Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot (1000ml) vs OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker (32 oz)

The Hario Mizudashi has been the simplest cold brew setup in many kitchens for years: a narrow glass pot, a fine mesh basket that hangs inside, and a lid. Coffee goes in the basket, water goes over it, and the pot sits in the fridge. Hario Europe suggests about 8 hours of steeping, and coffee retailers commonly start at around 80 g of ground coffee for the full pot. Lift the basket out and the coffee is ready to pour.

The glass is the reason to choose it. Hario makes the pot in Japan from its heatproof glass, which does not hold coffee odors or stain the way plastic can, and the slim 94 mm depth slides into a fridge door shelf. Brewed volume is 1,000 ml, about five cups, because the grounds soak up some of the water Hario tells you to add.

The weak points come with glass. It breaks if dropped on tile, and the pot is not built to travel. The mesh basket is fine, but some sediment still reaches the bottom of the pot. The output is mild by design, so anyone who wants strong concentrate for lattes should look at the OXO.

The OXO Good Grips is a different kind of cold brew maker. The Hario and Takeya steep coffee in the pitcher you drink from; the OXO steeps on the counter in an upper chamber, then drains concentrate into a glass carafe when you flip a switch. OXO says 10 ounces of coarse coffee brews up to 32 ounces of concentrate, enough for up to 14 drinks once diluted with water or milk.

Two parts of the design earn the price. A perforated Rainmaker top spreads water over the grounds so they wet evenly instead of floating dry in patches. And the brew-release switch lets you choose the moment steeping ends, after 12 to 24 hours, and it stops the flow when the carafe is lifted away. The carafe is borosilicate glass with measurement markings, and the stainless mesh filter is reusable, so paper is optional.

The costs are size and time. At almost 15 inches tall and 3.7 pounds, it needs permanent counter space, and the brewer does not go in the fridge. Draining a full batch is slow, and the parts take longer to rinse than a pitcher basket.