If you buy a cup of cold brew coffee every day, the money adds up. You’ll spend over $1,000 a year on coffee alone. Actually, cold brew coffee is easy, and everyone can brew right from your kitchen. Many inexpensive cold brew coffee makers are great for cold brewing. You will save money and time in the long term.
In this cold brew coffee maker buying guide, we will get a closer look at a best-selling cold brewing pot – Takeya. We selected it as one of the best cold brew coffee makers.
We will show you how it works and the cold brew recipes and tips.
Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker Review
Last update on 2023-03-20 / As an Amazon Associate, if you buy via the links, Brewcoffeehome earns a commission at no extra cost to you.
What Does Takeya Cold Brew Maker Look Like:
Takeya cold brew coffee maker is a no-frill pitcher that includes four pieces. The pitcher, a lid, removable coffee filter, and a handle.
Pitcher body
The pitcher body is made of BPA-free Tritan plastic, which is stain and odor proof. Some may prefer a glass pitcher. However, plastic is more durable. The pitcher is pretty tall, so you need to find a shelf in your refrigerator that is tall enough to put it on. It also fits most refrigerator doors.
The nylon mesh coffee filter
To open, you simply twist the lid, and the filter comes out along with the lid. Hold the infuser and twist the lid again, you can separate the infuser from the lid. The nylon mesh filter is fairly rigid, and only the fine particles can escape from the holes. It’s fairly long and narrow. From the touch, it seems pretty durable.
The leak-proof Lid
The lid has a nice grip hand on top to make sure you can carry the whole pot easily. There’s the Takeya logo on the top and some directions of which way to twist to open and close. And it warns you not to seal the container when hot. The reason for that warning is because the lid is airtight, the vapor can’t get out of the pitcher. It may cause an explosion if you seal it tight.
A rubber airtight seal makes sure nothing leaks out when you put the whole pot upside down, and locks in flavor.
The handle
The handle is nice and easy to grip with a silicone texture. There’s also a rubber ring inside to prevent leakage and a spout for easy pouring.
That’s it, a simple system that makes cold brew coffee effortlessly. The Takeya cold brew coffee maker is made in the USA.
Capacity
Takeya cold brew coffee maker comes in two sizes, 1 quart and 2 quarts. We prefer the smaller version since the larger version may be too tall for some refrigerators. Even the smaller 1-quart model can make a few cups of cold brew concentrate that can last for a few days.
Cleaning and Maintenance
There are cleaning instructions on the bottom of the filter. They suggest flipping the filter upside down, tap the coffee grounds out and flush it with the water. The pitcher and filter are a little narrow and deep, so you probably need a bottle sponge to clean them thoroughly.
In their manual, they claimed that you can wash the Takeya cold brew coffee maker in a dishwasher.
Also, after using for a few times, you can soak the filter in a 1:1 solution of water and white vinegar to remove the odor and coffee oil for a fresher flavor. Overall it’s not difficult to keep it clean.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee with Takeya?
Cold brewed coffee is different from iced coffee. To make iced coffee, you simply brew hot coffee and then chill it with ice cubes. In contrast, cold brew extracts coffee at low temperature and requires 12-24 hours immersion. In this brewing method, you’ll have a well-balanced flavor without unpleasant acidity and bitterness. Like most cold brewing systems, Takeya requires only a few steps and your patience to make cold brew coffee at home.
A recipe according to the official manual:
- Add 14-16 tablespoons of coarsely ground coffee to the infuser.
- Fill pitcher with cold water. Immerse the infuser in the water.
- Seal the airtight lid, shake well and place in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
- To serve hot, mix 1 part of coffee concentrate and two parts of boiling water. To serve cold, pour the coffee concentrate and water, milk, or soy over ice.
That’s a casual recipe that uses imprecise volume instead of weight. So you may be confusing when you start brewing. The imperial measurement system makes things complicated and imprecise. We prefer measuring ingredients by weight which is easier to follow.
The dosage suggestion is 16 tablespoons. A tablespoon of coarse ground coffee is about 6.7 grams, depending on how coarse your coffee grounds are. It’s about 110 grams of coffee. Load it up, and the coffee grounds almost reach the top nylon window.
Here are some tips for making better cold brew coffee with Takeya.
Recipes for Making Cold Brew with Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Recipes and Instruction
Equipment
- Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Ingredients
- 100 grams ground coffee coarse grind size
- 32 fl. oz filtered water at room temperature
Instructions
- Add 100 grams of coarse grounds to the filter.
- Pour some water in the nylon filter to wet through the coffee grounds before steeping the coffee grounds into the pitcher. You can flush out some of the fine grinds.
- Fill 32 ounces of water into the pitcher. There will be about 1.7 inches from the top rim. Don't fill the water to the rim. The displacement from the coffee grounds will push the water out.
- Put the filter in the water and screw the lid. Put it into the fridge, and let it sit for 24 hours. The magic of cold brewing is not going to happen right away.
- In the middle of the brewing process (after 12 hours), take it out and gently shake it to mix the coffee grounds.
- After 24 hours, take it out and enjoy. Serve the coffee as needed and store the rest of coffee in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- We suggest 1 part of coffee with 1 part of water or milk for serving. However, you decide how strong the coffee you like.
- Coffee is stronger than drink-ready coffee. However, in the 1:9 coffee to water ratio, the brewed coffee is not very concentrated. We usually make cold brew with a 1:4 ratio. However, the water is not enough to soak the coffee grounds in the filter within the pitcher.
- You will notice that there is a lot less liquid in the pitcher. When you take the filter with the coffee grounds out of it, only 60% of the coffee is left in the pot because the coffee absorbs those water.
- Unlike paper filters, the nylon mesh can’t catch all the fine particles. There’s also still a lot of fine dust at the bottom of the pitcher. If you don’t like the muddy mouthfeel, don’t pour the last drop into your cup. You can leave 10% of the coffee at the bottom. If you want to regain more coffee, you can filter the last 10% of coffee with a paper filter. After using the paper, the coffee is fairly clean but still very dark.
Nutrition
Value for Money
Cold brew coffee makers are very affordable. Basically, they are a pitcher with filter in different designs so they won’t break your bank. Takeya has a lower price than many other cold brew makers.
Some great coffee for cold brew costs only $3 per batch (3.88 oz or 110 grams per batch). You can make 6-7 cups of cold brew coffee that last for up to two weeks. If you are a coffee drinker who buys a cup of cold brew from a coffee shop every day, you’ll save lots of money in the long term. The Takeya cold brew coffee maker has a reasonable price tag and saves you lots of hassles comparing to brewing in a French press or mason jars.
Alternative?
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
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Hario 'Mizudashi' Cold Brew Coffee Pot, 600ml,... | 11,625 Reviews | See on Amazon |
Last update on 2023-03-20 / As an Amazon Associate, if you buy via the links, Brewcoffeehome earns a commission at no extra cost to you.
Mizudashi cold brew coffee pot is similar to TAKEYA. It also uses a nylon filter and immersion method to make cold brew coffee. Mizudashi has 600ml and 1000 ml capacity, which is smaller than Takeya. However, the Mizudashi uses heat-resistant glass manufactured by Hario, the king of glass in Japan. It’s a great option for those who prefer a glass pitcher. Read our review of the Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot, so you can compare these two products.
The Verdict
TAKEYA cold brewing coffee solution works very well, and it’s fairly inexpensive. The Takeya cold brew maker is suitable for most people who like cold brew coffee without hassles. We like the airtight lid, which locks in the coffee flavor. There are many other foods in the fridge, and you don’t want to taste them in your coffee. The build quality is good, and the price is reasonable.
FAQ:
Often you can find this Takeya pot available for coffee and tea in different models. Actually, the cold brew coffee maker and the tea system are exactly the same. They are just in different colors. It’s recommended to use them separately as the coffee flavor can linger and alter the taste of the tea.
Cold brewing coffee results in a smoother coffee due to the longer immersion time and lower extraction temperature, so it will have a different taste and flavor than a traditional hot-brewed cup of coffee. If you like strong coffee, try allowing it to brew for 36 hours if your coffee wasn’t strong enough at 24 hours. However, we wouldn’t go beyond 36 hours because the longer the steeping time, the more extraction of the coffee, which will bring more bitterness to the coffee.
