Our Top Picks
The Ninja Hot & Iced XL (CM371) is the best coffee pot for iced coffee in this group, since it has a dedicated Over Ice style, a Cold Brew style, eight sizes and a full carafe for entertaining. “Iced coffee pot” can mean a machine that brews hot coffee strong enough to pour over ice, or a pitcher that steeps cold brew without heat. This guide covers both, from compact single-serve brewers to a 64 ounce mason jar. For a family pot with an iced mode, the Hamilton Beach 2-Way models are the closest alternatives.
Quick List
- Ninja Hot & Iced XL CM371 – best overall for hot, over-ice and cold brew in one machine
- Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47502J) – best for a full pot plus a single cup with hot and iced settings
- Tastyle Mini Hot and Iced – best compact single-serve for iced drinks over a glass of ice
- QHH 64 oz Cold Brew Pitcher – best for no-heat cold brew in a large mason jar
- Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47500J) – best for the same two-way brewer in the black finish
- Taylor Swoden 12-Cup Hot and Iced – best for a programmable 12-cup pot with four strength levels
Which One Is Right for You?
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| want hot coffee, iced coffee, cold brew and a carafe from one machine | Ninja Hot & Iced XL CM371 |
| love cold brew and have fridge space for a large jar | QHH 64 oz Cold Brew Pitcher |
| want a small machine that brews a single iced cup over ice | Tastyle Mini Hot and Iced |
| need both a full pot and a single mug and prefer a black finish | Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47500J) |
| want the same two-way brewer in the blue finish | Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47502J) |
| want a programmable 12-cup pot with a hot and iced option and four strengths | Taylor Swoden 12-Cup Hot and Iced |
The big divide is hot-brew-over-ice versus cold brew. Hot-brew machines are fast and bring out brighter flavors, but ice dilutes the drink, so these machines either brew stronger or run a dedicated iced setting. Cold brew is smooth and low-effort but requires planning, since it steeps for many hours. Decide which timeline fits your routine, then choose the pitcher or the machine.
All 6 Picks in Detail
1. Ninja Hot & Iced XL CM371 – Best overall for hot, iced and cold brew
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The CM371 brews with ground coffee in four styles: Classic, Rich, Over Ice and Cold Brew. It offers eight sizes, from a small cup to a travel mug to quarter, half and full carafe sizes, and it ships with a 12-cup glass carafe and a permanent filter. It suits households that drink iced coffee daily but also want hot coffee, and it does not need pods.
Listings describe a removable reservoir with auto-metering, a 24-hour delay brew and a keep-warm function. Cold Brew is reported to take as little as ten minutes, which is much faster than steeping in a jar, though results will differ from a long, cold steep. Per-size ounce amounts are not stated in the listing text, so check the manual.
In practice, the Over Ice style is the one to reach for on a warm afternoon: fill a glass with ice, choose a size, and the machine adjusts the brew for the dilution. Rich gives a bolder hot cup, and Classic is the everyday setting. Because the same unit also makes a carafe, it can serve a brunch table and a lone iced latte base on the same day, which justifies the larger footprint.
- Four brew styles: Classic, Rich, Over Ice, Cold Brew
- Eight sizes from small cup to full carafe
- 12-cup glass carafe and permanent filter
- 24-hour delay brew; about 1,550 watts per retailer data
- About 15.1 inches tall, 9.1 wide and 12.3 deep per most listings
Pros
- Dedicated iced and cold brew modes
- One machine covers cup, mug and carafe
Cons
- Large body for small counters
- Rapid cold brew differs from a traditional long steep
Compared with the Hamilton Beach 2-Way, it has more iced-specific modes but no separate single-serve side.
2. Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47502J) – Best for a pot and a cup with iced settings
This Hamilton Beach pairs a 12-cup glass carafe with a single-serve side, and the listing describes hot and iced brew settings along with regular and bold strength. It suits households where one person wants a single iced coffee and another wants a hot pot. The listing also names an AquaFlow showerhead, which Hamilton Beach says spreads water over the whole brew basket.
Sources show a single-serve range of 6 to 14 ounces for ground coffee, and note it does not accept K-Cup pods. The carafe side can be programmed up to 24 hours ahead, with a four-hour keep-warm and auto shut-off, and Auto Pause & Pour. Power is about 950 watts. This listing is the blue finish of the 47500J model.
The practical benefit is that two people can use it at once. One can start a scheduled pot while the other pulls a single iced cup from the second side, and neither has to wait for the other. Cleaning means two baskets and two reservoirs, so check how easily each part comes out before committing. The blue finish is purely cosmetic.
- 12-cup glass carafe plus single-serve side (6-14 oz)
- Hot and iced settings with regular and bold strength
- AquaFlow showerhead
- Programmable up to 24 hours ahead
- Single-serve side does not use K-Cup pods
Pros
- Full pot and single cup in one machine
- Iced settings on both brewing sides, per the listing description
Cons
- Wide body takes counter space
- Dimensions vary across sources (confirm)
It is functionally the same as pick 5, so the choice is color and availability.
3. Tastyle Mini Hot and Iced – Best compact brewer for one iced cup
The Tastyle Mini is a single-serve machine for K-Cup pods or ground coffee, with brew sizes of 6 to 14 ounces and a recipe book. Its Over Ice mode starts the brew hotter and then cools, which the brand says reduces how much the ice melts. It suits dorms, offices, RVs and small kitchens where you want one iced coffee at a time.
Specs reported by sellers include a non-removable water tank, about 8.2 inches deep, 4.2 wide and 10.3 tall, and a weight under two pounds. It fits cups up to about six inches tall, which means tall tumblers will not fit. A descale light signals maintenance. Some listings give a 13 ounce top size, so confirm before relying on 14.
For people who drink one iced coffee at a time, speed matters more than capacity. The Mini brews in a few minutes according to seller descriptions, and its recipe book gives ideas for iced drinks that go beyond plain black coffee. The small size makes it easy to store between uses, but the short cup clearance means tall tumblers need a different machine.
- K-Cup pods and ground coffee
- Brew sizes 6 to 14 oz (some listings say 13)
- Hot and Over Ice modes; recipe book included
- Non-removable water tank
- Fits cups up to about 6 inches tall
Pros
- Small footprint with an iced mode
- Flexible pods or grounds
Cons
- Fixed tank requires careful filling
- Limited cup height
It is much smaller than the Ninja but offers only single cups.
4. QHH 64 oz Cold Brew Pitcher – Best for no-heat cold brew
The QHH is not an electric machine. It is a 64 ounce mason jar pitcher with a stainless steel filter, a lid with a pour spout and handle, and an airtight silicone seal. You add coarse grounds to the filter, fill with cold water, and let it steep in the refrigerator. It suits people who want smooth iced coffee in batches and do not mind planning ahead.
The manual lists a 160 micron filter weave and a recommended coffee-to-water ratio from 1:5 to 1:12. Retailer details caution not to pour boiling water in, with a maximum safe temperature of about 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), and to avoid sudden temperature shifts that might crack the glass. A cleaning brush is included.
The routine is simple: grind coffee coarsely, fill the filter, add cold water, close the lid and place the jar in the refrigerator. When the steep is done, lift out the filter and pour. Because there is no heating element, there is nothing to descale, and the glass jar is easy to inspect for cleanliness. Plan ahead, because a batch started in the evening is ready the next day at the earliest.
- 64 oz glass jar with stainless steel filter
- Lid with pour spout and handle; silicone seal
- Recommended ratio 1:5 to 1:12 per the manual
- Maximum safe temperature about 140 degrees F; no boiling water
- Cleaning brush included
Pros
- No electricity and few parts to clean
- Big batch lasts several days in the refrigerator
Cons
- Requires many hours of steeping
- Glass jar needs gentle handling
It trades the speed of the Ninja for a simpler, hands-off method.
5. Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47500J) – Best for the black two-way brewer
This listing is the black version of the same Hamilton Beach 2-Way programmable hot and iced brewer. It has a 12-cup glass carafe, a single-serve side, AquaFlow showerhead and a touch display for scheduling up to 24 hours ahead. It suits households that want the same capabilities as pick 2 in a more neutral color.
The maker lists dimensions around 14.1 inches tall, 10.2 wide and 15.5 deep for the 47500J, while another retailer shows 11.5 inches deep, so confirm the footprint. Keep-warm runs four hours, according to the listing summary, with automatic shut-off. Both versions work with ground coffee only on the single-serve side.
If your kitchen has dark cabinets or stainless appliances, black tends to blend in. The functions are the same as the blue version, so the main reasons to pick it are style and availability when you shop. Whichever color you choose, confirm the current model number and warranty terms on the product page.
- 12-cup glass carafe plus single-serve (6-14 oz)
- Hot and iced options; regular and bold strengths
- Touch display with 24-hour scheduling
- 4-hour keep-warm with auto shut-off
- About 950 watts
Pros
- Same features as pick 2 in a black finish
- Auto Pause & Pour for early cups
Cons
- Bulky for small kitchens
- Two reservoirs to refill and descale
Choose between this and pick 2 on color alone.
6. Taylor Swoden 12-Cup Hot and Iced – Best for a programmable pot with four strengths
This 12-cup drip machine comes in black and stainless steel with an LED display, a 24-hour timer, four brew-strength levels and a hot and iced option. It suits those who want a conventional pot with a way to pre-brew stronger coffee for icing. The listing title is the main source of detail, so confirm the carafe type, wattage, size and how the iced mode works before buying.
The brand is less established than Hamilton Beach or Ninja, so look for a clear warranty statement and a manual on the product page. The four strength levels give you room to adjust for ice dilution without changing how much coffee you add. If an iced setting only changes the strength, treat it as a bold setting rather than a chilling mode.
A strength dial is useful for iced coffee because ice thins the drink. Choosing the strongest level and brewing a smaller pot, then pouring it over a full glass of ice, is a common approach with any drip machine. Since the listing offers little detail, read the manual online before buying to see exactly what the hot and iced option changes.
- 12 cups, hot and iced option per the title
- 4 brew strength levels
- LED display and 24-hour timer
- Black and stainless steel body
- Carafe, wattage and dimensions: confirm on listing
Pros
- Timer plus strength control for iced prep
- Standard 12-cup format
Cons
- Few details confirmed outside the title
- Lesser-known brand
It lacks the single-serve side of the Hamilton Beach models but offers more strength steps.
Specs Compared
| Model | Type | Capacity | Iced approach | Programming | Coffee format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja Hot & Iced XL CM371 | Drip, single-serve and carafe | 8 sizes up to 12-cup carafe | Over Ice and Cold Brew styles | 24-hour delay brew | Ground coffee |
| Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47502J) | Two-way drip | 12 cups plus 6-14 oz single | Iced settings (per listing) | Up to 24 hours (carafe side) | Ground coffee; no K-Cups |
| Tastyle Mini Hot and Iced | Single-serve | 6-14 oz (confirm) | Over Ice mode | None listed | K-Cup pods and grounds |
| QHH 64 oz Cold Brew Pitcher | Mason jar pitcher | 64 oz | Cold steep, no heat | Not applicable | Coarse grounds |
| Hamilton Beach 2-Way (47500J) | Two-way drip | 12 cups plus 6-14 oz single | Iced settings (per listing) | Up to 24 hours (carafe side) | Ground coffee; no K-Cups |
| Taylor Swoden 12-Cup | Drip | 12 cups | Hot and iced option (confirm how) | 24-hour timer | Ground coffee (confirm) |
How We Chose These
We compared the six listed products by how they make iced coffee: a dedicated iced setting, a stronger brew to pour over ice, or a no-heat cold steep. Each product’s capacity, controls and coffee format were taken from listing titles, manufacturer pages and manuals, and we mark details that come from a sibling model or that differ between retailers. Rankings favored flexibility, clarity of the iced approach and fit for different household sizes. We also considered how much planning each method asks for, from a few minutes at the machine to a full overnight steep. Taste claims are avoided because they cannot be verified from a specification.
What to Look For
Hot-Over-Ice Versus Cold Brew
Hot-over-ice brewing is fast and keeps the bright, aromatic notes of fresh coffee, but it works only if the coffee is strong enough to survive melting ice. Cold brew steeps coarse grounds in cold water for many hours, commonly in the range of 12 to 24 hours, and produces a smoother, more concentrated drink. Fast “cold brew” modes on machines are not the same as a long cold steep, so expect a different character from each.
Another factor is time of day. Hot-over-ice fits the morning rush because it takes minutes, while cold brew suits people who like a ready-made pitcher in the refrigerator for the week. Many households end up using both depending on the day.
Strength Settings and Dilution
Ice melts as soon as hot coffee hits it. Suppose 8 ounces of hot coffee melt about 3 ounces of ice. The glass ends up with 11 ounces of drink, and the coffee is diluted by roughly 27 percent. That is an illustrative calculation, not a measurement, but it shows why iced settings brew stronger or smaller and why bold options help. Using large ice cubes slows melting compared with crushed ice.
Grind size matters too. A medium-fine grind extracts well in a short hot brew, while cold brew needs a coarse grind so the filter does not clog and the drink does not turn muddy. If you buy beans, ask for the grind that matches your method or grind them at home.
Cup Height and Size
Iced drinks often go into tall glasses or insulated tumblers. Check the clearance under the spout, and note that the Tastyle Mini fits cups up to about six inches tall. A machine that offers several sizes, like the Ninja, avoids brewing too much into a glass that is already filled with ice.
Single-serve machines are usually the most limited, because the drip tray sits close to the spout. If you like a large glass of iced coffee, measure the glass with ice in it, not empty, because the ice sits above the rim of the liquid line. A pitcher or a carafe-based machine avoids the issue.
Cleaning and Storage
Cold brew pitchers should be washed after each batch, and the filter rinsed to clear fine grounds. Store brewed cold brew in the refrigerator and follow the maker’s guidance on how long it keeps. For electric machines, descale on the schedule in the manual, since iced settings often use more water cycles and can accumulate scale faster.
Wash removable parts by hand unless the listing says they are dishwasher safe, and let them dry completely before storing so odors do not build up. Cold brew filters in particular trap fine grounds, so tap them out and rinse from the inside.
Ice, Glassware and Serving
Large, dense ice cubes melt more slowly than small or crushed pieces, which keeps a hot-brewed drink from thinning out. Fill the glass most of the way, then brew directly over it if the machine has an iced mode. A pre-chilled glass helps too. If you make a batch of cold brew, pour it over ice at serving time instead of storing it with ice in the pitcher.
Worked example. The QHH manual recommends a ratio between 1:5 and 1:12. Suppose you use 1,500 grams of water, about 51 ounces, so the jar is not overfilled. At 1:8, treating the ratio as weight, you would use about 188 grams of coffee, and at 1:12 about 125 grams. A concentrate at 1:5 would use 300 grams and is meant to be diluted. Start in the middle of the range and adjust after your first batch.
Questions
Can any coffee maker make iced coffee?
Yes, if you brew hot coffee strong enough and pour it over ice. Machines with an iced or bold setting simply automate that step, while a cold brew pitcher skips heat entirely.
Is cold brew the same as iced coffee?
No. Iced coffee is usually hot coffee served cold, while cold brew is steeped in cold water for a long time. Cold brew tends to taste smoother and can be made as a concentrate.
Do I need a special machine for iced coffee?
No, but a dedicated iced setting reduces guesswork about strength and dilution. The Ninja and Tastyle Mini both advertise iced modes.
Can I use the QHH pitcher with hot water?
Retailer information says the maximum safe temperature is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and that you should not pour boiling water in. Use cold or room-temperature water, and avoid sudden temperature changes.
Do the Hamilton Beach models accept K-Cup pods?
No. The single-serve side works with ground coffee in a mesh scoop or with soft pods, not with K-Cup pods.
How do I keep iced coffee from tasting watery?
Brew stronger, use larger ice cubes, or chill the coffee before pouring. Freezing some coffee into ice cubes is another method that avoids dilution.
Update History
- October 21, 2026 – Initial publication; product set drawn from current catalog listings.
- Check the product page for current specifications and availability before buying.
Sources
- Manufacturer product and specification pages for Ninja, Hamilton Beach and Tastyle where available
- Retailer listing titles and specification fields for each listed product
- The QHH instruction manual and published product details
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