Warm weather is here, and it’s time for cold brew coffee. Delicious straight from the carafe, over ice or with milk, cold brew coffee is the perfect solution to your warm-weather refreshment and caffeination needs. When we tested the leading models to find the best cold brew coffee maker, we loved Ovalware’s upscale design, ease of use and simple-to-read markings, and wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone looking for a great value in an aesthetically pleasing coffee maker.
What I liked about it
Aesthetically pleasing, and possibly even more user-friendly, Ovalware’s Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker and Tea Infuser With Spout is perfect for making cold brew for one or two. Depending on which model you purchase, it yields either 1 or 1.5 liters (or about 4 1/4 to 6 1/3 cups) of delicious, smooth coffee with a solid punch.
Learning how to make cold brew with the Ovalware brewer is easy. The device uses a metal filter that you simply fill with grounds to the top, then slowly pour room-temperature water over until you reach the “MAX” line marked clearly on the thick glass carafe. Then you stir it and put the carafe in the fridge overnight, stirring occasionally. The longer you leave it to brew, the stronger your coffee will be (Ovalware recommends leaving it to brew for no more than 24 hours). Once you’re satisfied with the brew, you take out the filter; your coffee will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
The filter is bound at the top by a rubber ring that seals it in place. The metal lid also is equipped with a rubber ring to seal the whole pitcher during brewing and storage, and a third rubber ring fits around the bottom of the glass carafe to prevent breakage and slipping during use. The glass-metal-rubber combination feels good in your hands, if you like a tactile kitchen tool experience, and feels more luxurious than you’d expect for the price.
The RJ3 is designed in a conical shape, making it feel most organically like a coffee-brewing device. The carafe is clearly marked in cup and milliliter measurements, for users who may want to brew less than the maximum.
What I didn’t like about it
The primary reason the Ovalware didn’t take the top spot in our testing is because the carafe handle is also made of glass. While the construction seems solid and we didn’t have any issues in our time with it, we harbored some anxiety about breaking the handle off during the testing process.
How it compares
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Best overall cold brew coffee maker
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| What I liked | The Hario Mizudashi is sleek, sophisticated and streamlined. It's among the simplest to assemble and use, and it executed an exemplary brew in about the shortest time span and looked snazzy doing it. |
| What I didn't like | The Hario uses a lot of plastic parts, and while they are well-built, they may not appeal to those looking to avoid the material. |
| Key specs | 1 liter capacity; plastic and glass construction with steel mesh filter; available in brown, black or red |
| Price | From $17 |
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Best cold brew coffee maker for design lovers
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| What I liked | The Ovalware RJ3 is pleasingly easy to use and a handsome visual addition to a breakfast table. As straightforward as any of the brewers, this was one of the most upscale design-wise, without feeling fussy. |
| What I didn't like | The glass handle feels more fragile, and while we didn't run into any problems, we worry that in a high-traffic household with kids or pets or under heavy use it might break over time. |
| Key specs | 1 liter capacity; all-glass carafe, all-steel filter |
| Price | From $36 |
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Best cold brew coffee maker for travel
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| What I liked | Affordable and unbreakable, the Takeya cold brew maker is great for taking with you wherever you want a cool, refreshing coffee drink. |
| What I didn't like | The plastic construction means it doesn't feel as high-end as some of the other brewers and it can leak when turned on its side for brewing if you aren't careful. |
| Key specs | 1.8 liter capacity; all-plastic construction |
| Price | From $25 |
Bottom line
With the clearly marked glass carafe and metal filter, making cold brew in Ovalware’s RJ3 couldn’t be more straightforward. You pour room-temperature water up to the fill line, stir and then leave it to brew for up to 24 hours. It’s that easy. The RJ3 also looks beautiful, featuring a design that’s both simple and functional. The only drawback is that its all-glass construction is fragile, particularly when it comes to the handle. But if you’re careful in the kitchen and aren’t worried about small children or household pets knocking this off your counter, we wholeheartedly recommend it.