County Line Kitchen 64oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Leak Proof Lid - Black

I wanted to make my own cold brew after having it for the first time a few weeks ago. As every online article will say, "it's so simple and easy to make." They'll also go on to tell you the hundreds of variables and nuances and formulas for different recipes and methods. So despite the inherent simplicity of the method, the bar to entry can actually seem a little high (or at least like you'll mess something up if you don't read enough). That's all to say that I research WAY too much before picking this cold brewer. It should absolutely be your choice to start making cold brew at home, for these reasons: 1. The mason jar itself is, well, a mason jar, so it's exponentially more durable than other cold brew carafes at this price point (if you read the reviews for some other common products, you'll notice the carafes can break or shatter--some have even added rubber covers to keep this from happening. There's no danger of that with a thick mason jar). 2. The parts are more or less interchangeable if you have a second mason jar, and they can also be ordered individually from the manufacturer if you break or lose one. That's huge--so few companies do that these days. There's no danger of needing to buy a whole second set to replace one gasket or lid. 3. The non-mason jar parts seem to be really well made. As with all cold brew, you can't grind the beans too fine, but even after I made my first batch after grinding a little too fine, the filter barely let any seep through. It's a quality metal with no sharp gaps or overlaps. The lid screws on tight, the flip cap works well for pouring - it's all good. And they can all go in the dishwasher...can't get easier than that. 4. Especially if you get the bigger size, it's so important that this actually screws airtight, which will keep your cold brew fresh for much longer than some carafes, which simply have a cork top or loose lid. If you're going to invest the time and grounds to make a large batch, it's better to have it last as long as necessary. Some reviewers complained about the price given that it's essentially a custom cap and filter for a pre-existing mason jar. That's part of the beauty, and isn't a negative in my opinion. The whole thing is well made, from an American company, is incredibly easy to use, and seems like it will last a long time. If you are on the fence about which cold brew maker to get, don't hesitate to start here. It's well worth it. Because every review also offers the author's individual recipe, let me just say that I didn't even bother measuring or portioning out a ratio. I eyeballed the grounds into the filter according to the booklet, left some space at the top, and poured purified water into the jar (our tap water isn't the greatest here). 24 hours in the fridge, then pulled out the grounds. Splash of half and half into the cup, pour the coffee in, done. All it takes. You're welcome to experiment with different combinations of counter and fridge time, or some regimen of shaking the grounds as some have mentioned, but it's really not necessary. Don't be put off by those particulars. Get this cold brewer.

This is a pretty good cold brew system. I love the mason jar design. I have other large mason jars, so I always have a batch brewing. The insert and lid are compatible with the Ball brand jars of the same size. It hasn’t leaked yet (big plus) and the lid is thick and feels durable. There is quite a bit of sediment, even with coarse ground coffee- but it’s not more than any other cold brew system. I just pour the coffee through a filter into another jar and it takes care of that problem. I would buy this again!

I tried my first cup of cold brew iced coffee about 4 years ago (in Seattle, no less!) and was very impressed with the smooth, flavorful coffee. At that time my coffee drinks were always overloaded with sweetners and milk, all to camouflage the acidic and "bitter" coffee it was paired with. Well cold brew coffee eliminates the need for all that! When I got home I researched the cold brew process and found so many complicated and convoluted methods that I was immediately intimidated from trying it. Fast forward to this year, when all the trendy coffee shops (including some major corporate coffee retailers) have finally jumped on the bandwagon of cold brew iced coffee. I was elated--I tried "their" cold brew and it's not bad. Not the same smooth, acid-free, flavorful coffee I had those 4 years ago, but it would do. I decided to try and make my own cold brew again, which led me here. Since becoming so popular, there are now several cold brew systems on the market! I decided to try this one, because of the simplicity and straightforward design. I've just poured my first batch of cold brew from this system, and I couldn't be happier! Not only is it easy to use, but the result is great! I did everything according to the directions, and besides my own clumsiness (spilled coffee grounds as I poured them into the filter) everything came out according to plan. Like other reviewers stated, I did find a thick coffee sediment at the bottom of the jar, however, it didn't make its way to the pitcher I transferred the coffee to when it was finished steeping. Here is how I finished off the process: Once the coffee was ready (I steeped it for 24 hours at room temperature, then put it in the fridge when I went to bed so it would be cold in the morning) I placed the mason jar in the sink and gently unscrewed the lid. Then I slowly lifted the metal filter out of the jar and held it over the opening while some last bits of coffee dropped from the filter. I gave it a few taps on the rim of the jar to help it along. Once the dripping stopped, I pulled the jar out of the sink, and proceeded to rinse out the filter by turning it upside down and running the tap over the filter, allowing the coffee grounds to go down the drain. It could not have been easier! There was no mess, and the filter came clean very easily. I then transferred the coffee from the mason jar to a tall 64 oz pitcher. I gently and slowly poured the coffee from the jar to the pitcher and when it got to the end, the brown sediment was left behind at the bottom of the mason jar, which I promptly rinsed out and prepped for another batch of cold brew! Thank you!!!

Love this cold brew carafe! The size is larger than others I looked at, which I appreciate. Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Works well. Now we just have to figure out the ratio of water to coffee and length of time to brew for the ultimate cup. We got a mini milk whisker as well, so we can now have cold brew with cold foam at home (without the $7 cost).

I had to replace my Primula cold brew set because the plastic cover broke down (took it out of storage from my cellar for the summer season and cover came apart in pieces, had it about 5 yrs). I began my research and at first was looking for a fancy machine that would make the cold brew quicker. The reviews for those machines are hit or miss. I decided to keep looking because I didn’t want to spend the money on so-so results, nor did I want to have to bother with a return. I did like the Primula system and saw they had newer options but one upgrade I hoped for was a bit more of a yield so a batch would last my work week. My search continued and I decided to look at the highest reviews with a good # as well. I looked on Google but settles at Amazon for the most options. Came across this one, checked out the videos (well done for the lost part) and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Price was good, process simple and looked like the yield was decent, at least would get me through the week. I’ve used it through the summer and will be putting it away now until about next Memorial Day ( The verdicts is that it checks off all my boxes- - Simple to use and clean. Put all pieces in the dishwasher 1/wk. - After you account for the displaced liquid due to the filter being removed I’d say I got 4-5 cups or 32-40 oz - Price was good and comparable to others that were more complicated or fragile. - All pieces are well made, quite sturdy. I wished the handle didn’t stick out so far but because the glass container is thick and heavy (which I like) you need that leverage to hold it securely. Tip: It takes a while to fill it with water through the strainer w/the coffee, so I fill the container about 1/2 way with water and then do the rest through the strainer. I always let it brew for 24 hrs and there’s no taste difference at all. -

07/01/2016 Update I have decided that no dilution of the cold brew is necessary. That said, I do put a couple of ice cube in my thermos so, by the time I get to that coffee, it is diluted, but 3 ice cube to 24 oz of coffee is not enough to get excited about. Because I am drinking this straight, I am keeping some coffee "brewing" at all times. There is just a bit less than 7 cups with each brew, and, since I drink 3 or 4 cups (actually 2 or 3 glasses but that's quibbling) a day, I'm planning on buying a second set. Advice: use a darker roast. I used a medium roast for a couple of batches (hey, I had to use it all up) and it just didn't have the richness of flavor that I prefer. For those that are concerned about caffeine: there is some indication that the darker the roast, the less caffeine. -------------------- Original review: Like many folks, I was introduced to "cold brew" coffee by the nice folks at Starbucks. It had a nice smooth, almost sweet taste that I wanted to replicate at home. Before venturing into the cold brew arena, my favorite way to make iced coffee was 4 shots of hot espresso over ice with a bit of sweetener. Initially, Starbucks was pushing the "Toddy" cold brewer, and I found one at Cost Plus (aka World Market)--because I had to have it immediately. I liked the coffee that I made with the Toddy system; however I have arthritis in my hands, and it was becoming more and more difficult to remove that rubber cork. That meant that I needed to find a new cold brew system. I needed something simple that I would be able to use without opposable thumbs--which sounds like a bad joke in the making; however it is becoming my reality. In my hunt for a new cold brew system, I spent hours strolling through the "aisle" here at Amazon, reading reviews, looking at pictures; trying to find the best system for me. I settled on the County Line Kitchen's version of a cold brew system. Truth be told, one of the reasons that I went with this system was that even if the filter didn't work like it was supposed to, I'd still have a 1/2 gallon canning jar. I added one of those pour top lids to the order to make it easier to pour out the coffee. When it arrived, all the parts went into the dishwasher; and I ground some coffee while I waited. The set-up and process is frighteningly easy: silicon gasket on the top of the filter; set the filter into the jar; add enough coffee to fill the filter up to about an inch from the top; and then slowly pour water over the top. The instructions that came with the brewer stated that the lid should be put on and the jar shaken to speed the water through the coffee grounds. I had no problem getting the water through the coffee grounds and didn't find the need for the shake. I left the coffee to brew, on the kitchen counter, for a bit more than 24 hours. The resulting cold brew was lovely. I didn't dilute it as much as recommended--about 1 cup of cold brew to 1/3 cup of water. The flavor of the coffee is quite lovely. I add a touch of sugar-free vanilla syrup, lots of ice and I'm good to go. The resulting coffee is not as strong as the coffee brewed using the Toddy system. This is, I am quite sure, due to the fact that the percentage of coffee used to the amount of water is much lower. The Toddy calls for 12 oz of coffee to 7 cups of water. The County Line Kitchen system uses about 4 oz of coffee to about 7 cups of water. This is why I have reduced the stars to 4. I plan to try the coffee without diluting it to see if that "improves" the flavor for me. I have a batch in the fridge that has been "brewing" for about 3 days so I am looking forward to seeing what that is like. For anyone considering this brewer, I highly recommend the addition of a reCAP Mason Jars POUR, Wide Mouth. This whole system is so much easier for my arthritic hands. That said, it does require me to use two hands to pour the coffee, but that's because the jar is pretty big. All-in-all, I do recommend this cold brew system.

I love cold brew coffee and have used the Toddy Maker system for over 10 years. But the cleanup and waste of coffee finally drove me to seek something else out. After reading about many other different systems, the simplicity and cost of this one made me decide to try it. I'm glad I did. While it took me a few tries to make it in the strength I wanted as well as the least messy way, I've consistently made at least one to two batches a week. It's so easy, I find I'm drinking a lot more than normal (which may not be the most healthy thing in the world for me). For me, the trick for preparing a batch with as least a mess as possible was to fill up the cone with a GOOD solid inch left from the top. I then used the kitchen faucet on low, with the jar and filter below it, slowly stirring in the water with a butter knife into the coffee grounds (I just use Cafe Du Monde). I sometimes have to stop the water and stir more to let the water pass through the filter--especially as the mason jar becomes full. Then I just screw the solid, plastic cap on, click down the stopper, and shake the heck out of the jar, and leave for a good 24 hours (not the typical 12 I used to with the Toddy Maker). After the day, it's a matter of just lifting out the filter--I typically place into a tall drinking glass to let the soaked coffee grounds drain (I don't want to waste any of the concentrate!), pouring it into the main jar as the glass fills. I will typically pour the concentrate from the mason jar into another container (but you don't have to; it works well as a pitcher). I do this so I can start preparing a new batch before I'm finished with the current batch. This means being honest with myself about how much I plan on drinking, so that I start preparing a new batch without being out... Cleanup is easy. Once the filter has finally drained most (I leave it out for a few hours), I just upend and tap the grounds into my trash. I then rinse out thoroughly, cleaning the lid and jar at the same time--I sometimes will also leave the filter in the jar aft wards, soaking overnight in soapy water just to make sure to remove any of the coffee buildup on the filter. Even though this seems too simple and cheap to be really worth it (a jar, a lid with a stopper-spout, and a metal filter), it really does work well. Best of all I can make about two and a half batches with one single can of Cafe Du Monde coffee grounds. I batch will last me almost a week (I drink way too much but it's so good)--I use about 1/4-1/3 cup of the coffee concentrate and mix it into about 1 and 3/4 cups water. That, with a healthy dose of milk or creamer, makes for very large cup of coffee. If I want hot coffee, I just use hot water and add it to the cold concentrate. I'm so happy I decided to take the plunge--I haven't looked back since!.

**UPDATE to the UPDATE** Yep.... ordered another one. I can't stress it enough. THE BEST cold brew kit on AMAZON. The rubber gasket that fits between the filter and the mason jar makes for less drips and mess. The filter extends nearly to the bottom of the mason jar to ensure that the coffee grounds get maximum saturation. **UPDATE** I'm one of those people who's always looking for a better / faster / easier way to do something. Over the last few years I've tried other stainless filters and various brewing methods but I always go back to this exact kit. There are other kits that look the same, but the filters ARE NOT the same quality and always leave MUCH MORE sediment in the bottom of the jar. OTHER FILTERS - When you get to the bottom of the batch the coffee is like mud and undrinkable. The COUNTY LINE KITCHEN filter leaves VERY LITTLE sediment. I make a half gallon every 3 days and each batch is consistently awesome to the last cup. I prefer to let the coffee brew for at least a whole day and most often I let it go for a full 48 hours. I let it set on the counter at room temp vs brewing in the fridge. The longer brewing time at room temp produces a VERY BOLD and concentrated brew. This filter is solidly built and will last for years.. DO NOT let coffee grounds set in it after draining. Dried coffee will clog the screen. You have to clean it after each use and once a month I scrub it out and make sure the screen is clean and clear. The plastic spout makes pouring easier than unscrewing a metal top. This is the best kit by a mile! I give these cold brew kits out to friends as gifts. Once they make their own cold brew, they never again pay $4 for a cup. This setup, with the fine mesh cone filter, half gallon mason jug, and the plastic sealing lid is the best way to make cold brew. FORGET the fancy & expensive brewing systems... they're a joke compared to this easy to use kit. My preference is to use semi-coarse ground beans and luke warm filtered tap water. I fill the filter 90% full with coffee and I set the brew on the kitchen counter for 32- 48 hours. The coffee comes out strong and very flavorful. I've tried store bought stuff from several well known brands and I'm always left thinking I'm drinking colored water.... no coffee taste. Try letting yours brew for 48 hours... pull the filter up and let it drain for about 15 minutes. Mix in a little of your favorite creamer and enjoy

Excellent item, I use this for cold brew and swap out the stainless steel lid for the lid with a handle (purchased separately) when it's ready to be served up.

If you aren't in a rush for a cold brew, this is an excellent option. I usually give it 48 hours before the coffee is strong enough. Extra large well made glass container. I like that the lid has a sturdy handle. If I had one complaint it would be that the flip top on the lid doesn't snap shut to prevent spills.

Bought this for work, very happy with it. Filter mesh is top quality, everything is easy to clean as well. Make sure you get a coarse ground coffee to work the best. I have since bought another for home.

Very easy to use, good quality materials like thick glass and a tight seal. I stored it on its side in the fridge to test the seal for camping and it held up. Makes delicious cold brew. Make sure to use coarse grind or you may end up with some very very fine coffee grounds in your coffee. I find 24 hrs makes the perfect brew. I would buy again.

Works exactly as expected. Nice quality glass and plastic. Feels like it will last for a long time.