Best Coffee Maker For Hot And Cold Brew: 5 Tested Picks Compared

If you love a hot cup in the morning but switch to iced coffee when the weather warms up, you probably want one machine that handles both. A good hot and cold brew coffee maker can save counter space, cut down on gadgets, and give you smooth cold brew without waiting a full day for it to steep. The catch is that not every machine on the market does both jobs well. Some are built for hot coffee and only offer iced coffee as an afterthought. Others focus on cold brew and can’t make a hot cup at all. This guide covers five popular options so you can see where each one fits, what it does best, and where it falls short.

Quick Comparison

Our Picks: Best Coffee Maker For Hot And Cold Brew reviews

Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker With Rapid Cold Brew: The Most Versatile All-Rounder

The Ninja CM371 is the most flexible machine in this group. It offers four brew styles: Classic, Rich, Over Ice, and Cold Brew. That range means you can make a hot morning cup, a bolder afternoon coffee, or a glass of iced coffee without switching equipment. The Cold Brew setting produces a chilled cup in as little as 10 minutes, which is much faster than the overnight steeping most people associate with cold brew.

Size control is one of the machine’s strongest features. You get eight brew sizes, from a small cup to an XL travel size, and you can pick a quarter, half, or full carafe. This flexibility matters if you brew for yourself on weekdays and for a small group on weekends. Instead of wasting coffee on a full pot, you can brew only what you need.

The removable water reservoir uses auto-metering, so the machine senses how much water you’ve added. Many owners appreciate not having to measure water each morning. The thermal flavor extraction system is designed to control temperature and saturate the grounds evenly, which supports a consistent cup. The 24-hour delay brew is handy if you like to wake up to fresh hot coffee.

In everyday use, the main trade-off is complexity. Four brew styles and eight sizes give you plenty of control, but they also mean more buttons and more settings to learn. Some people will use three or four settings and ignore the rest. The rapid cold brew method is also a different process from a long, slow steep. It makes a smooth, convenient cup, but some drinkers who prefer the deep, mellow profile of overnight cold brew may notice a difference.

Compared with the other choices here, the CM371 is the best fit for a household that wants one machine to handle nearly every coffee style. It does not offer a frother, and it does not accept pods, so milk drink fans and pod users may prefer the DualBrew instead.

Pros:

• Four brew styles cover hot, bold, iced, and cold brew coffee.
• Eight brew sizes and carafe options reduce waste for single cups and larger batches.
• Rapid cold brew is ready in about 10 minutes.
• Auto-metering reservoir removes the need to measure water.

Cons:

• Many settings take time to learn, and some are rarely needed.
• Rapid cold brew may taste different from traditional overnight steeping.

Verdict: If you want one machine that handles hot coffee, iced coffee, and cold brew with plenty of size options, the Ninja CM371 is a strong and flexible choice. It is best for people who enjoy adjusting their brew and want a fast cold brew option.

Ninja DualBrew Grounds & Pods Hot & Iced Coffee Maker: Best for Milk Drinks and Pods

The DualBrew is a larger, more feature-rich machine. It brews from ground coffee or from pods, using a pod adapter that comes in the box. That makes it a good match for households where one person likes fresh grounds and another prefers the convenience of pods. The 14-cup glass carafe gives you room for a full pot, and the 70-ounce removable reservoir means fewer trips to the sink.

Five brew styles cover Classic, Rich, Over Ice, Specialty, and Cold Brew. The programmable settings let you adjust strength, size, and temperature. This level of control is useful if you like to fine-tune your cup. The rapid cold brew setting takes 10 to 20 minutes, so you do not need to plan a day ahead.

The built-in foldaway frother is the feature that sets this machine apart. It can create café-style drinks with dairy or plant-based milk. It will not replace a dedicated espresso machine or a high-end steam wand, but it covers lattes and cappuccino-style drinks for everyday use. Many owners appreciate having that option without buying a separate milk frother.

The intelligent warming plate can keep coffee warm for up to four hours, which helps when a pot sits out during a long morning. Removable, dishwasher-safe parts make cleaning easier, although a machine with this many components still has more pieces to rinse and dry than a simpler brewer.

Compared with the CM371, the DualBrew offers more milk-drink and pod options but has a bigger footprint and more parts. It is a better fit for families and frequent milk drink makers than for someone who only wants a simple iced coffee.

Pros:

• Brews from grounds or pods, with an adapter included.
• Built-in foldaway frother makes milk-based drinks at home.
• Large 14-cup carafe and 70-ounce reservoir suit bigger batches.
• Rapid cold brew is ready in 10 to 20 minutes.

Cons:

• More components and accessories mean more to clean and store.

Verdict: The Ninja DualBrew is a strong pick for households that want hot coffee, iced coffee, cold brew, and milk drinks in one machine. It is best for people who use both grounds and pods or who make frothed milk drinks regularly.

QHH Cold Brew Coffee Maker: A Simple Glass Pitcher for Cold Brew Only

The QHH is not a coffee machine in the usual sense. It is a 64-ounce glass mason jar pitcher with a stainless steel filter, designed for steeping coffee in cold water in your refrigerator. Because it cannot brew hot coffee, it belongs on this list only as a cold brew option. If you want one device for both hot and iced coffee, look at the Ninja or Mr. Coffee models instead.

The product’s most important safety point is temperature. The maker states that the maximum safe operating temperature is 60°C (140°F), so you should not pour boiling water into it. Avoid moving it quickly from hot to cold, since sudden temperature shifts can crack glass. Keep this in mind if you plan to make hot coffee and then transfer it to this pitcher.

The lid has a pour spout and a flip cap, and it uses a silicone seal to limit spills and help keep odors out of the fridge. The thick handle gives a firm grip, which helps when you pour a full pitcher. The 160-micron stainless steel filter is designed to keep grounds out of your cold brew while letting the flavor through. The wide mouth makes filling and cleaning easier than with a narrow bottle.

Users who want a simple, low-tech cold brew method often find this approach easy to understand. You add coarse grounds and cold water, let it steep in the fridge, and then strain. The downside is time. Cold steeping usually takes many hours, so you need to plan ahead. Anyone who wants a cold brew in minutes will be better served by the Ninja models.

Compared with the other picks, the QHH is the most basic. It has fewer features and no heating or brewing controls, but it does one job in a clear way. It suits people who already have a hot brewer and want a separate jar for cold brew.

Pros:

• Large 64-ounce glass pitcher holds plenty of cold brew for several days.
• Stainless steel filter is designed to block grounds and can strain tea or other drinks.
• Wide mouth and flip-cap lid make filling, pouring, and storage easy.
• Can be washed by hand or placed in the dishwasher, according to the product details.

Cons:

• Cannot brew hot coffee, and glass should not be exposed to boiling water or sudden temperature changes.

Verdict: The QHH is a practical, straightforward cold brew pitcher for people who want a simple way to make cold coffee at home. It is not a true hot and cold brewer, so choose it only if you already own a hot coffee maker or you mainly drink cold coffee.

Mr. Coffee Hot & Cold Brew Coffee Maker & Tea Brewer: Strong Temperature Control for Coffee and Tea

The Mr. Coffee brewer combines a single-serve maker, a carafe brewer, a cold brew option, and a tea brewer in one unit. You choose a beverage first, such as express cold brew, hot coffee, or one of four tea settings, and then choose a size. Single-serve options are 8, 12, or 16 ounces, and the carafe holds 8 cups.

The strongest feature here is temperature control. The machine states that it adjusts to the Specialty Coffee Association recommended brew range of 194°F to 205°F, and it also adjusts for the selected tea type. It uses volumetric water and time control to dispense a set amount of water for each setting. This precision is useful if you care about consistent flavor from one cup to the next.

The machine has seven brew settings, which gives it more range than a basic drip maker. Tea drinkers will find it especially helpful, since it adjusts for different tea types rather than forcing one temperature for everything. The express cold brew setting offers a quicker route to chilled coffee than a long steep.

There are a few details to watch. The red plug inside the water reservoir must be removed before first use, and it is easy to overlook. The warming plate works only when the carafe size is selected and the carafe is in place. The total water capacity is 40 ounces, which is smaller than the Ninja DualBrew’s 70-ounce reservoir. That makes it less ideal for big households that brew several full pots in a row.

Compared with the Ninja machines, the Mr. Coffee brewer has fewer size options and a smaller tank, but it offers more focused temperature control and a tea setting. It fits well in a kitchen where coffee and tea are both daily habits.

Pros:

• Seven brew settings cover coffee, express cold brew, and tea.
• Automatically adjusts to the SCA-recommended brew temperature range for coffee.
• Single-serve and 8-cup carafe options fit different daily routines.
• Volumetric water control dispenses a consistent amount for each setting.

Cons:

• The 40-ounce water capacity is smaller than some competing machines, and the warming plate only works with the carafe in place.

Verdict: The Mr. Coffee Hot & Cold Brew Coffee Maker is a versatile choice for people who want precise temperature control and a tea setting alongside hot and cold coffee. It suits small to medium households more than large families that brew big batches.

Keurig K-Iced Single Serve Coffee Maker: Fast Iced Coffee for One

The Keurig K-Iced is a single-serve machine built around speed and convenience. It brews hot coffee and iced coffee, and its Brew Over Ice setting starts hotter to pull out flavor, then cools down to limit ice melt. The Strong Brew option gives a more intense hot cup. Three cup sizes, 8, 10, and 12 ounces, cover everything from a quick espresso-style serving to a larger iced drink.

It is important to know that this machine does not make true cold brew. Cold brew is steeped in cold water over a long period, or steeped quickly with a dedicated method. The K-Iced hot-brews coffee and adjusts the temperature so the drink can be served over ice. The result is a fast iced coffee, not a smooth, low-acid cold brew concentrate. If cold brew flavor is your main goal, one of the other picks will serve you better.

The 42-ounce removable reservoir lets you brew up to four cups before refilling. The removable drip tray is designed to fit tumblers and travel mugs up to 7 inches tall and collects spills during brewing. The auto-off feature shuts the machine down five minutes after the last brew, which helps save energy when you forget to switch it off.

Many owners appreciate being able to use their own ground coffee with the My K-Cup Universal Coffee Filter, which is sold separately. This adds flexibility and can reduce pod costs over time. The machine does have a single-serve focus, so it is not practical for brewing a full pot for guests. Availability can also change, and the listing may show this model as unavailable at times, so check the page for current stock.

Pros:

• Brew Over Ice setting produces iced coffee with a hot-brew flavor profile.
• Three cup sizes and a Strong Brew option offer useful control for single servings.
• Removable drip tray fits tall tumblers and travel mugs up to 7 inches.
• Works with K-Cup pods or your own grounds when you use the My K-Cup filter.

Cons:

• Does not produce true cold brew, and it is designed for one cup at a time.

Verdict: The Keurig K-Iced is a good option if you want fast, single-serve hot and iced coffee and do not need a carafe. It is not the right choice for true cold brew lovers, but it is a convenient daily machine for one or two people.

How to Choose the Best Hot and Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Choosing the right machine starts with understanding how you drink coffee. Some people want a hot cup at 6 a.m., iced coffee at lunch, and cold brew in the afternoon. Others mostly drink cold coffee and only need hot coffee for an occasional cup. The answer shapes which type of machine makes sense, so think about your daily routine before you compare features.

Hot Brewing, Cold Brewing, or Both

The first question is whether you need a true hot and cold brewer or a machine that does one job well. A combined machine like the Ninja CM371 or Mr. Coffee brewer saves counter space and money on a second appliance. A dedicated cold brew pitcher like the QHH is simpler and works well if you already own a hot coffee maker. Keep in mind that cold brew and iced coffee are different. Iced coffee is hot coffee cooled over ice, while cold brew is made with cold or room-temperature water over time or through a fast cold-brew method. If you want the smooth, mellow taste of cold brew, look for a machine with a dedicated cold brew setting.

Batch Size and Number of Cups

Think about how much coffee you usually make. A single-serve machine like the Keurig K-Iced is ideal for one or two people who want a cup at a time. Carafe machines are better for households and guests. The Ninja DualBrew offers a 14-cup carafe and a 70-ounce reservoir, which suits busy mornings. The Ninja CM371 gives you quarter, half, and full carafe options, which helps you avoid brewing more coffee than you need. Make sure the reservoir size matches your routine so you do not have to refill the tank several times in one morning.

Cold Brew Method and Timing

Traditional cold brew steeps grounds in cold water for many hours, often overnight. This method is simple but requires planning. Rapid cold brew systems, like those in the Ninja models, can produce a chilled cup in 10 to 20 minutes. Rapid methods are much more convenient, but they can taste different from a long steep. If you enjoy the classic overnight style, a pitcher like the QHH may suit you better, even though it takes longer. Think about whether speed or flavor matters more to you.

Milk Drinks, Frothers, and Pods

If you like lattes or cappuccino-style drinks, a built-in frother can be a real convenience. The Ninja DualBrew includes a foldaway frother that works with dairy or plant-based milk. You should also consider whether you prefer grounds or pods. Machines that accept both give you flexibility, while pod-only machines are simpler but can cost more per cup over time. The Keurig K-Iced can use your own grounds with the My K-Cup filter, which gives you another way to save.

Temperature Control and Flavor Consistency

Brew temperature affects flavor. If the water is too cool, coffee can taste weak and sour. If it is too hot, it can taste bitter. Machines with set temperature control, such as the Mr. Coffee brewer that targets the SCA-recommended range, aim to make consistent cups. Ninja’s thermal flavor extraction is designed for even saturation and temperature control. Look for these features if you want the same taste every day without adjusting the machine.

Cleaning, Maintenance, and Storage

A machine you dislike cleaning will end up sitting unused. Look for removable reservoirs, dishwasher-safe parts, and simple filter systems. The Ninja DualBrew’s removable parts are dishwasher-safe, which helps with upkeep. The QHH pitcher is easy to fill and can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher, but glass requires careful handling. Also consider the space you have. Larger machines with carafes and frothers need more counter room and cabinet storage. Measure your space before you buy.

Glass, Plastic, and Durability

Materials affect how a machine lasts and how safe it is to use with hot and cold liquids. Glass pitchers look attractive and do not hold odors, but they can crack with sudden temperature changes. The QHH’s glass body is meant for cold brewing, and its maximum temperature limit is clear. Machines with glass carafes need gentle handling as well. Read care instructions carefully and avoid moving hot glass into the fridge or cold glass onto a hot surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can one machine really make both hot coffee and true cold brew?

Yes, some machines can. The Ninja Hot & Iced XL and the Ninja DualBrew both list a Cold Brew setting alongside hot brew styles. The Mr. Coffee brewer offers an express cold brew setting. These machines use rapid methods, which are faster than traditional overnight steeping. If you want the classic overnight flavor, a separate cold brew pitcher may still be the better choice.

Is iced coffee the same as cold brew?

No. Iced coffee is hot coffee brewed and then cooled, often over ice. Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water, either over a long period or with a faster cold-brew method. The two drinks often taste different. Iced coffee tends to be brighter and sharper, while cold brew is usually smoother and less acidic.

Why can’t I pour boiling water into the QHH cold brew pitcher?

The product’s guidance says the maximum safe operating temperature is 60°C (140°F). Boiling water and sudden temperature changes can crack the glass. Let hot liquids cool before adding them, and avoid moving the pitcher quickly between hot and cold conditions. This is a practical safety step, not just a suggestion.

Do I need to remove anything before using the Mr. Coffee brewer for the first time?

Yes. The product notes say the red plug must be removed from the water reservoir before first use. Check the reservoir before brewing your first cup. The product manual has more detail on setup, usage, and troubleshooting.

Can I use my own ground coffee in the Keurig K-Iced?

Yes, if you buy the My K-Cup Universal Coffee Filter, which is sold separately. It lets you brew with your own ground coffee instead of pods. Using the filter gives you more control over the coffee you use, though you will still brew one cup at a time.

Which machine is best if I want to make milk-based drinks?

The Ninja DualBrew is the strongest option in this group for milk drinks. It includes a foldaway frother that can create café-style drinks with dairy or plant-based milk. It is not a replacement for an espresso machine, but it covers most everyday latte and cappuccino-style drinks.

How long does a rapid cold brew take compared with traditional cold brew?

The Ninja CM371 states that its cold brew can be ready in as little as 10 minutes. The Ninja DualBrew lists 10 to 20 minutes. Traditional cold brew usually takes many hours, often overnight. The rapid methods save time, but the flavor may differ from a long, slow steep.

Final Recommendation

For most people who want one machine for hot coffee, iced coffee, and cold brew, the Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew (CM371) is the best all-around pick. It offers four brew styles, eight sizes, and a quick cold brew option that fits busy schedules. If you also make milk drinks or use pods, the Ninja DualBrew Grounds & Pods model is worth the extra space and parts. Tea lovers who want precise temperature control will find the Mr. Coffee Hot & Cold Brew Coffee Maker & Tea Brewer a strong match. The QHH pitcher is a simple, practical choice if you only need cold brew and already own a hot brewer. The Keurig K-Iced suits people who want fast single cups of hot or iced coffee, though it is not a true cold brew machine. Match your choice to how you actually drink coffee, and you will get a machine you use every day.