Thankfully, it makes a luxurious, full-bodied frigid brew that tastes just as intense as any other method I’ve tried, and sometimes better. Those inserts and paper filters are annoying, but they work. If you don’t mind the minor inconveniences, Toddy makes a damn good frigid brew. It’s similar to Filtron Brewerybut better constructed. There is even giant 2.5-gallon Toddy which is used in cafes. —Jeff VanCamp
Fantastic French press
In my tests, I used a French press as a quasi-control, and the Secura is the most enjoyable I’ve tried. Disappointingly, I couldn’t get any French press to produce frigid brew coffee that tasted as glossy or luxurious as the other methods. It tended to be a little bitter and too grainy. But it was still drinkable, and if you experimented enough or found the right ground coffee beans, you could probably make a batch that suited you.
The best compact brewery
If you lack space for a kitchen, Oxo Compact Cool Brewer will be a great choice. First of all, it’s adorable: it comes with a cute little glass carafe with a cork lid, and the cone includes the rain spout that we love so much about Oxo’s full-size frigid brews. It is diminutive enough to be placed on a countertop and will look good there.
The diminutive size makes it great for grinding finer, creating a stronger brew that can be diluted more when drinking, which is what I prefer. This way I can dilute it with milk to make a latte strength or keep it slightly stronger for sipping.
Coffee and accessories
The best reusable filter for Aeropress Cool Brew
I like the Fellow Prismo for all my Aeropress uses and it’s great for frigid brewing. It comes with a reusable filter and replaces the cap that fits over the end of the Aeropress with a slightly thicker, single-hole one. This setup allows the coffee to flow out of the Aeropress with more pressure than a standard Aeropress cap. This gives you a little aeration and, in my experience, a cleaner cup than the regular metal filters in a established Aeropress cap.
Perfect for reducing Cool Brew sediment
If you prefer frigid brew with as little coffee sediment as possible, Shimmy will definitely facilitate you. This is a strainer that you fill with coffee grounds and then shake to separate more of the fine particles or particles from the coffee. In testing, I found that it significantly reduced the amount of sediment at the bottom of the cup, but some of it remained, though not enough to ruin your last sip, as too much sediment can do.
Ready-to-brew coffee sachets
These ready-to-brew bags from Partners are like gigantic tea bags filled with coffee. They’re great for turning any jug or gigantic jar into a frigid brewer. Given their size, I got the best coffee after at least 24 hours of brewing. It was full-bodied, luxurious, silky and sweet, with a hint of acidity.
More great frigid beans
In my quest to make the perfect frigid brew coffee, I’ve tried at least half a dozen types of beans. Arabica Colombian Supremo from Stone Street obscure roasted and Bizzy’s Organic Smooth & Sweet Blend these are two of my favorites. They are made specifically for frigid brew and come either coarsely ground (rough grind is best for frigid brew) or as whole beans if you have a grinder. 1 pound bags are not very high-priced.
They were less bitter than some brands I’ve tried and came closest to delivering the perfect, glossy frigid brew flavor I craved. Cool brewing requires a lot more grounds than regular scorching brewing, so I appreciated the lower price.
