There’s nothing like a caffeinated concoction to kickstart — or restart — a long day for a coffee drinker, especially when that concoction is served chilled and it’s a sweltering 90°F outside. Bonus points if it doesn’t require you to drive far or pay a pretty penny! Enter the best iced coffee makers of 2024. These fast, easy-to-use, editor-tested machines let you whip up barista-level coffee in the comfort of your own home. Read on for the best savvy single-serves, not-so-traditional carafes and hard-working hybrids. And keep scrolling for more on our evaluation process, along with how to choose the right iced coffee maker for your needs.
Table of contents
Every iced coffee maker on this list was vetted and tested by Yahoo editors who take their caffeine (a little too) seriously. Each model came fully assembled, so all we had to do was add water and coffee grounds and use the occasional accessory. While taste is subjective, we used the same coffee grounds with each machine in an attempt to control for strength, acidity and sediment. As of publication, every iced coffee maker we tested is for sale on Amazon, many with free shipping and expedited delivery options.
Best iced coffee maker overall
Kristin Granero/Yahoo
Machine size: 15.54″H x 11.39″W x 9.13″D | Water tank capacity: 60 ounces | Brew style: Pod or basket | Servings: 6 , 8, 10, and 12 ounces, plus carafe option | Modes: Classic, rich, over ice, specialty
This Ninja offers the bells and whistles you might find at your favorite coffee shop without taking up too much counter space. Bonus: It’s really easy to operate.
How it works: You can pop in a coffee pod for single servings of iced coffee or slide the top portion up and insert a paper filter and coffee grounds for multiple servings. A scoop secured alongside the machine helps measure grounds. Turn the dial to select coffee size and tap the touchscreen commands to select coffee style (classic, rich, over ice or specialty). There’s a drip-stop toggle to ensure nothing leaks when the pour is in motion and a self-cleaning function that takes care of the dirty work post-brewing.
Why it’s great: As with some other machines on our list, you can also brew hot coffee, whether you want a single serving or a carafe. The fact that the Ninja DualBrew accommodates pods is convenient, especially for those who like the ease of being able to whip up a cup quickly or switch up their coffee strengths and flavors throughout the day. There’s a little tray that folds down where the carafe would usually sit to support cups while preserving space.
What really sets this machine apart, however, is the speed at which it operates. At about 75 seconds for a 12-ounce cup, it had the quickest yield among those we tested. Also stellar: The integrity of the iced coffee it produces, which was cold and strong with little ice melt or sediment — the closest to what we’d find at a premium coffee shop. The water reservoir is substantial, and there’s a fold-out frother for adding foam to hot or cold beverages. The (mostly) touchscreen display — with graphics — adds visibility while making your kitchen feel like a high-end café. I have this in my own home, and it’s always popular with guests when they visit. FYI: This machine also made it to the top of our list for best single-serve coffee makers of 2024.
- Lightest ice melt
- Fastest coffee yield
- Bright LCD display
- Fold-out frother
- Self-cleaning
- You need to use a pod or paper filter (though there are reusable options for purchase)
- You have to hold the frother button down
More top iced coffee makers we recommend
Kristin Granero/Yahoo
Machine size: 14.5″H x 7.3″W x 11.4″D | Water tank capacity: 13 ounces | Brew style: Basket | Servings: 13 ounces | Modes: Iced
Looking for a budget- and tumbler-friendly option? This simple model is a solid bet.
How it works: It comes pretty much ready to go, and setup is a breeze. You fill the enclosed tumbler up to the water line, then pour that water into the water reservoir, which is under the filter basket. Use the enclosed scoop to measure the grounds and dump them into the reusable filter basket. Fill the tumbler with ice up to the ice line, place the tumbler under the pourer and plug in the machine. When the coffee is finished pouring, you close the drip stop to avoid spilling. Screw the lid on the tumbler and pop in the straw — now you’re ready to take your drink on the go.
Why it’s great: Aside from being incredibly straightforward, this gadget is fairly quick, yielding a 13-ounce coffee in under two minutes every time. It’s also very compact and lightweight — only 1.4 pounds, making it the most portable of any option we evaluated. And while we experienced slight ice melt in our tests (more than with the Ninja DualBrew), the coffee we brewed still held up pretty well in terms of strength and taste. Hot tip: The top portion releases steam, so you’ll want to keep a little distance when brewing.
If you want to make hot coffee too, consider the Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker, reviewed below, for a dual-brew option with more customization.
- Lightweight and portable
- Budget-friendly
- Reusable basket
- Includes tumbler
- Only one coffee mode
- Only one coffee size
- Some ice melt
- A little noisier than other machines
Braun
Machine size: 15″H x 13″W x 7.1″D | Water tank capacity: 50 ounces | Brew style: Basket | Servings: 6, 8, 12, 14 and 20 ounces, plus carafe option | Modes: Over ice, cold brew, gold, bold, keep warm
How it works: Like a charm! Add water to the reservoir and coffee grounds to the reusable filter basket, portioning your grounds based on desired strength and serving (you can do single serve or make a larger pot). Similar to the Ninja DualBrew, a small cup rest flips down — this time from the side of where the carafe would typically be. Press one of the touchscreen buttons to choose your coffee mode and turn the dial to select the size.
Why it’s great: You can choose from a range of brew modes (cold brew, over ice, gold and bold) and sizes (6-, 8-, 12-, 14- or 20-ounce, plus carafe options). The machine whips up a 12-ounce cup of pour-over style iced coffee in under two minutes and up to five cups of cold brew-style coffee in under five. Both modes yielded strong, smooth coffee like the Ninja, leaving no sediment or grinds. The water reservoir is substantial (at 50 ounces, just behind the Ninja DualBrew) and there’s a handle for easy carrying from the sink to the counter. There are also automatic shutoff, drip-stop and self-cleaning functions, along with a warming setting. We’d recommend this machine to anyone who prizes being able to make cold brew over being able to use single-serve pods (as they aren’t compatible with this machine) and wants a competitively priced coffee maker.
- Light ice melt
- Bright LCD display
- Cold brew and warmer options
- Self-cleaning
- Doesn’t support pods
- Wider than other best picks
What to look for when choosing an iced coffee maker
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Basket type: Larger coffee baskets support more grounds, allowing you to make more coffee at once. Single-serve options are great for individuals who want to brew a cold cup of coffee stat, in general or throughout the day, versus having to reheat a pot made earlier on. Higher-end machines such as the Ninja DualBrew offer the flexibility to toggle between the two. Reusable baskets will save you (and the environment) on single-use filters and pods in the long run and can be purchased separately on Amazon.
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Brew style: Multifunction and multicapacity coffee makers offer more versatility and minimize the amount of appliances piling up in your kitchen. Built-in accessories such as frothers allow you to get more creative with your beverages and reduce the need for additional equipment cluttering your drawers.
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Machine size: Iced coffee makers that offer multiple brew styles and larger water reservoirs and carafes are versatile and convenient, but they take up more counter space. We suggest looking for machines that leverage vertical space, ideally with retractable features (such as the Ninja DualBrew, which is narrow and has a fold-out frother and cup tray) for smaller kitchens.
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Water capacity: The larger the water reservoir, the more coffee you can churn out without refilling. This is particularly useful for larger families. The catch: Machines with larger water reservoirs tend to take up more space. Regardless of size, we suggest you replace the water and clean out reservoirs regularly to keep your machine clean and your coffee tasting great.
How we tested
We tested these iced coffee makers by — you guessed it — making a lot of iced coffee! We evaluated them based on form and function along with practicality (ease of setup and overall use) and versatility (range of features and accessories). We also factored in speed, which is particularly important when it comes to those early-morning meetings. We followed product guidelines closely, while using the same type and portion of coffee grounds (loose and pod cups) for each model. While taste is subjective, we had the same testers evaluate the integrity of the final product, paying attention to things like strength, acidity and whether any sediment was left at the bottom.
Other iced coffee makers we tested
Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker: This $59 model is similar to the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker reviewed above but for $20 more, you also get a hot coffee function. A few other distinctions: The built-in water reservoir is behind the filter basket, not below, and there are two buttons along the side to select the mode (the brewing process won’t start until selected, so the machine can be plugged in the whole time). It took a bit longer to yield a full tumbler of iced coffee, but only by about 20 seconds. The coffee integrity was similar to that of the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker.
Mr. Coffee Frappe: For $130, this model lets you brew both hot and cold coffee, with the bonus of being able to blend your cold brew with ice (frappé-style). It’s incredibly versatile and easy to use: Just press the power button, go through the same motions as the other Mr. Coffee machines and select your mode to start brewing or blending. Although this model is slightly wider and heavier (and therefore less portable), the chrome tray on the bottom makes it feel more elevated than the other Mr. Coffee machines, and it’s a blast to use. It’s a good option for a frozen-drink lover who doesn’t own a blender or likes the idea of having everything in a dedicated station.
Keurig K-Slim + Iced Single-Serve Coffee Maker: This $130 machine uses the same streamlined single-serve pod function as other Keurigs, but with more range and precision. You can choose from three coffee modes (iced, hot and strong) and three size options (8, 10 and 12 ounces). In testing, the machine was fairly quiet and, despite being pour-over style, there wasn’t too much ice melt, so the coffee stayed strong with very little sediment. It came in second place for fastest yield time, taking only about one-and-a-half minutes to make a 12-ounce cup. Despite not having a self-cleaning function, it was really easy to maintain. For about $40 more than a regular Keurig single-serve, it’s a worthy splurge for anyone who has a small space or family and wants to be able to whip up a quick cup of iced coffee at home.
Ninja XL Hot and Iced Coffee Maker: Like the Ninja DualBrew, this $150 model specializes in hot and pour-over iced coffee, single or carafe-style, with the added benefit of being able to make cold brew (there’s a warming option too, for hot coffee). At 40 ounces, the water reservoir is slightly smaller and it’s positioned on the upper portion of the machine so it doesn’t add a lot of width, though the model is still wider than the DualBrew. The pour-over coffee tasted similar to the DualBrew, and the cold brew was strong. The yield time of 1 minute, 40 seconds was a bit longer and the display slightly less sophisticated, and there’s no frother. Still, this is a good choice for anyone with a bit more counter space who doesn’t plan to use pods or likes the option of cold brew. It also rings in at a slightly lower price than the DualBrew.
Cuisinart Hot and Iced Coffee Maker: Cuisinart thought of almost everything when making this $200 machine. It serves up hot and pour-over iced coffee, single-serve or carafe style, in a range of sizes. It has a clean interface with digital time display, and there are automatic shutoff and self-cleaning features. It comes with a reusable pod and filter basket. Why it didn’t make our top three: We experienced more ice melt with this machine than the Ninja and Braun, and the yield took longer (1 minute, 48 seconds for a 12-ounce coffee). We wish it had a drip stop like the Ninja and Braun machines, and we appreciated the visibility that came with those machines’ (mostly) touchscreen LCD displays. But if you’re OK with your coffee being a little lighter — or chilling it in the fridge for a little bit before pouring it over ice — this Cuisinart is a solid option for someone who likes to toggle between filter baskets and pods, plus hot and cold temperatures, without having to purchase paper filters or single-use pod cups.
Iced coffee maker and cold brew maker FAQs
How do iced coffee makers and cold brew makers work?
Most of the automated pour-over iced coffee makers we tested start the brewing process with hot water to extract as much flavor as possible, then switch to cool water to minimize ice melt once the coffee is actually poured. The process can take as little as a minute.
Cold brew makers let you steep coffee grounds directly into room-temperature water, usually via a filter to eliminate the transfer of sediment or grounds. The steeped coffee then sits in the water eight to 24 hours depending on desired strength until it’s ready to drink, making it a good “prep ahead and batch” option to keep in your fridge.
What are the different types of iced coffee?
Generally speaking, there are two ways to make iced coffee. One is pour-over style, which involves brewing hot coffee the traditional way but with less water, and ideally allowing it to chill before adding ice to avoid melting, which dilutes the flavor. The other way is cold brew style, achieved by steeping coffee grounds in cool water to create a stronger coffee concentrate, then diluting it with water or milk and pouring the chilled (or at least room-temperature) liquid over ice.
How long do you refrigerate iced coffee?
In our research, we saw that the shelf life for iced coffee ranges from two days to two weeks. We suggest refrigerating your cold coffee without ice to preserve strength and flavor, and using an airtight container to help lock in freshness over time (read these food safety and refrigeration guidelines for more info).
