OXO Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker (32 oz) vs Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Coffee Maker (1 quart)

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.

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.