Like many people who prefer cold brew or iced coffee, I usually found myself at a personal — and financial — crossroads. It is hard to justify spending money and using all that plastic when I can use one of the best cold-brew makers at home.
Rather than using heat to extract the coffee's oils and caffeine, cold brew relies on time: you'll have to leave coarse-ground coffee steeped in water overnight. In reward though, cold brew is less acidic and bitter than cold coffee dunked over ice. It would be more convenient if it took only the push of the best single-serve coffee maker, but then it wouldn't be cold brew.
In other words, you can't cut corners. If you want good quality cold brew and plenty of it for less than $40, I recommend checking out the Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker, our favorite budget cold brew maker. We love the Takeya because it does what it's one task near perfectly and it's pretty affordable to boot.
Specs
The Takeya comes in one- and two-quart pitchers. Since the Takeya makes concentrate, this translates to a varied number of coffees depending on your preferred cold brew ratio. The two-quart pitcher may be too tall for some refrigerators and, to brew properly, it cannot be stored sideways. We recommend measuring the space where the brewer will live, or buying the smaller version.
The brewer is made of BPA-free plastic that is dishwasher safe. Some purists prefer glass, but in our testing we didn't find that carafe material affected flavor. Glass brewers are more eco-friendly and skirt some concerns about being able to repurpose the container for drinks like tea without a lingering coffee taste, but plastic appeals to those looking for a cheap cold brew maker that they can handle less gently.
For me, it was a pretty simple decision in terms of cost, easy steps, positive reviews, and quantity of coffee. I try to spend as little of my free time on routine as possible, so a one-time, 30-second chore for several days' worth of cold brew was very appealing.
How it works
The process is extremely simple. You dump 14-16 tablespoons of your favorite coarsely ground coffee into the infuser, attach it to the lid, and fill the pitcher with 32 ounces of cold water. Then, you lower the infuser into the water and secure the lid. Shake it well, and store it in the refrigerator overnight or up to 36 hours for extra-strong coffee concentrate which can be diluted if you choose. The Takeya top has an airtight seal, so I've never had an issue with leaking, even when the pitcher was laid on its side.
Once the brewing process is finished, just remove the infuser, and replace the lid. If your schedule is hectic and you miss a couple of mornings, the brewed coffee will stay fresh in your Takeya for up to two weeks.
Possible cons
It is worth noting that the Takeya uses half the grounds to produce the same amount of cold brew as other coffee makers out there, meaning you're more likely to get a weaker brew. If you don't plan to dilute your cold brew concentrate with milk or water, though, this may not ultimately matter to you. If you're sensitive to caffeine, it could also be an advantage.
The bottom line
Insider Reviews named the Takeya one of the best cold-brew makers you can buy. On my most caffeine-dependent weeks, I save $20-plus just by using this. Over the course of a year, that's hundreds of dollars. I still occasionally forget to make cold brew ahead of time and wind up at the local Starbucks, but the trips make less of a dent on my wallet now that they've become so minimal.
The Takeya may not be the perfect option for everyone, but it's a great option for anyone looking for delicious and affordable cold brew at home with as few steps, storage space, and hassle as possible.
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