particles may end up in the drink. For a particularly clear, sediment-free result, it’s best to place the coffee in a disposable filter bag beforehand or, when pouring, filter the finished cold brew through a paper filter (e.g. V60).
The heat-resistant glass is high-quality, dishwasher-safe and makes the pitcher versatile enough for other drinks such as iced tea or infused water.
With a capacity of 800 ml, the pitcher offers enough space for several glasses of cold brew, making it ideal for everyday use or when you have guests. At the same time, its slim shape fits easily into the fridge door.
If you want to make aromatic cold brew with ease and value its visual appeal, this pitcher is an excellent choice, especially if you also like to use it for tea, infused water or other refreshing drinks.
Our Cold Brew Coffee Recommendations
Alternative Products
As cold brew can, in principle, be made without any special equipment, we have also included products in the test that were not primarily designed for making cold brew.
Trendglas Jena French Press
The French press serves as both a brewing device and a filter in one, making it a practical alternative to the cold brew accessories featured here. The jug is made of glass, whilst the filter assembly is made of metal and plastic. Overall, the build quality is very high. When using the French press to make cold brew, there is no need for subsequent filtering, as the metal sieve filters finely enough to retain even the smallest coffee particles. The finished cold brew is cloudy and tends to have a rather intense flavour.
Chemex
A vessel such as the Chemex is also suitable for making cold brew. During preparation, the Chemex should be covered with cling film to protect the cold brew from absorbing any unwanted odours. The subsequent filtering is also a bit fiddly, as the finished cold brew must first be decanted. In terms of flavour, the result is more refined and nuanced than with a French press, but less well-balanced than with the cold brew makers tested.
How We Tested
In this test, we assessed user-friendliness, build quality, the taste of the coffee and the design. To do this, we used our Limu coffee in each cold brew maker and, to ensure comparability, opted for a coffee-to-water ratio of 1:10.
