You better believe you've got to invest in one of the best iced coffee makers if you want to recreate your favorite coffee shop drink at home. Maybe your current machine is one of the best small coffee makers, and you have a little extra space for an iced machine, too.
Since dedicated iced coffee makers extract coffee using cold water (rather than heat and pressure) you won't have to wait to cool down your drink. If you're an iced coffee devotee, it's worth investing in the right equipment.
Most importantly, the iced coffee makers in this guide have been tested for several weeks and reviewed by the Real Homes team. So we're confident that these machines will make you want to make the switch. We found affordable options like single-serve machines and cold brew makers.
Quick Menu:
1. Iced coffee maker reviews
2. Things to consider
3. FAQs
4. How we test
In this guide, you'll find all types of iced coffee machines from cold brew makers and dedicated iced machines that you can only use to make cold drinks, plus hot and cold iced coffee makers (think drip machines and single-serve options). It all depends on your routine, flavor preferences, and how long you're down to wait.
The best iced coffee makers
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The best iced and hot coffee maker
K-Slim + ICED™ Single Serve Coffee Maker
You can (and we do) drink iced coffee all year round, no matter the weather. However, if counter space and budget are in short supply, you might want a bit more bang for your buck than a dedicated iced coffee maker, which is where this new model from Keurig comes in.
Features we loved
Not only does it make delicious iced drinks, but it does what other members of the K-Slim family do and boils up tasty coffee in 8, 10, and 12-ounce cup sizes. As a single-serve coffee maker, it is incredibly simple to use and arguably more convenient than some of the other picks on our list. And it doesn't skimp on taste for the sake of ease either. By brewing over ice, it retains flavor, so it's going to be some of the best iced coffee you can get, without the hassle. Our reviewer Jaclyn claims that it brews coffee at a hotter temperature to extract the full flavor before gradually cooling down, meaning less ice melt and a vibrant flavor that's not watered down. She also liked that you can use Keurig's flavored coffees using the brew-over-ice function for an easy iced drink that rivals the taste of one from your fave coffee house.
Good to know
Although the pod coffee machine can make hot coffees up to 12 ounces in size, the iced function only does a 6-ounce measure, which is a downside in our eyes. That being said, it is so quick and easy to use, thirsty users could always double up for their desired size. Oh, and we wish it came in more than one color.
Read our full Keurig K-Slim + ICED Single Serve Coffee Maker review.
The best cold coffee maker
KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker
If you're after ready-to-go cold coffee and love the idea of being able to pour yourself a cup straight from the fridge, then you'll love KitchenAid's Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It sits directly on your fridge shelf and has a convenient pour dispenser built into the design. It has a fairly simple brew process but does require using your own measuring cups to fill.
Features we loved
This machine dispenses coffee easily. The spout is secure and doesn’t cause any drips. The entire experience with this product offers the luxury feeling of having cold brew “on tap.” The resulting coffee concentrate has a powerful kick but if you want even more coffee, an extra-large 38-ounce version of this product is available, too.
Good to know
The dispenser design is very easy to handle and its short height makes it easy to fit onto any shelf in the fridge. Our reviewer Jaclyn placed it on the lower shelf and used higher shelves for other groceries. This did make using the handle a little awkward, and she needed two hands to remove it. The handle does feel secure when carrying the brewer from a countertop to the refrigerator, and all aspects of the brewer design feel sturdy. Although the large metal brew basket holds a lot of coffee, a significant amount of liquid is absorbed into the coffee grounds, leaving the final vessel half-full after pulling out the brew basket.
To brew, it requires adding 9 ounces or 250 grams of coarse ground coffee with 1 liter and 8 ounces to the container and then steeping in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Once it is complete, you remove the brew basket with the interior handle and the result is approximately 28 ounces of cold brew or 14 two-ounce coffee concentrate servings. To use the concentrate, you can mix one part coffee with two parts milk or water to serve.
This cold brew coffee maker has been reviewed by our team.
The best iced coffee maker on Amazon
Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Maker
The Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Maker makes strong coffee with bold flavors, although this could be due to its cold brewing process, which is slower and takes place over several hours in the fridge. Our reviewer Alyssa was able to use the Ovalware Cold Brew Maker while hosting a Sunday brunch with friends. She served six guests with plenty left over for the rest of the week which was ideal and kept her from having to make six individual servings.
Features we loved
The pitcher-like shape of the design and removable filter is perfect for serving friends. Grabbing this straight from the fridge also meant that it was perfectly chilled and mimicked an iced coffee (and pouring it over ice and diluting the flavor wasn't necessary). This was ultimately impressive and a crowd-pleaser.
Good to know
The brewing process is easy to do, especially if you're someone who's familiar with using a French press. However, if you can plan ahead and let the vessel steep overnight, the result is delightful. Because of its 1-liter capacity and stronger brew result, you can serve more than you would from an average French press.
This cold brew maker has been reviewed by our team.
The best affordable iced coffee maker
Featuring a BPA-free, temperature-resistant glass carafe, fitted with a removable ultra-fine mesh reusable filter, this cold brew coffee maker is wonderfully simple to use. All you need to do is add ground coffee to the filter, clip it into the jug, top up with cold water, and leave it to brew in the fridge. It’s that easy.
Features we love
Our reviewer and staff writer Beth Mahoney loved the fact that by slowly cold brewing ground coffee, the end result is a chilled brew with a lot of flavor and — regardless of the coffee grounds you use — some subtly sweet and refreshing undertones. This means that it can be drunk black, without the need for added sugar or milk. She also loves the jug’s leakproof lid and easy-clean design. Oh, and in addition to being used to make cold brewed coffee, this jug can also be used to brew iced tea.
Good to know
The only downside is the fact that it takes eight to 12 hours to brew. Still, once it's made you can store the cold brew in the fridge for up to five days in an airtight container, so if you refill it daily, you’ll always have plenty of ready-to-go chilled coffee. Patience is a virtue, so if you're happy to wait — you'll be saving money on ready-made, shop-bought serves as our staff writer did. She says: "After I found that I was spending far too much money on store-bought bottles of cold brew and Starbucks chilled coffee drinks, I opted to invest in the Gator Coffee Cold Brew Maker so that I could make her own cold brewed coffee for a fraction of the price."
If you're confused about the differences between cold brew and iced coffee, you might want to find out what they are before committing to this.
This cold brew maker has been reviewed by our team.
Best single serve iced coffee maker
Mr. Coffee® Iced™ Coffee Maker
I admittedly have a soft spot for filter coffee makers. I love the nostalgia associated with the sounds of water boiling in a machine and the consistent drip once it's ready. The Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker offers the simple luxury of freshly-brewed, filter drip coffee in just a few minutes with a portable tumbler to take the single serving to pour away with you. The instruction manual outlines that you can use your own drinking mug or cup, but a 22-ounce one also comes included in the box and fits perfectly into the depression beneath the spout. Plus, it keeps your iced coffee cold for longer.
Features we loved
First thing first, know that this machine makes hot coffee, so you can use it for hot and cold drinks. The gap between the dispenser element of the machine and your countertop is large enough for you to use an iced coffee tumbler (like the one that comes included) so you don't need to get an extra mug dirty. Our reviewer Alyssa said that the reusable nylon coffee filter was a delightful surprise as she doesn't usually keep paper filters in the house and didn’t have one on hand. It's also more environmentally friendly. However, compared to the other iced coffee makers we tested, this product produced a less bold coffee flavor and was more of a true medium roast rather than a bold dark roast. One of our favorite features of this machine is how slimline it is — it takes up barely any countertop space.
Good to know
If you already have a hot coffee maker, then this isn't the machine for you. The included tumbler is not dishwasher safe, which was disappointing. You can also buy the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe, Iced, and Hot Coffee Maker and Blender (from Amazon)— this has a snazzy blender attached.
This cold brew maker has been reviewed by our team.
Things to consider when buying an iced coffee maker
When searching for the right iced coffee maker for you, it is important to consider the machine’s volume and your lifestyle. Think about:
1. How much coffee can it make at once?
If you enjoy entertaining and like the idea of having the ability to offer your guests an iced coffee, a larger vessel that can easily serve many people may be ideal for you. You should also consider any other coffee products you already own, such as a standard filter brew coffee maker or French press that could do the job just as well.
2. Does it serve a unique purpose?
The limited variety of products on the market specifically for making iced coffee means that one of the products you already own could produce a similar experience to iced coffee-making dedicated products. However, if you prefer your coffee iced and regularly order them from cafes, you can enjoy significant savings and time if you have one of these iced coffee makers ready to pour and enjoy straight from the fridge.
3. Will you only use it seasonally?
If you're in a smaller space or don't have a lot of room on your kitchen countertops, you'll want to think about your appliances carefully. If you only enjoy iced coffee in the warmer months, it may not be worth it to spend the money and give up space for a machine you'll only get limited use out of. But if you're a daily iced coffee drinker, you could end up saving money by skipping extra trips to a coffee shop.
FAQs
What is the best coffee to use to make iced coffee at home?
Maryna Gray, director of coffee and curator at Bean Box has four top tips for making the perfect iced joe at home. She says: "Use a full-bodied coffee to avoid tartness. For an iced coffee with a sweet, creamy, and/or chocolate flavor profile, go with a medium roast from Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, or Honduras. Think cream soda on the rocks! For a refreshing tea-like iced coffee with fruit notes, go with an Ethiopian or Kenyan roast. The fruit flavors will pop on ice. [And], if you have a coffee scale, use it!"
What's the difference between cold brew and iced coffee?
In short, time. You can make an iced coffee with one of the above machines in as little as four minutes. Conversely, to make cold brew coffee, you'll want to steep your grounds (without heat) for 12–24 hours.
How we tested these iced coffee makers
Gator iced coffee coffee maker in Beth Mahoney's kitchen
The Real Homes team and our freelance writers tested these machines in our homes for several weeks. For comparison, we used medium roast, coarsely ground coffee, served without sugar or syrups. We wanted to test the process, as well as the taste, taking a semi-scientific approach to scrutinizing these small kitchen appliances. Each tester considered ease of use, cleaning, and versatility.
We made several different types of drinks and compared them with coffee made from other machines. All of our testers have experience with other coffee machines and compared the different results.
Some of the products above have been reviewed, but they don't have standalone reviews on the site. This is because, as a rule, we only write standalone reviews for machines. Just know though that everything we recommend above has been hands-on tested by a Real Homes team member or a freelancer.
Meet our panel of iced coffee maker testers below:
Beth is one of our staff writers and for chilled coffee swears by the Gator Coffee Cold Brew Coffee Maker.
During the warmer months of the year, cold coffee beverages are what fuel Jaclyn throughout her day. So it was an easy task to ask her to test and review the Keurig K-Slim + Iced Coffee Maker and KitchenAid KCM4212SX Cold Brew Coffee Maker.
Alyssa Leanne Owens (aka @eyesbeforeeats) is a freelance reviewer for Real Homes, but also is a full-time food stylist, assistant, and recipe developer and tester. This makes her the perfect candidate for our iced coffee maker panel. She reviewed the Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Maker and the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker.