The KitchenAid 38 oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker turns out smooth, full-bodied concentrate that stays fresh for up to two weeks in the fridge. Reviewers found it easy to work with, thanks to the built-in stainless steel tap and a labeled steeper with fill indicators. Capacity is 35% larger than previous models, which gets you 19 servings per batch, though each batch takes 12+ hours of refrigeration. Cleaning is simple. The catch is that it makes concentrate only, so there are extra steps between the tap and your cup.
Full review
A steel tap that needs a firm turn
The brewer pairs a glass carafe with a brushed stainless jacket and a reusable steel steeper marked with fill lines, so batches repeat without measuring cups. It is compact enough to live in the fridge or on a counter, and the handle makes it easy to carry to a table. The tap is the weak link: it works, but it needs a firm turn to open and close, and owners report it being fiddlier when the carafe is full and under pressure.
Twelve hours in the fridge for 38 ounces
Brewing runs 12 hours or more in the refrigerator with coarsely ground coffee at roughly a 1 to 5 ratio, and the steeper saturates the grounds evenly. Draining takes about three minutes upright and another two at an angle, which is slower than it sounds when you are waiting on the first cup. The payoff is 38 ounces of concentrate that keeps for up to two weeks cold, or around 19 servings once diluted.
Concentrate only, and a modest gain on the 28-ounce model
This is a concentrate maker rather than a coffee maker, so every serving needs water, milk or ice added, and that extra step is the main reason people abandon it. The capacity gain over the previous KCM4212SX is 35 percent, which is real but not transformative, and the brewer still commits you to a half-day of lead time. Pressing the grounds down at the start is also a reliably messy moment.
Against the OXO Compact, Hario and Toddy
Neither the OXO Compact nor the Hario Mizudashi includes a built-in tap, which is this brewer's clearest practical advantage for anyone dispensing straight from the fridge. The Toddy system contains mess better with its filter setup, and the Ovalware pitcher hands you concentrate in glass rather than behind a valve. Against those, the KitchenAid trades a higher price for a sturdier build and a larger single batch.
Strengths
- +Makes up to 38 oz of coffee concentrate that stays fresh in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
- +Includes a built-in stainless steel tap for easy dispensing from refrigerator or countertop
- +Reusable stainless steel steeper with fill level indicators for consistent brewing
- +35% bigger than previous model (KCM4212SX) for larger servings
- +Easy to use, pour, and clean
Watch-outs
- −Requires 12+ hours of refrigeration for brewing
- −Only makes concentrate; needs dilution with milk, water, or ice for serving
How it compares
The KitchenAid 38-oz model excels in capacity and includes a built-in stainless steel tap for easy dispensing, features not found in the OXO Compact or Hario Mizudashi. Its 35% larger size compared to the KitchenAid 28-oz model gives it an edge in serving volume, though it shares the same 12+ hour brewing requirement. Unlike the Toddy system, it lacks a reusable filter system that prevents mess, and it doesn't produce concentrate in a glass carafe like the Ovalware pitcher.
Rating sources
“I have to say I've tried the Toddy and filtron cold brew systems and I do like the style the method of brewing and the results of kitchen AIDS version the most.”
“this has become a quick family favorite”
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
