Cold brew is almost synonymous with summer. When it warms up, everyone wants to drink their coffee cooler and the smooth, sweet, iced tones of cold brew hit the spot every single time.
Since they became one of the most popular ways for people to consume their coffee, I've been testing the best cold brew coffee makers on the market. Most of them follow a slow brewing process since traditional cold brew takes a full 24 hours to make. However, models like the Instant Cold Brewer remove all the impatience from cold brewing.
I made some close-to-perfect cold brew in just twenty minutes with the Instant. It's simple, fun, and easy to use. Is it for you though? Here's everything you need to know.
Specifications
Unboxing
The Instant Cold Brewer is one of my favorite cold brew coffee makers on the market and I knew that as soon as I unboxed it. I peeled back the plastic packaging (which is recyclable if you have a soft-plastic recycling center near you) to reveal a smart, compact coffee maker.
On the countertop, this looked modern and premium. It has all the coffee maker hallmarks – the stainless steel jug looks like a milk carafe – without drawing too much attention to itself. Aesthetically, this is very pleasing.
Who would it suit?
The Instant Cold Brewer is a model dedicated to making cold brew coffee. If that's all you drink, this slim appliance will the the perfect addition to your kitchen. It's small enough to fit any kitchens, even my small urban one.
Unlike classic cold brew coffee makers, the Instant will be ready with cold brew coffee in just twenty minutes. Which makes it perfect for impatient, or forgetful cold brew enthusiasts. There's no prep work needed days in advance. The other beauty of the Instant is how simple it is. Even first-time cold brew coffee enthusiasts will be able to make a delicious drink.
What was it like to use?
Before I made any coffee in my cold brewer, I did a few maintenance tasks. Instant recommends making sure that the brew basket's bottom cap is securely fastened (this is where you empty the grounds from) and I gave all the parts a rinse. Once it was all clean, I placed the brew basket inside the glass pitcher, by slotting it through the handle housing lid.
Once plugged in, the base lit up with different strength and temperature controls. It made a chime too, which is a fun touch, but I wonder whether some users might want to disable it, since it could disrupt a sleeping house in the morning.
To brew coffee, Instant recommends following a 14:1 water-to-coffee ratio. This means using 3.5 scoops, or 18 tsp pf coarsely ground coffee with 16 oz of water, if you want to make two servings. That's what I started off with, thinking I could adjust the consistency to suit my preferences.
I filled the pitcher with filtered water, added my coffee to the basket, inserted it into the pitcher. I did leave some coffee dust behind on the countertop, but I'd rather wipe it off there than have it sat in my cup of coffee.
I set the Instant to brew two cups of coffee and was told that it would run for 15 minutes, which is impressively speedy. True to its promise,
I wanted to check that this was as good with big batches of cold brew as it was with small servings. To make enough cold brew for four, I doubled the quantities of coffee and water that I used for two cups of coffee. This needed 20 minutes to brew, which is five minutes longer than the smaller serving, but 20 minutes is still an impressive amount of time.
Alternatively, if you enjoy the slower brewing process, the FlashExtract™ technology is impressive. You run it for five minutes on the power base and then sit it in the fridge for 12-16 hours. This slower method is undeniably smoother and sweeter, but it takes longer, of course.
The one factor worth considering is that you do need to pour from the Instant straight away. If you don't, it'll keep brewing and will stop tasting delicious.
How does it rate online?
The Instant Cold Brewer is relatively new to the market, but it's been a popular addition to the ever-expanding cold brew coffee maker offering. On Amazon, it boasts 4.3 out of 5 stars. People found it easy to use and they enjoyed the well-considered features integrated, including the basket, which is easy to clean and the carafe, which is easy to pour from.
I found a few reviews from people who struggled with cloudy coffee. Although I haven't seen them, I would put this down to the grind size, rather than any fault with the Instant. They need to be coarse. I did have some residue at the bottom of my cup, but if that bothers you, let your coffee settle before pouring from the carafe.
Purists say that they've made better coffee with overnight brewing and I would agree, but this is great if you want a quick convenient cold brew.
How does it compare?
The Instant isn't the only speedy cold brew coffee maker on the market. Shine's Rapid cold brew coffee maker does offer a similar 20-minute brewing time. I would pick the Instant over the Shine, because it feels more premium, it's nicer to use, and it's quiet. There's not really a scenario in which the Instant is bettered by the Shine.
If you're looking at the flavors, there are better cold brew coffee makers on the market. The OXO makes a flawless cup of cold brew, but you'll have to wait the full 18 hour steep time to enjoy it. It's smaller than the Instant and you can use the OXO without needing to plug it into anything too, so if you know you're a bit of a snob, this is a good investment.
Should you buy it?
The Instant Cold Brewer is perfect for a lot of cold brew coffee consumers. It's quick, simple, easy to use, and I like the modern aesthetic of it. The cold brew coffee that it makes might not be as perfect as an overnight brewer, but for the price and speed, it's excellent.
