Best iced coffee makers 2024, tried and tested by expert baristas

Our list includes iced coffee makers, cold brew makers and coffee machines with cold brew technology, so you can find the best way of making iced coffee for you.

Read on for our favourite iced coffee makers, tried and tested by our expert baristas.

Looking to become a coffee expert? Read our guide to the best coffee machines, and check out Celeste Wong's expert guide to how to make iced coffee.

Jump to:

• Best iced coffee makers at a glance
• Best iced coffee makers to buy 2024
• Is it worth it to get an iced coffee maker?
• What’s the difference between iced coffee and cold brew coffee?

Best iced coffee makers at a glance

• Best cold brew coffee maker: Grind cold brew bottle, £22.50
• Best bean-to-cup machine for cold brew: De’Longhi Eletta Explore, £899
• Best blowout bean-to-cup machine for cold brew: Jura Z10, £1,895
• Best single-serve iced coffee maker: Breville iced coffee maker, £25
• Best affordable iced coffee maker: Drew & Cole Barista Iced Café, £39.99

Best iced coffee makers to buy 2024

Grind cold brew bottle

• Available from Grind (£22.50)

Best cold brew coffee maker

Star rating: 5/5

This is a brilliant iced coffee maker from Grind. With a 1-litre capacity, it can make up to five cups of cold-brewed coffee at a time. On test, we found it really easy to use – simply load the basket with 50g of ground coffee (you'll want more coarsely ground coffee, compared to if you were using an espresso machine), submerge the basket in the water bottle and chill or leave at room temperature for eight to 24 hours, depending on your preferred strength.

We also really like the look of this model. The bottle itself is glass with a silicone stopper, and is attractive enough to sit on the breakfast table.

Available from:
Grind (£22.50)

De’Longhi Eletta Explore

Best bean-to-cup machine for cold brew

Star rating: 5/5

This model from De'Longhi is one of the highest-rated bean-to-cup coffee machines we've tested, largely thanks to how impressed we were by its cold brew technology. This technology is fairly unusual to see in a machine like this, and the innovation adds to its versatility.

There numerous hot and cold drink options available, plus you can save up to four profiles, so members of your household can quickly make their favourite drinks. On test, we made iced cappuccinos, which used the cold brew coffee function and cold frothed milk to make a deliciously creamy, refreshing drink.

Jura Z10

Best blowout bean-to-cup machine for cold brew

Star rating: 5/5

Another bean-to-cup machine, this model from Jura offers huge versatility, with 32 options available, including iced drinks. It has innovative automatic features that make it really user-friendly. For example, the built-in grinder automatically adjusts the coarseness of the grind, depending on which drink you've selected.

On test, we tried cold brew cappuccinos, which were a refreshing temperature and had creamy, cold frothed milk. Read the full Jura Z10 coffee machine review for more of our thoughts.

Breville iced coffee maker

Best single-serve iced coffee maker

Star rating: 4/5

This iced coffee maker makes a single serving at a time, and would be perfect if you're making coffee just for yourself. It comes at an affordable price point, and although it is a little lightweight due to the plastic finish, we were impressed with the results.

It's simple to use, with two just two buttons: on/off and start. We found it worked much better with large ice cubes, so we'd recommend these instead of standard-sized ones, which melted as the brewed coffee poured over them. A downside of this machine is that it's a bit messy to use, with the outlet continuing to drip even after we turned off the machine.

Drew & Cole Barista Iced Café

Best affordable iced coffee maker

Star rating: 4/5

This affordable iced coffee maker is a little flimsy compared to other models we've tested, but it still performed well. In essence, it's very similar to a simple drip coffee maker, but it goes straight into a double-walled tumbler (with an included lid and straw for taking on the go). It's designed so the coffee drips directly over ice, and we'd recommend using large ice cubes so they don't melt too quickly.

All you need to do is add three scoops of ground coffee to the filter basket (using the scoop provided) and fill the water tank. Our coffee took four minutes to brew, and the flavour was good overall, if a little bitter. If you have limited kitchen space or are new to the world of iced coffee, this could be a good choice.

Is it worth it to get an iced coffee maker?

Whether you choose an iced coffee maker really depends on how you like to enjoy your coffee. Many cold brew makers are affordable and can be a great way to have a chilled drink, especially if you like to sip your coffee throughout the morning or day.

If you're looking for a bit more versatility, it's definitely worth considering buying a coffee machine with cold brew technology. These bean-to-cup machines do tend to be pricey, but for your investment you'll get the ability to make a whole host of drinks, including iced coffee. Plus, you can have everything you need in one machine, without needing lots of different coffee makers in your kitchen.

What’s the difference between iced coffee and cold brew coffee?

Cold brew and iced coffee both make a refreshing alternative to hot coffee, but there are some key differences between the two. Iced coffee is usually made with espresso that's been brewed with hot water under pressure before being poured over ice – it's then mixed with cold milk if it's an iced latte.

Cold brew coffee is more similar to filter coffee, as it's made by infusing ground coffee slowly into cold water for up to 24 hours, usually in the fridge. You can then pour it over ice or add cold milk.

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