Could This Compact Cold Brew Maker Actually Replace a Barista? Here’s Our Honest Take

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You canlearn more about the affiliate process here.

  • Value:20/20
  • Functionality:20/20
  • Ease of Use:20/20
  • Aesthetics: 17/20
  • Taste:20/20
  • TOTAL:97/100

First thing's first: I’m notreallyan iced coffee person. Sure, the cold stuff has its merits—namely that it can be pleasantly gulped down while walking to my train, and it’s potent enough to feel like I’ve injected caffeine straight into my bloodstream. But is it worth shelling out $6 every day for a small plastic cup? It’s tasty, yes, but do I look like Daddy Warbucks? And making it at home is just…well, I’m lazy. So when I got a sample of thecompact OXO cold brew coffee maker, a miniature version of the brand’s popularfull-size model, I wasn’t, like, screaming my excitement from the rooftops or anything. In my negative-square-foot apartment, a device basically has to be life-changing to prove its worth.

But then I took the cold-brewer for a spin.

I must shamefully say that I was wrong, because I just didn’t know how much I needed one of these lil’ guys in my life.

For starters, this cold-brew maker is tiny. It doesn’t upset the delicate balance of my refrigerator organization, and when I’m not using it, it tucks away neatly into my cabinet. It comes with a cute glass carafe and a plastic brewer that houses the grounds as they steep.

Another plus is that the "Do I have to read the instructions?" factor is extremely low. There are markings on each of the parts for measurements. All you have to do is dump coarse coffee grounds up to the coffee bean symbol on the plastic top, add two carafes’ worth of water through the perforated lid (which, I’m told, evenly distributes the water over the grounds), brew the coffee for 12 to 24 hours on your counter or in your fridge and then stick the brewer on top of the carafe. The filtered coffee concentrate drains straight in.

It brews up to 24 ounces of cold brew concentrate at a time, which sounds like two sips, but this stuff isstrongand not meant to be consumed straight. Dilute a little bit with water or milk (ormylk) when you want a refreshing mid-morning treat, and the rest of the brew will keep in the fridge for about a week. (In my experience, it makes enough for about seven drinks.)

哦,清理吗?所以easy. Each of the pieces comes apart for a quick rinse, and the carafe can nest inside the brewer for storage.

"Great," you say, "but how does it taste?”嗯,我打算卖它从我的圣oop like a lemonade stand for tired adults. Just kidding, but it’s pretty damn tasty: smooth, mellow and rich, thanks to the cold brewing method. (Iced coffeeis brewed hot, then cooled down, and it’s slightly more acidic.) I like to drink mine with whole milk and a splash of water to keep my head from spinning off. My barista hasn’t seen me in weeks.

Considering the whole shebang costs $35, you could make a week’s worth of cold brew and still spend less than if you visit the café every day. And if you use it all the time like I do, it’s basically payingyou…之类的。

French Press vs. Drip Coffee Which Brewing Method Is Best for You?


Want to know which buzzy products are *really* worth buying?Sign up for our shopping newsletterto uncover our favorite finds.

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow is the best friend you never had when it comes to finding the best, most useful lifestyle products online. Founded in 2010, our company’s editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series, which sees each and every item we test being ranked on a 100-point scale of awesomeness, to the painstakingly curated lists our fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family editors create as vertical experts, you can trust that our recommendations include some of the greatest items you’ll find on the internet. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.

Katherine Gillen is PureWow's Senior Food Editor. With professional training in cooking and baking and four-plus years writing about all things food, she can tell you which cutting boards are worth your money, which knives will last you a lifetime and exactly what you're doing wrong with your slow cooker (plus how to fix it).