I have only been a coffee drinker for about 5 years, and I had always put a bit of half and half and a teaspoon of sugar in my coffee. Recently, I was visiting a friend and she served coffee from her Toddy system. I took a sip and couldn't believe the difference. It was so smooth, I didn't need any cream or sugar and just really enjoyed the coffee flavor. I think I have lost a pound or two just by cutting out the cream and sugar for two months!
There is no better way to describe it than "smooth". The cold brew system cuts the acidity by 2/3, so I guess that is the difference. I will never go back to hot brew, I actually carry the concentrate with me when I travel!
I have tried different brands of coffee and found that I prefer a medium roast. The Trader Joe Breakfast Blend and the Kirkland World Roast are my faves so far. Pretty much any coffee you enjoyed hot brew will work for cold brew. Its better to grind it more coarsely, but I have bought pre-ground and it worked just fine (but see my tips on filters below). I tried a flavored coffee and that was a bust (flavor was really weak), but that could have been user error or just not the right flavor to try (it was swiss chocolate orange). I am interested to try the chicory flavor listed on the Toddy website as "most popular".
This is definitely one of the least expensive and most basic "appliances" in my kitchen. If you have never tried cold brew before, you can do a small test run with a small pitcher first. After it sits for 12-14 hours, pour it through a filter. This is not an ideal way to always make cold brew because it will be cumbersome and you won't get much for your effort...but you can try it just to see if you like cold brew. The Toddy system is well-priced enough to make the purchase worthwhile in the long run. Each batch I make lasts me about two weeks. I drink one cup per day.
As a perfectionist-in-reform-training, I stressed a bit at first about the exact quantity of grind versus water, the coarseness of the grind, and exactly how long to let it sit and brew. What I learned is that it doesn't matter too much because the result is stronger or weaker concentrate, so you simply add more or less hot water when you drink it.
Measurements...I use the Toddy recommended 12 ounces of coffee for 7 cups of water which is approximately twice the number of ounces of grind as cups of water(so if you were testing this at home and did one cup of water it would be just under 2 ounces of coffee). And for those of you, like myself, who are unsure of how to measure 12 ounces of coffee...it is luckily the same as measuring a liquid, 8 ounces=1 cup, so 12 ounces is 1 1/2 cups of grind.
Grind...I have used coarse grind and regular "coffee maker" grind and both have turned out fine. However, I am not a super-snobby coffee drinker. So you can experiment with both and see if you can tell a difference. For me, I have three little kids and don't want to spend the time grinding my own coffee, so I buy it pre-ground. The concentrate pours out faster upon completion if you use a coarser grind, but that was about all I could discern.
The filter...I push it snugly into the bottom and then lay a regular #4 filter on top of it. I tried wrapping the #4 around it and that was a huge bust, it wouldn't drain. I think using the extra filter helps preserve the Toddy filter, giving it a longer life. So I wet the #4, lay it on top and quickly pour a cup of water and a half cup of grind to set the filter so it won't float up. Then over the next half hour or so, I pour in a cup or two of water and pour some more grinds in. I usually do this while I am busy in the kitchen with other things so I can let each water/grind pouring sit for 5-10 minutes. I reserve about a cup of water at the end to pour over grinds that haven't sunk into the mixture, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, and gently push any remaining dry grind into the mixture with the back of a spoon. Note: you are supposed to pour the water in slowly in a circle, and do not ever stir it. I put a round Tupperware lid on top...not sure why the system doesn't include a lid.
Brewing and Draining...Generally, I set up the mixture Sundays at 4pm so it is ready Monday morning at 6am. If it sits a bit shorter or longer that seems to be ok, but I've never left it more than 15 hours. Fourteen hours seems like the ideal time to me. To drain, I put the Toddy container on top of the glass carafe and pull the plug. Sometimes it takes 30 minutes to finish draining, so be aware. I think the extra filter slows it down. Once it wouldn't come out at all, so I simply poured the mixture into a bowl, reserving as much of the grind in the Toddy container as possible. Then I scraped out the grind from the Toddy container, rinsed the filter and poured the mixture back in. It drained just fine then. This also works well if you have a brilliant moment and insert the plug from the inside. I will neither confirm nor deny whether I have done this. :)
Cleaning...This is easy to clean. I have a general disdain for anything that doesn't go in the dishwasher, but have not been annoyed or tormented by cleaning out this system. If you have a compost bin, you know what to do with the grinds. If you don't and you have pine trees, azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas or any other acid-loving plants, you can put the grinds around the plants. Otherwise, you just bang it on the side of the trash can and most of the grinds will come out. Then I scrape the rest out with a spoon. I've never had the Toddy filter dislodge on its own, I always have to poke it out by sticking a straw or pen through the hole to dislodge it. I then rinse the Toddy filter well, put it in a well-marked ziplock (so it doesn't get thrown away) and keep it in the fridge.
Drinking...I highly recommend the Zojirushi hot water dispenser. It keeps water hot all day and uses very little energy. I use the hot water to mix with my Toddy coffee concentrate (so no matter what time I am ready for coffee, it is ready), and we use it for oatmeal, grits, and tea. Its very handy. As an aside, they also have fabulous rice cookers.
I've read some comments about the glass carafe...yes, it is fragile, so be careful. I haven't broken it yet.
This is a GREAT system that is well worth the price!
Toddy® Cold Brew System
4.7 | 4,063 ratings
Price: 49
Last update: 01-05-2025
About this item
Lifestyle
Product information
| Brand | Toddy |
|---|---|
| Color | white |
| Product Dimensions | 7.25"D x 7.25"W x 12.5"H |
| Special Feature | Manual |
| Coffee Maker Type | Coffee Infuser |
| Filter Type | Reusable |
| Style | Standard |
| Specific Uses For Product | Cold Brewed Coffee |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Cold Brewed Coffee, Making Tea |
| Included Components | Set includes brewing container with handle, glass decanter with lid, 2 reusable filters, 1 rubber stopper, set of instructions, and recipe guide |
| Operation Mode | Manual |
| Voltage | 2.3E+2 Volts |
| Model Name | Toddy Cold Brew System |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Human Interface Input | Buttons |
| Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00758591011027 |
| Manufacturer | TODDY |
| UPC | 735343549618 778295227906 885145847723 793842004267 885668145788 758591011027 782195300409 885432338569 781147735337 887668074761 882488128007 885448814354 735533113629 |
| Item Weight | 1.48 pounds |
| ASIN | B0006H0JVW |
| Item model number | THM |
| Customer Reviews |
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars
4,063 ratings
4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #13,942 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining) #95 in Coffee Machines #167 in Coffee, Tea & Espresso Appliances |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | April 9, 2004 |
Top reviews from the United States
K. PopeNow I really LOVE drinking coffee; tips for using the system
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