Would you buy a machine that only made cold coffee?
- Sarah Rainey tries out a range of dedicated machines for making iced coffee
- READ MORE: Shoppers are getting their caffeine fix for less with this £24.99 iced coffee machine - now 44% off at Amazon
On hot, drowsy days, an iced coffee is the perfect pick-me-up. But your cold coffee will set you back up to £5 a time from your local coffee shop.
So it will come as good news to some that there is now a range of dedicated machines for making the perfect iced coffee at home.
But is it really worth the space on your kitchen countertop? Sarah Rainey puts them to the test . . .
Sarah Rainey tried out a range of dedicated machines for making iced coffee to find out if they are worth the space on your kitchen countertop
THE ONE EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT...
Breville Iced Coffee Maker, £39, argos.co.uk
Breville Iced Coffee Maker, £39, argos.co.uk
HOW IT WORKS: Sleek and simple, pour water into the reservoir, put one scoopful of ground coffee in the filter and place the lidded plastic cup filled with ice cubes underneath the funnel. Then flick the switch and coffee drips through.
TIME TAKEN: 3.5 minutes, one glass.
TASTE TEST: For each of these machines I used Rounton Coffee’s full-bodied Rwandan blend filter coffee (£9.95 for 250g), yet it was striking how different they ended up tasting from one to another.
Here, my first glass isn’t strong enough, and it takes a few goes to get the coffee to water ratio right (two level scoops works for me). The coffee is rich and velvety-smooth, but not very cold.
VERDICT: This machine has gone viral online with fans. It’s nice, but doesn’t live up to the hype. 3/5
DREAM COFFEE FROM DIY ICE CHAMBER
Hario V60 Fretta Ice Coffee Maker, £30, rountoncoffee.co.uk
Hario V60 Fretta Ice Coffee Maker, £30, rountoncoffee.co.uk
HOW IT WORKS: This has an ice ‘chamber’ (a plastic funnel in the coffee pot) that holds up to 200g of ice cubes.
You put the ice in first, then the coffee grounds on pre-cut filter paper (provided), and pour boiling water over the top to melt the ice as the coffee dissolves. The pot has handy measurements telling you how much water you’ll need.
TIME TAKEN: Three minutes, two glasses.
TASTE TEST: This machine makes a mouth-wateringly good iced beverage with notes of peaches and honey. The temperature’s just right, too — impressive for a gadget you don’t need to plug in.
VERDICT: Speedy and delicious. 5/5
FANCY BUT NOISY NESPRESSO-ALIKE
Geepas Ice Coffee Maker, £24.49, amazon.co.uk
Geepas Ice Coffee Maker, £24.49, amazon.co.uk
HOW IT WORKS: Like a Nespresso machine but with ground coffee, this is designed to boil water, pass it through a coffee-filled filter, and drip it down into your glass for instant iced coffee. You have to fill it with water, top your glass up with ice cubes, and put the desired amount of coffee into the filter.
TIME TAKEN: 4 minutes, one glass.
TASTE TEST: The coffee is watery and insipid, room-temperature rather than chilled — and it’s the noisiest machine I tested.
VERDICT: Overly complicated and my coffee tastes bland. 2/5
ICE-COLD HOMEBREW— IN TWO MINUTES
Drew & Cole Barista Iced Coffee Machine, £39.99, diy.com
HOW IT WORKS: Fill the reservoir with water, put ice in the lidded glass, add coffee to the filter and switch it on.
Drew & Cole Barista Iced Coffee Machine, £39.99, diy.com
It makes a few strange hissing noises, but the coffee comes out in a steady stream, and feels instantly cold in my glass.
TIME TAKEN: Two minutes, one glass.
TASTE TEST: Intense, caramelly and very moreish. The speed is impressive. My only complaint is the machine gets incredibly hot on top.
VERDICT: Great coffee but watch your hands. 4/5
12 HOURS...BUT WORTH THE WAIT
Coffee Gator Cold Brew Coffee Maker, £26.99, amazon.co.uk
Coffee Gator Cold Brew Coffee Maker, £26.99, amazon.co.uk
HOW IT WORKS: This relies on you making your coffee ahead of time and putting it in the fridge for up to 12 hours (I found ten was about right). You simply add 75g ground coffee, 1.1 litre cold water, put the lid on and stick it in the fridge. Once chilled, you can add lemon, sugar or milk to get your desired flavour.
TIME TAKEN: 10 hours, 4 glasses.
TASTE TEST: The coffee is flavoursome, strong without being bitter, and refreshingly cold.
VERDICT: Worth the wait for coffee connoisseurs. 5/5
