SCIDEA Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, 1 Quart 32oz Mason Jar Thick Durable Glass with Stainless Filter for Iced Coffee, Tea, Fruit Drinks, with Pour Spout Lid, No Leak Design

The first night I got the cold coffee brewer I read the instructions and it said to put in ¼ coffee to water- my advice is to try that out first and then adjust it to your liking. I have never been able to make cold coffee with anything else I used in the past so after I set it up the first night I was excited to see the product work (because, for the most part, Amazon products have begun to amaze me with what they can do). And, while the coffee set (brewed) overnight, in the morning, even though 24 hours had not passed (in the instructions they tell you to let it sit 24 hours (and not longer) I didn’t drink it right away- I let it sit for another couple days (I didn’t follow instructions).

While I did fill up the filter with ¼ coffee (as instructed) it really did seem like a lot and I thought it would be too strong. However, when I mixed it with milk and sugar (on about the third day it was in there- and you only have to wait 24 hours, usually) and then drank it- it tasted just like the cold coffees I buy over the counter at grocery stores and gas stations- amazingly good, just like the really expensive stuff that, at times, is too expensive to get all the time. More or less lately I buy it as a treat for myself and it has never been something I could have every day. Now I can make it at home for the cost of the cold coffee maker (just once) and with all the items I have at home for hot coffee (but I have to buy milk, which I don’t use with hot coffee).

This product just made cold coffee very affordable for me- like every day, all the time affordable. I can have as much as I want as long as I take a small amount of time to throw the coffee and the water inside before I go to sleep. And just to let everyone know- it does not have to sit as long as I had left it- the directions say not to let it sit over 24 hours. Initially, I was going to throw out what I made and let sit, but I decided to try it first, to see if I had added too much coffee within my initial use. And actually, there was nothing wrong with it- it was actually extraordinary even after having let it sit that long (and don’t do what I did the first time, I just forgot about it).

While I drink cold coffee with milk and sugar, my preference is not the same, when the coffee is served hot. I had no issues in adding the sugar and milk to the pitcher (after it brewed for a time), then putting on the lid and shaking it. Actually, I made it perfect the very first time which was something I didn’t expect. I didn’t expect making my favorite, “very expensive” drink would and could be so easy. One thing everyone should know- since you are using more coffee (than you use to make a hot cup of coffee) to make this drink it does have more of a caffeine “kick” to it- so you are going to end up more caffeinated than a normal cup of coffee or even with the drinks you buy inside the store.

The brush that comes to wash the item is large and I actually use it for a few other items in the kitchen that need to be washed with something like that but didn’t come with a wash brush, like the cold coffee maker does. And I like manufacturers who, now, think of the “clean up” and give customers what they need when they purchase an item- rather than make us go out and buy more and more products- which, most times, many people never get around to doing (and then you sometimes don’t even use the first product, having not got all the things you need for it, like a brush to wash something).

The first time I cleaned the filter that comes with the cold coffee carafe I was shocked at how thick it was. If you take a look at the pictures I included maybe you can tell. However, no coffee grounds are getting through this baby. Even when you wash the thing, all the coffee grounds come out of the inside, and none leak through. This makes it a good product and tells the customer that it was designed with care and designed to work.

While you would think that about everything you buy, that people design products to work as best they can, as a customer, you know that is often not true. Sometimes things are designed improperly because of cost, and sometimes it is a lack of knowing how the product works (or caring). But I can tell someone put a lot of time and care into the design of this product (as simple as it is) to provide the best one possible. It really shows when you use the product too, how good it works. Cause there were absolutely no grounds in my cold coffee- check out the picture I included!

I also love everything about the cold coffee maker- you can add milk and sugar to the mason jar, put the top on, and shake it for a better mix. And, you can do that without making a mess all over yourself and all over the kitchen. That the process is so darn easy and the fact that the cold coffee maker will save me A LOT of money- of course I like that best. And the fact I can have my favorite drink whenever I want without having to leave the house.

Normally the cold coffee I buy from the store in those little bottles is really expensive- and it adds up. And now, since I buy coffee anyway (to drink it hot), I’m not spending all that much more- actually I just use the same coffee I have for my Keurig insert. And another thought just came to me- I can actually make cold coffee out of any blend I buy- one of which is dark coffee, something I have never tried- cold, dark coffee with milk and sugar- and peppermint, in the Winter when they come out.

I would have loved to get this cold coffee maker as a gift, whether for a birthday or holiday. Even for a wedding, if you want something inexpensive (for any reason), this is the way to go. While you may think not every person would be thrilled to get this as a gift (as there are no bells and whistles on it, it is quite a simple product) the fact remains that when they make their first cup of cold coffee they will love it as I do. You can’t not love the brewer because it works so well! And if you look at my photos you can see some of the first cold coffee I made (know it was good)! And really caffeinated- all this took me no time to write at all! 😉

No matter what size you get this product is worth it! I got the large, 64 oz and it was really big, IDK if you can tell in the picture I included. But, when I looked at the Amazon photo, I think they picture the 32 oz. (which is also a size they offer, the small one) however, I wanted this cold coffee maker in the largest size I could get. And, when it got here, I was surprised and quite happy- that I could brew so much cold coffee and still have lots of room for milk and sugar to store in the fridge until drunk. This product is also a direct hit for cold coffee drinkers like me- they will love to have a product that works this well, just as I did.

Sorry this was so long, it really was a reflection of my love of this great cold coffee maker!

I have a very expensive Starbucks habit, so in order to save some money I wanted to try my hand at cold brew. This is a really cool kit that comes with everything you need (minus the actual coffee grinds)… it even comes with an instructional booklet. It’s very easy: the ratio of water to coffee grinds is 4:1 (or adjustable to what you like). The 64 oz holds 6 cups, so I put in 1.5 cups of coffee grinds with 6 cups of water. The thing about that is the coffee grinds actually sit higher than the water, so I tightened the top and shook it to make the coffee grinds completely wet. I was a little nervous putting the coffee in at night with how pale it looked, but the next morning the coffee was a deep, rich, dark brown/black color. It was smooth, nutty (pecan) and refreshing. You unscrew the lid, pull out the mesh and rescrew the top and you’re set with your cold brew!

So the 64 oz jar is pretty heavy and thick, since it’s made of glass. The lid, in comparison, is a little thin and wasn’t as sturdy as I would’ve liked to hold the jar, the coffee and the grinds. But overall, it was leakproof and did a great job. I do like that since it’s glass, the coffee doesn’t stain the container over time. And of course the best part, everything is dishwasher safe.

If you’re interested in making more cold brew at home, this is a great starter tool. Personally, cold brew was a little too acidic for my stomach (especially first thing in the morning), but I’m excited to use this as an iced tea pitcher in the near future.