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Cold brew has to sit for hours, which sounds like a hassle until you realize that’s what makes it great for prepping ahead. I filled the MAVO Crysbrick, tucked it away, and when I peeked a couple of hours later I could already see it brewing.
MAVO sent me the Crysbrick to try. The directions are really clear, the coffee tasted just how I like it, and I’d suggest it to anyone who makes iced coffee at home.
Quick Verdict
- Buy it if: you want iced coffee ready to pour without making it every morning
- Skip it if: you want your coffee five minutes after you think of it
- My favorite feature: coffee that’s already cold when it hits the ice
- Would I buy again? Yes
Why Cold Brew Doesn’t Water Down Your Iced Coffee
Pour hot coffee over ice and the ice melts right away, so your drink gets watery fast. Cold brew steeps cold the whole time, so it’s already chilled when you pour it. The ice stays put.
MAVO Crysbrick 27oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker
A 27oz cold brew pitcher with a removable fine mesh filter, a leak-proof lid and measurements printed on the side.
MAVO Crysbrick Cold Brew Maker Specs
- Capacity: 27oz
- Pitcher: Tritan plastic
- Filter: removable 350-mesh fine filter, with a pull handle
- Lid: leak-proof seal
- Markings: milliliter lines on the side
- Brews: coffee or tea
- Cleaning: dishwasher-safe Tritan body
Is a Cold Brew Maker Good for Meal Prep?
Yes, and that’s why I like it. Say it’s Sunday night: get a batch soaking and you’ve got coffee ready for a few days. I don’t drink a ton of it, so the full 27oz should last me a while, and it fits nicely in my fridge door while it soaks.
And if Sunday is when you plan the week’s food too, I built a meal planner app that saves recipes from websites and builds the shopping list.
If you’ve set up a little coffee station at home, like the farmhouse coffee bar cabinet I put together, this is an easy add.
How Do You Use the MAVO Cold Brew Maker?
I pulled the filter out first. It has a little handle, and the measurements on the side make the water part easy. I filled it to about 500 ml, and the coffee was math I needed help with: for a medium brew, that’s about six and a half tablespoons. My scoop holds two tablespoons, so a little over three scoops. Play around with it until you find your sweet spot.
Scooping right into the filter worked pretty perfectly with no spills. If you do drop some grounds, the STARUMENT hand vacuum I keep for my coffee bar picks them right up. Then the filter goes back in and the lid twists on, which took two hands, and then it sat for about eight hours.
What I Noticed When It Was Ready
- A few drinks per batch: that amount makes about three iced coffees if you drink it black. With creamer or as an iced latte, which is how I’ll usually have it, you’ll get more.
- The strength: I tried it black to see. I’d definitely add creamer, but it’s good, and it’s just the strength I’d want whether my coffee is hot or cold.
- Cleanup: pull the filter out by its handle and dump the grounds. Some people compost them. The pitcher opens on both ends too, so you can really get in there to clean it. That was really good thinking.
Little Things I Liked
- The directions are really clear
- The milliliter lines mean no guessing on water
Good to Know Before You Order
- Plan ahead. It needs about 6 to 8 hours to steep before it’s ready.
- Your first round is a starting point. Next time, add or cut coffee until the strength is right for you.
Common Questions About Making Cold Brew
How long does cold brew keep in the fridge?
Breville says homemade cold brew holds up for about 5 to 7 days in the fridge and tastes best in the first day or two. If you’ve already mixed in milk or creamer, finish it within 2 to 3 days.
Is cold brew less acidic than hot coffee?
Not really. In lab tests, cold and hot coffee came out at nearly the same pH, and the hot coffee actually had a little more of the measurable acids.
Does cold brew have more caffeine than hot coffee?
It can. In one lab test using the same amount of coffee and water, coarse-ground cold brew ended up with more caffeine than French press coffee. How strong your glass is still comes down to how much coffee you use and how much you dilute it.
What grind should I use for cold brew?
Go coarse, about what you’d use in a French press. Coarse grounds strain out easier and are less likely to turn bitter while they steep.
Other Cold Brew Makers to Compare
- Takeya Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1 Quart: A Tritan pitcher with a removable fine-mesh filter and an airtight twist lid. It holds a little more than the 27oz MAVO, and Takeya’s directions call for a 24-hour steep in the fridge.
- OXO Brew Cold Brew Coffee Maker: A countertop brewer that makes concentrate. Water rains over the grounds, they steep 12 to 24 hours, and a switch drains the coffee into a 32 oz glass carafe that you top up with water or milk.
- Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker, 1000ml: A heatproof glass pot with a reusable filter and a slim spout for pouring. It’s dishwasher safe and holds about 33.8 oz. Go this way if you’d rather brew in glass than plastic.
Would I Make It Again?
Yes. It brewed the coffee cold just like it should, and it’s a nice way to make some ahead and have it for several days.
Where To Buy
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