Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot (1000ml) vs Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker (1 quart)

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 Takeya Deluxe is the pick for most kitchens because it removes the two worries that come with the Hario: breakage and leaks. The pitcher is BPA-free Tritan plastic, which resists shattering and staining, and the airtight lid seals well enough that the pitcher can sit in a fridge door without dripping.

The brewing method is the same idea. Grounds go into a fine mesh filter that attaches to the lid and hangs down inside the quart pitcher, water goes in, and the pitcher steeps in the fridge overnight. Pull the filter, and the same pitcher becomes the serving and storage jug. Takeya says the pitcher handles hot brewing as well, and it is dishwasher safe.

The limits are practical ones. One quart is a modest batch, so a household of heavy drinkers will brew every day or two. The plastic can pick up coffee smell over months of use, which glass never does. And the price swings widely: it was $24.98 on Oct 19, 36 cents above the Hario, but we have tracked it as low as $13.19, so a sale makes it the obvious buy.