Unveiling the Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Iced Coffee Maker: Top Picks for 2023

Are you ready to beat the summer heat with a refreshing cup of iced coffee? If so, you're in for a treat! In this article, we will dive into the world of iced coffee makers, exploring the various types available and the key considerations to keep in mind when choosing one. But that's not all – we have done the research for you and compiled a list of the seven best iced coffee makers to try in 2023. From the KitchenAid 14-Cup Cold Brew Coffee Maker to the HyperChiller Instant Coffee Cooler, there is something for every coffee lover's taste and budget. So, let's begin our journey into the world of iced coffee and discover the best ways to elevate your summer coffee experience.

Types of Iced Coffee Makers

There are various types of coffee makers available for making chilled brewed coffee. One popular type is the traditional iced coffee maker, which brews hot coffee that is then poured over ice. This method creates a complex flavor profile and is often enjoyed with milk and sweeteners.

Another type is the cold brew coffee maker, which brews coffee at room temperature or below for an extended period of time. Cold brew coffee has a sweeter and milder flavor compared to traditional iced coffee.

Homemade iced coffee has the benefit of being more affordable than buying from a coffee shop. Additionally, making your own iced coffee allows for customization of flavors and strength.

Considerations for Choosing an Iced Coffee Maker

When selecting an iced coffee maker, it is important to take into account factors such as capacity, dimensions, and the materials used in its construction, as these aspects can greatly impact the overall user experience and satisfaction.

The capacity of the coffee maker determines how much coffee it can brew at once, so it is essential to choose a size that suits your needs.

Additionally, considering the dimensions of the coffee maker is crucial, especially if you have limited counter space.

The materials used in the construction of the coffee maker can also affect its durability and performance.

Specialized iced coffee makers offer specific features and settings that cater to the needs of making perfect chilled brews. They often have dedicated settings for iced coffee or cold brew, allowing for greater control and precision in brewing.

These specialized coffee makers can enhance the flavor and quality of the iced coffee, providing a more satisfying and enjoyable experience.

The 7 Best Iced Coffee Makers in 2023

Whether you’re in the mood for hot or iced coffee, an excellent cup starts with the best coffee maker for the brew method. The Home Grounds team spent the hot summer months testing and re-testing iced coffee makers to bring you this list of our 7 favorites. Once you’ve found the best iced coffee maker for you, peruse our delicious iced coffee recipes for some great ideas.

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Best Overall

Best Overall

Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System

• 50 oz.
• Glass, plastic
• Hot coffee, iced coffee

SEE ON AMAZON

Most Versatile

Most Versatile

Bodum Chambord French Press

• 34 oz.
• Stainless steel, borosilicate glass
• Hot coffee, cold brew, iced coffee

SEE ON AMAZON

Best Keurig for Iced Coffee

Best Keurig for Iced Coffee

Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker

• 12 oz.
• Plastic, metal
• Iced coffee, hot coffee

SEE ON AMAZON

Budget Pick

Budget Pick

Hario V60 Fretta Iced Coffee Brewer

• 23.67 oz.
• Heat-proof glass and polypropylene
• Hot and iced coffee

click to check price

Most Innovative

Most Innovative

Finci Express Electric Cold Brew Coffee Maker

• 37 oz.
• Borosilicate glass, plastic
• Cold brew

SEE ON AMAZON

Best Traditional Iced Coffee Maker

Best Traditional Iced Coffee Maker

Mr. Coffee Hot and Iced Coffee Maker

• 22 oz.
• N/A
• Iced coffee, hot coffee

SEE ON AMAZON

Best Iced Drip Coffee Maker

Best Iced Drip Coffee Maker

Yama Glass Cold Brew and Iced Coffee Maker

• 32 oz.
• Hand-blown borosilicate glass, 100% wood
• Cold brew

SEE ON AMAZON

The Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System is our best overall pick for iced coffee makers. With a large 50-ounce glass carafe, you can make enough for a single serving or the whole family. Moreover, the Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System comes with two separate filters for tea and coffee, making it easy to make cold brew coffee or tea without mixing flavors.

While the classic and rich hot coffee options are self-explanatory, the “Over Ice” and “Cold Brew” options are less obvious. The Over Ice option yields a richer coffee concentrate perfect for a traditional iced coffee. In contrast, the Cold Brew option brews coffee without heat to create a sweeter, smoother cup. For both, you’ll need to fill the brewing vessel with ice cubes.

This iced coffee maker is the only one on the list that comes with a milk frother that tucks neatly into the side of the machine. Making cold foam for an iced latte is as easy as pressing a button. This setup is perfect for smaller kitchens because it eliminates the need to store an extra appliance.

Lastly, Ninja includes quite a few tea and coffee recipes to get you started (1). Whether you’re looking for a toasted coconut mocha cold brew or an iced London Fog, this drip coffee maker has you covered.

To learn more, read our full Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System review.

This 34-ounce Bodum Chambord French Press makes our list as the most versatile iced coffee maker because, in addition to making amazing iced coffee, it can also make hot French press coffee and slow-steeped cold brew. You can even use it to make hot or cold frothed milk to top your coffee (2)!

With a stainless steel spiral plate and filter and a borosilicate glass brewing chamber, this classic Bodum Chambord French press is easy to clean. If you have a model with a chrome or matte chrome finish, everything can go into the dishwasher.

You can make a traditional iced coffee by brewing a slightly stronger French press-style coffee and then pouring it over ice. The resulting cup is bold but sweet, perfect for frappes or on its own.

The compact form factor of this coffee press makes it perfect for any kitchen where counter space is at a premium. Standing at 9 inches tall and 5.5 inches in diameter, it fits neatly into any cupboard or cabinet once you’re done brewing.

If you’re just making enough iced coffee for one serving, then the Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker is an excellent choice. We think it’s one of the best Keurig coffee machines overall.

Brewing delicious hot or iced coffee is as easy as inserting a K-Cup, selecting your cup size, and choosing either the “Over Ice” or “Strong Brew” options. To make iced coffee, simply fill your mug with either regular or coffee ice cubes and choose “Over Ice.”

With over 300 coffees to choose from, your iced coffee options are nearly endless (3). From a delicious caramel vanilla cream coffee to a sweet-and-salty butter toffee coffee, there’s a tea, coffee, espresso, or cocoa flavor for every palate.

This is a solid buy when you just want to make a nice flavored, iced coffee without any hassle.

Keurig also includes a water filter and alerts you when it’s time to descale, so you always get the best tasting cup. The K-Elite allows you to adjust the water temperature from 187 to 192 degrees F because we all know that different coffees extract better at certain temperatures.

With a 12.7-inch height and 13.1-inch width, a brushed metal finish, and chrome details, the K-Elite is a stylish and flexible complement to any kitchen countertop.For more details on this easy-to-use brewer, check out our complete Keurig K-Elite review.

The Hario V60 Fretta Iced Coffee Brewer may be the best iced coffee maker for your kitchen if you’re on a tight budget. The Fretta uses a similar 02 dripper cone to its iconic cousin, the Hario V60.

In this design, however, ridges inside the cone ensure that all the coffee is evenly extracted, even from the bottom and sides. The polypropylene water distributor ensures the water drips evenly over the ice, and the ice insert ensures the coffee cools down without becoming diluted.

Overall, the V60 Fretta yields bright, sweet, and smooth coffee. While it’s not as smooth as a traditional cold brew, it preserves all the complexity of the original roast. This makes the final cup much less one-dimensional, and if brewed properly, you get a nice cold coffee with the nuance of flavor that makes every cup so enjoyable.

With the Fretta, you can make delicious pour-over hot coffee, too. The only difference is you’d be brewing directly into the glass carafe without using the ice insert.

After brewing, the glass carafe can be washed in the dishwasher. Be sure to wash the rest of the components with a non-abrasive sponge and mild detergent.

If you’re tired of waiting 12 hours for a decent cold brew, then the Finci Express Electric Cold Brew Coffee Maker offers an innovative solution.

To make 37 ounces of cold brew, start by measuring eight scoops of medium grind coffee into the filter. Close and attach the filter to the lid, add room temperature water to the fill line, select your brew strength, and press “Brew.” You’re only 5 to 25 minutes away from a refreshing chilled coffee.

The Vinci Express lets you choose the strength of your cold brew. A light brew takes five minutes, yielding a coffee that’d normally take 16 hours to brew. The medium brew option takes just ten minutes and yields a stronger coffee. The bold and extra-bold options—which take 15 and 25 minutes, respectively—yield a bold cold brew and cold brew concentrate that can be diluted with milk or water (4).

Vinci’s patented Circle Flow technology is the secret to this quick cold brew coffee. Essentially, the Vinci Express delivers a gentle, consistent stream of water through the coffee bed to yield a sediment-free cold brew or concentrate that’s great on its own or in other iced coffee drinks.

The Vinci Express strikes the perfect balance between speed and flavor. It brews a cold brew that is full-bodied, sweet, and smooth.

Once you’re finished brewing, place the serving lid on top of the carafe and store your cold brew in the fridge for up to ten days. The self-cleaning feature also ensures your Vinci Express is free of coffee grounds.

If you’re looking for the classic iced coffee maker, the Mr. Coffee Hot and Iced Coffee Maker is the perfect option for your morning coffee routine. With the included reusable filter, you can brew six, eight, 12, or 16 ounces of hot coffee, and when you want iced coffee, the included tumbler lets you make a large 22-ounce iced coffee drink.

What distinguishes the Mr. Coffee Hot and Iced Coffee Maker from the original Mr. Coffee coffee maker is its “Over Ice” option. This special brew cycle starts with a brief pre-infusion or bloom period followed by three to four minutes of steady brewing into the ice-filled tumbler (5).

We particularly like that Mr. Coffee includes the to-go coffee tumbler with this iced coffee maker. The “Ice” and “Water” fill lines in the tumbler are great, too, as they take out the guesswork. And measuring the right amount of coffee is simple because of the included dual-sided scoop. Cleanup is incredibly simple, as everything—except for the base—is dishwasher-safe on the top rack.

This Yama Glass Cold Brew and Iced Coffee Maker makes our list as the best drip iced coffee maker. It prepares a delicious cup of iced filter coffee and is beautiful to watch in action.

Made with 100% wood and hand-blown glass, this cold brew coffee tower makes 32 ounces of cold brew in three to four hours instead of the usual 12. Fill the top chamber with ice and water to start the cold brewing process. Fill the brewer with medium-grind coffee, adjust the flow rate with the valve, and watch your cold brew come to life in the glass carafe.

At 12 inches wide and 25.4 inches tall, this iced coffee maker makes its presence known, so make sure you consider your available space. If you can make it fit, you’ll be rewarded with a smooth, sweet, and low-acid cold brew with more nuance than your typical immersion cold brew, according to the CEO of coffee company Nossa Familia Augusto Carneiro.

It’s refreshing, and has a very pleasant aftertaste, and distinctive from most of the cold brew out there.

And why stop at cold brew coffee? With a little trial and error, you can also make fragrant iced teas and infused iced alcohol.

Cleaning and maintaining the Yama Glass Cold Brew Coffee Maker is more challenging than most other brewers on this list. You need to hand-wash everything with mild detergent and a soft sponge. Also, be sure to thoroughly dry all the beakers, the carafe, and wooden frame immediately.

Iced Coffee Maker Overview

Here’s a list of the iced coffee makers we’ll be looking at today:

KitchenAid 14-Cup Cold Brew Coffee Maker,

Best BuyFor assistance in the kitchen when making cold brew for the whole family, turn to Kitchen Aid.

This 14-cup brewing system from Amazon is a bulk solution to satisfy your iced coffee cravings. It easily fits in the fridge, and the best part is that the brewing and serving happens all in one device, as the machine comes with a spout attachment to easily dispense your chilled coffee after coming out of the fridge nice and cold.

NinjaDualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System, $230

Are you in search of a coffee maker that can do it all? Look no further than the NinjaDualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System. This high-tech marvel not only brews hot and iced coffee, but it can also accommodate both K-cups and grounds. Additionally, it features a frothing milk capability and can even boil water.

One of the standout features of the NinjaDualBrew Pro is its special "over ice" button. This button ensures that even when brewing over the included carafe of ice, your coffee remains perfectly concentrated and never diluted, even as the ice melts. If you're an iced coffee lover, this machine is a must-have.

Nostalgia 3-Quart Iced Coffee and Tea Brewing System,

If you long for the nostalgic experience of slow mornings with iced coffee and hot afternoons on the patio with iced tea, the Nostalgia 3-Quart Iced Coffee and Tea Brewing System is the perfect choice for you. Available at Walmart, this machine combines simplicity and convenience.

Using the Nostalgia brewing system is a breeze. Simply place your desired coffee grounds or tea into the basket, fill the included carafe with ice, and let gravity do its work as your perfect cold beverage slowly drips down. Say goodbye to watered-down drinks and hello to refreshing, full-flavored iced coffee and tea.

OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $51

Looking for a cold brew coffee maker that delivers consistently great results? Look no further than the OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, available at Williams Sonoma. This sleek and efficient machine is sure to become your morning coffee companion.

The OXO cold brew coffee maker allows you to steep your favorite grounds for 12 to 24 hours, resulting in a smooth and flavorful brew. It's perfect for setting up overnight or for extended periods, as the coffee can stay fresh for up to two weeks in the fridge. With the added perk of free shipping from Williams Sonoma, it's a deal you can't resist.

HyperChiller Instant Coffee Cooler, $25

If you're someone who loves the convenience of your hot coffee maker but craves the speed of iced coffee, the HyperChiller Instant Coffee Cooler is the perfect solution. No more worrying about ice trays or watered-down drinks when the ice melts. This innovative contraption will let you enjoy a refreshing cup of iced coffee in no time.

After storing the HyperChiller in the freezer, simply place it under your K-cup coffee maker and watch as your hot coffee instantly chills within 60 seconds. If you prefer using a traditional coffee pot, just pour the brewed coffee into the HyperChiller, give it a quick swirl for a minute, and pour it into your favorite glass. Say goodbye to lukewarm coffee and hello to perfectly chilled bliss.

ESPRO Cold Brew Ice Coffee Brewing Kit, $100

Don't let the absence of your morning coffee leave you growling. Instead, invest in the ESPRO Cold Brew Ice Coffee Brewing Kit, available on Amazon. This comprehensive kit includes a 64-ounce growler and a filter attachment, allowing you to enjoy cold brew from the comfort of your own home.

Using the ESPRO kit is as simple as can be. Just add a filter and your favorite coffee grounds to the black filter, pour in water, and screw it onto the growler. The coffee will effortlessly drain into the growler, making it convenient to store in the fridge for later or to enjoy immediately. With the ESPRO Cold Brew Ice Coffee Brewing Kit, you'll never have to endure a coffee-less morning again.

In conclusion, choosing the best iced coffee maker for your morning caffeine fix doesn't have to be a daunting task. With various types of brewers available and important factors to consider, you can easily find the perfect one to suit your needs. And when it comes to the top picks for 2023, the KitchenAid 14-Cup Cold Brew Coffee Maker, NinjaDualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System, Nostalgia 3-Quart Iced Coffee and Tea Brewing System, OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker, HyperChiller Instant Coffee Cooler, and ESPRO Cold Brew Ice Coffee Brewing Kit all offer their unique features and benefits, making every sip of your iced coffee or tea a memorable one. So, say goodbye to those expensive café runs and start brewing your own refreshing beverages at home with the best iced coffee maker that suits your taste buds and budget. Cheers to a summer filled with deliciously cool and satisfying sips!