The Best Iced and Hot Coffee Makers in 2024

Before I had an iced and hot coffee maker, I used to get iced coffee from a local coffee shop in the summers, or make cold brew, which just takes a long time and left me without coffee on some mornings. A hot coffee maker that can also handle iced coffee is ideal for year-round caffeination. In this article, I’ll explain what my favorite iced and hot coffee makers are and why I recommend them.

The Best Iced and Hot Coffee Makers

1. Breville Precision Brewer — Best Overall
2. Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 Single Serve — Best Value
3. Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker — Most Affordable

1. Breville Precision Brewer — Best Overall

The Breville Precision Brewer is my top pick for the best all-around iced and hot coffee maker. As the name suggests, this machine is all about precision, and Breville has really thought through every detail to deliver a superior coffee brewing experience.

First and foremost, the Breville Precision Brewer can brew both hot and iced coffee with equal skill. For iced coffee, there’s a dedicated iced coffee mode that adjusts the brew temperature, volume, and concentration to account for the ice you’ll be adding. This ensures your iced coffee never gets watered down. The iced coffee it produces is incredibly smooth and flavorful, without any bitterness or overwhelming acidity.

For hot coffee, the Breville excels as well. It has precise temperature control, allowing you to dial in the brew temperature anywhere from 197 to 204 degrees (F), the ideal range for pulling out the full flavor of the coffee. It also has pre-infusion mode, which slowly wets the coffee grounds before the main brew, allowing for even extraction. The end result is a hot cup of coffee that is balanced, nuanced, and free of bitterness.

Beyond just brewing great coffee, the Breville has a ton of other thoughtful features. It has customizable brew strength, so you can get your coffee—iced or hot—exactly as strong as you like it. It also has a large 60oz water reservoir and thermal carafe, so you can make big batches of coffee for heavy coffee drinkers or the whole family. And the carafe keeps coffee hot or cold for up to around 4 hours thanks to its double-walled thermal design.

The one downside to the Breville Precision Brewer is the price: it’s the most expensive option at over $300. But in my opinion, it’s worth every penny. The combination of incredible coffee quality, versatility, and thoughtful features make it the best iced and hot coffee maker on the market in my eyes.

2. Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 Single Serve — Best Value

If the Breville Precision Brewer is out of your budget, the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 Single Serve is a more affordable but still excellent option that can brew both hot and iced coffee very well.

The Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 brews iced coffee by bumping up the strength of the hot coffee so that the melting ice doesn’t overly dilute the coffee itself, much like the Breville does. The iced coffee it produces is smooth and rich, without any watered-down flavors.

For hot coffee, the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 delivers a tasty, well-balanced brew. It has a metal-lined thermal carafe that keeps coffee hot for up to 2 hours, and the pre-infusion feature helps optimize extraction for a full-bodied cup. You can also adjust the brew strength to your liking. While it has similar features to the Breville, I think the lack of temperature control and the less impressive shower head are big reasons to upgrade to the Breville if it’s in your budget.

In addition to its iced and hot coffee capabilities, the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 has a few other tricks up its sleeve. It comes with a milk frother attachment, allowing you to make cappuccinos, lattes, and other specialty coffee drinks. And it has a single-serve function, so you can brew directly into the included travel mug.

I will note that this doesn’t brew espresso and instead uses a highly concentrated shot of coffee to act like espresso. You’ll need to invest in an espresso and iced coffee maker if you want to be able to brew both.

At around $150, the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 is a great value given all the features and versatility it provides. The only real downside is that it doesn’t have the same level of temperature control and precision as the Breville. But for the average coffee drinker looking for an affordable iced and hot coffee maker, it’s an excellent choice.

3. Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker — Most Affordable

For those on a tight budget, the Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker is the most affordable option that can still brew both hot and iced coffee. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of the other machines I recommend, it gets the job done well at a fraction of the cost.

The key feature of this Mr. Coffee model is its dual-brew capability. With the push of a button, you can switch between brewing a full pot of hot coffee or an iced coffee that’s specifically optimized for pouring over ice. The iced coffee setting automatically adjusts the brew volume and temperature to prevent watering down. The coffee DOES taste a little more watered down than the other two machines would offer, but it’s still flavorful and reasonably bold.

In terms of hot coffee performance, the Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot maker brews a decent cup. It has a standard drip brewing system with a warming plate to keep the coffee hot. Warming plates aren’t ideal, as they can burn your coffee over time and cause bitterness and acidity to overwhelm the taste. The temperature and brew strength aren’t as precisely controlled as more premium machines, either, but the end result is still a tasty, somewhat balanced hot coffee.

At around $50, the Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker is the most budget-friendly option out there. It may not have all the features that make the Breville or Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 worthwhile investments, but it reliably delivers both hot and iced coffee. If you’re on a tight budget and just want a simple machine that can handle both, this is a great choice.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose an Iced and Hot Coffee Maker for Home

Choosing the right iced and hot coffee maker for your home requires balancing a few key factors.

Coffee Quality

When it comes to coffee quality, the most important factors are temperature control and brew precision. Proper water temperature is crucial for extracting the full, nuanced flavors of the coffee beans. The optimal temperature range for brewing coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees (F). Anything far below or above that range will result in an under-extracted, bitter, or overly sour cup of coffee.

The best iced and hot coffee makers, like the Breville Precision Brewer, have very precise temperature control that allows you to dial in the perfect brew temperature to the degree. They also utilize features like pre-infusion and a high-end shower head to ensure even, complete extraction of the coffee grounds.

For iced coffee specifically, temperature control is even more critical. If the brewing temperature is too low, the coffee will come out watered down and taste flat when poured over ice. Machines with dedicated iced coffee modes, like the Breville and Mr. Coffee 4-in-1, are able to adjust the brew temperature and volume to account for the dilution from the ice.

So if you’re serious about getting the best possible hot and iced coffee at home, look for a machine with precise temperature control and other features that optimize the brewing process.

Other Coffee Options

In addition to iced and hot drip coffee, some people also enjoy other specialty coffee drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, and even espresso. If you want a machine that can handle all of those, you’ll need to look for one with additional functionality beyond just drip brewing.

The Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 is a good example of a versatile machine that can do more than just iced and hot coffee. It comes with a milk frother attachment, allowing you to make creamy, foamy milk-based drinks using a concentrated, expresso-like coffee. This is a great option if you want the ability to make everything from a simple cup of hot coffee to a fancy latte.

On the other hand, if your main priorities are just iced and hot drip coffee, then you may not need all the extra bells and whistles. The Breville Precision Brewer and Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker are more focused on delivering the best possible standard drip coffee, hot or iced.

Think about your specific coffee preferences and needs. If you want the full suite of specialty drink options, look for a machine with milk frothing and perhaps even espresso capabilities. But if you’re mainly interested in great iced and hot drip coffee, you can save some money by getting a more streamlined machine.

Durability

When you’re investing in a high-quality iced and hot coffee maker for your home, you want it to last. These machines see a lot of use, especially if you’re brewing coffee daily regardless of the season. So durability is an important consideration.

Look for iced and hot coffee makers that are built with sturdy, high-quality materials. Metal and BPA-free plastic construction is preferable to cheaper, flimsier plastics. And pay attention to the quality of components like the water reservoir, carafe, and spray arm.

The machines I’ve mentioned above are all well-built and designed to withstand daily use. But in general, the more you’re willing to spend, the more durable and long-lasting the iced and hot coffee maker is likely to be.

Price

Iced and hot coffee makers span a wide range of prices, from around $50 all the way up to $300 or more. As with most products, you generally get what you pay for.

The cheaper end of the spectrum, represented by the Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker in this roundup, delivers the basics of iced and hot coffee brewing at a very affordable price point. These machines will get the job done, but they lack some of the precision, features, and durability of more premium options.

In the middle, you have versatile machines like the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 that can brew iced and hot coffee, as well as specialty drinks, for around $150. This is a good sweet spot if you want solid performance and customizability every morning without breaking the bank.

At the high end, you have top-of-the-line models like the Breville Precision Brewer. These top-tier iced and hot coffee makers excel in every area, including temperature control, brewing precision, features, and construction quality. They deliver the absolute best coffee quality, but they come at a premium price of $300 or more.

Ultimately, your budget will be a major factor in determining which iced and hot coffee maker is right for you. But remember that you often get what you pay for. Investing a little more can get you a machine that brews consistently excellent coffee, both hot and iced, for years to come.

Wrapping Up: The Best Iced and Hot Coffee Maker for the Best of Both Worlds

My top pick for the best iced and hot coffee makers is the Breville Precision Brewer. This is the ultimate iced and hot coffee maker, delivering exceptional brew quality for both hot and iced coffee. Its precise temperature control, pre-infusion feature, and other thoughtful design elements make it the best choice for coffee enthusiasts who want the absolute best.

If the Breville is a bit too pricey for your taste, consider the Mr. Coffee 4-in-1. It brews delicious hot and iced coffee, plus mixed coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. The coffee quality is a bit lower, but it will still impress most people.

When choosing an iced and hot coffee maker for your home, the key things to consider are coffee quality (temperature control and brew precision), the variety of coffee options you want (just drip, or specialty drinks too), durability, and your budget. With those factors in mind, you’ll be able to find the perfect machine that delivers delicious iced and hot coffee year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an iced coffee maker and a regular drip coffee maker?

The main difference is that an iced coffee maker is specifically designed to brew coffee that is optimized for pouring over ice. This usually involves features like temperature control, brew volume adjustments, and specialized strength settings. A regular drip coffee maker, on the other hand, is focused solely on brewing hot coffee. While you can certainly pour hot drip coffee over ice, it often results in a watered-down, sub-par iced coffee. Iced coffee makers are engineered to prevent this, delivering a smooth, full-flavored iced coffee every time.

Do I need a separate machine for iced and hot coffee, or can one machine do both?

You don’t necessarily need two separate machines, as many of the best iced and hot coffee makers on the market are able to brew both hot and iced coffee with a simple switch or button press. Models like the Breville Precision Brewer and Mr. Coffee 4-in-1 have specialized settings that allow you to transition easily between hot and iced coffee brewing. This versatility is extremely convenient and allows you to enjoy great coffee in any temperature, all from a single appliance on your countertop.