THE TODDY COLD BREW SYSTEM: A LOOK BACK TO A COFFEE CLASSIC

Is the Toddy Cold Brew System the answer to finding the best way to make a smooth and refreshing cold brew at home?

Photo: Steven Holms (Home Brews Coffee video reviewer)

It certainly has its charms, allowing you to brew more coffee with less work. In this Toddy Cold Brew System review, I’ll look at this brewer in-depth to see what makes it stand out from the crowd and whether it’s worth your time and money.

A Full Review of the Toddy Cold Brew System

Cold brew coffee might seem like a recent coffee shop trend – its popularity is at an all-time high – but it’s actually an old-school brewing method (1). The original Toddy was released in the 1960s! 

Does that long history give this brewer an edge? Or is it stuck in the past, unable to keep up with the modern-day best cold brew coffee makers? That was the main question I set out to answer as I tested the Toddy for this review.

How We Rated It

• Ease Of Use
• Quality of Brew
• Capacity
• Price

4.6

• See On Amazon

Design Features And Aesthetics

I wouldn’t describe the Toddy brewer as beautiful by any means (it’s been aptly described as looking like a bucket sitting on a pickle jar), but the aesthetics are simple and inoffensive. It’s a practical design that I stash in the cupboard when not in use, not a countertop showpiece.

Upon unboxing, I faced an impressive array of components and accessories. The main pieces are the plastic brewing chamber and lid, the glass carafe, and the silicone stopper. I also found two felt filters, three paper filter bags, and a plastic lid for the carafe.

The Toddy is fairly compact when brewing because there is no need to add the carafe until you’re ready to drain the finished product. I like that it allows me to brew on the counter or in the fridge, which is a nice way to control brew timing.

Filter Material And Why It Matters

The Toddy comes with two types of filters: cloth and paper. You can brew with just the cloth filter, or you can add a paper filter bag for the dual-filtration method. In my experience, the flavors are quite similar, but the body of the coffee changes.

I prefer the cloth filter-only method, which yields a smooth and clean cup with a slightly heavier body. Even without the paper filter, I didn’t notice any sediment in my cup. But if you prefer to use a finer grind size, which can be helpful when extracting lighter roasts, you might want to experiment with the paper filter bags.

How Do You Use The Toddy Cold Brew System?

The Toddy was originally designed with only the felt filter, and that’s the set-up I prefer. If you want to try the dual-filtration method, this Toddy cold brew recipe lays out the process in detail.

Here are my steps: 

1. Assemble the brewing chamber by adding the stopper and then the felt filter.
2. Add 12 ounces of coarsely ground coffee to the chamber.
3. Add 64 ounces of cool, filtered water. Toddy advises against stirring, which can cause fines to settle and clog the cloth filter. So make sure you pour the water to saturate all the coffee grounds. 
4. Steep for 8 to 24 hours. The timing varies according to your brewing temperature and choice of coffee beans. In my experience, the full 24 hours is useful for brewing medium or light roasts in the fridge, while a dark roast brewed on the counter can be as quick as 8 hours.
5. Remove the stopper and immediately slot the brew chamber onto the glass carafe. Let the coffee drain. I found this can take as long as 20 minutes.

My Only Complaint

A small flaw in this design is that you must remove the stopper from the base of the chamber before placing it on the carafe. Which means you’re bound to spill some concentrate in the process. Just keep a cloth handy to wipe up or perform the whole process in your sink. 

The OXO Good Grips Brewer solves this problem nicely with a brew-release switch, and I’d love to see Toddy incorporate something similar.

But in any case you can take a look at our table below and compare the Toddy with other cold brewers to see what suits you most.

	Reviewed Item
Brand	Toddy	OXO	Hario	Takeya	Goat Story
Model	Cold Brew System	Good Grips Cold Brew Coffee Maker	Mizudashi Cold Brew Pot	Cold Brew Pitcher	Cold Brew Kit
Device type	Coffee concentrate maker	Coffee concentrate maker	All-in-one cold brew pitcher	All-in-one cold brew pitcher	All-in-one cold brew pitcher
Brew style	Immersion	Immersion	Immersion	Immersion	Immersion
Maximum capacity	64 oz	40 oz	34 oz	32 oz	34 oz
Maximum brew	36-40 oz concentrate	24-28 oz concentrate	28 oz cold brew	18-22 oz concentrate	16 oz cold brew
# of servings	18-20	12-14	3-5	9-11	2-4
Filter material	Felt	Stainless steel mesh	Nylon mesh	Nylon mesh	Nylon mesh
Brewer material	BPA-Free plastic	BPA-Free plastic	Glass, BPA-Free plastic	Tritan plastic	Glass, BPA-Free plastic
Brew time	8 - 24 hours	12 - 24 hours	8 - 24 hours	12 - 24 hours	12 - 24 hours
Dimensions	7.25"D x 7.25"W x 12.5"H	9.53"D x 9.53"W x 14.72"H	4.72"D x 4.33"W x 11.81"H	5"D x 7.5"W x 9.5"H	3.5"D x 3.5"W x 7"H
Warranty	1 year	2 years	90 days	Lifetime	1 year
Current price	$49.00	$51.50	$21.95	$19.21	$27.13 (includes coffee)
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

What is the best grind for the Toddy Cold Brewer?

The best grind for cold brewing is a coarse grind. Too fine a grind can lead to over-extraction and bitterness due to the long brewing times. I usually go a step or two coarser on my grinder than I would use for French press. However, unlike the many cold brew coffee makers that use mesh filters, the cloth and/or paper filter of the Toddy allows you to go a bit finer with the grind if you prefer. Just ensure you adjust the brew time accordingly.

How Does The Cold Brew Taste?

Toddy cold brew is delicious, among the best-tasting of all the cold brewers I’ve tried. And I’ve been testing a lot of them lately! I’m not alone in this opinion. Many specialty cafes use Toddy’s commercial systems for their in-house cold brew.

In general, cold brew is very smooth because the cool water fails to extract many of the acidic and bitter flavor chemicals found in hot coffee (2). This isn’t universally positive, as cold brewing can temper the flavor complexity of a coffee bean – turning an exotic single-origin into something muted and one-note.

I credit the cloth filter, which allows enough coffee oils into the cup to enhance body and flavor while yielding a grit-free brew. Plus, the single or dual filtration options give you more leeway to experiment with grind sizes and brew times to optimize extraction for different beans.

How Much Cold Brew Can You Make With The Toddy?

The Toddy has a total capacity of 64 ounces. The size was chosen to accommodate 12 ounces of ground coffee because many brands sell their coffee in 12-ounce bags. I appreciate these sorts of thoughtful, practical design decisions. Anyone without a kitchen scale can just buy a 12-ounce bag of coffee and brew it all. Easy!

Using 12 ounces of coffee, I add 64 ounces of water, which yields about 38 ounces of concentrate. I also experimented with brewing a full pound of coffee and adding 72 ounces of water. It’s possible, but it really maxes out the brewer. So be cautious not to spill.

Cold Brew Coffee Vs Coffee Concentrate

You should dilute cold brew concentrate before serving, usually with cold water, hot water, or milk. I typically use a 1:2 ratio, so I’ll combine 3 ounces of coffee concentrate and 6 ounces of water for a perfect cup. You can experiment with other ratios to your taste.

You can also use the Toddy to brew cold brew coffee that doesn’t require dilution. Use 4 to 6 ounces of ground coffee and 64 ounces of water in the brewing chamber, and brew normally. 

Remember that cold brew coffee doesn’t keep in the fridge as long as the concentrate. I store cold brew concentrate for up to two weeks, but once diluted, it’s best to consume it within two days.

Is The Toddy Cold Brew System Worth The Price?

Value for money can be tricky to decipher for cold brewers because even the most expensive are very affordable. The Toddy costs about $50, which includes a 1-year warranty and a 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. You only need to make a few batches of cold brew concentrate to make it cheaper than regularly visiting the coffee shop.

The main reasons the Toddy costs more than the cheaper models are size and convenience, so it’s worth the cost if you make cold brew often. On the other hand, if you prefer to enjoy an occasional cold coffee on only the hottest days, I’ve got some cheaper suggestions for you below.

One additional cost of the Toddy is buying replacement felt filters. Toddy recommends replacing the filter every 10-12 brews or every three months, whichever comes first. But as is always true in these cases, I’ve been pushing that to every six months without consequences. 

You can extend the filter’s life with these good hygiene tips from Stumptown’s Brent Wolczynski (3).

The felt filters come in packs of two, which cost around $10. The paper filter bags are single-use.

Don’t Buy The Toddy Cold Brew System If…

• You prefer something more compact: The Toddy System is a fairly efficient design but isn’t exactly space-saving. If you want something more compact, check out the simple Bodum Bean Cold Brewer. It looks like a squat French press and has a 51-ounce capacity. Alternatively, consider the innovative KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker. It’s not small, but its smart cubic shape and cold-brew-dispensing tap make it a convenient fit in the fridge.
• You want to save money: If budget is a priority, you can brew cold coffee with just a Mason jar and a filter. But I’d suggest spending a touch more for the Hario Mizudashi or  Takeya cold brewer. Both are all-in-one cold brew pitchers that run less than half the cost of the Toddy,
• You prefer Kyoto-style slow-drip cold brew: Kyoto-style cold brewing isn’t as beginner-friendly as immersion-style, but it produces an unparalleled smooth and complex brew. If that’s what you’re after, you can either go big with the towering Yama Glass brewer or keep it simple with the Hario Shizuku.

The Verdict

The Toddy Cold Brew System is an awesome brewer. In my experience, it produces a hefty amount of excellent, smooth, flavorful coffee with minimal effort. It’s hard to ask for much more than that from any coffee maker! I’d happily recommend it to any cold brew enthusiast who’s sick of emptying their wallet at the coffee shop all summer.

SEE ON AMAZON