Yama Glass Cold Brew Tower, 100 oz, Black Straight Wood Frame

Some coffee gear earns its counter space by being useful. This one gives you something to watch, too. The Yama Glass Cold Brew Tower is a 100 oz Kyoto-style cold drip coffee maker with hand-blown borosilicate glass and a black, straight wooden frame. Water moves slowly through the grounds, one drip at a time, while the finished coffee collects below.

It's a good fit for a café, office coffee bar, or home setup where you want to make a larger batch and enjoy the process. Just make room first: at about 44.25 inches tall, this isn't a brewer you're going to tuck under most kitchen cabinets.

What is Kyoto-style cold drip coffee?

Unlike immersion cold brew, where coffee grounds sit in water before filtering, a cold drip tower passes water gradually through a bed of coffee. Ice and water go in the upper chamber, the grounds sit in the middle, and brewed coffee collects in the lower carafe. The slow drip is the brewing method, not just a bit of coffee-counter theater.

This is a planned-ahead brew, not an instant iced coffee maker. Your grind, coffee dose, and drip rate all affect the result. Give yourself time to dial it in rather than expecting one setting to work for every coffee.

Capacity and dimensions

• 100 oz capacity: Enough for roughly 12 eight-ounce servings or 25 four-ounce servings. Your actual serving count depends on how you pour and whether you dilute the coffee.
• About 44.25 inches tall: Check overhead clearance and leave room to access the upper chamber.
• 11.75-inch square base: Plan for a stable, level surface with space around the tower.
• Black straight wood frame: A substantial display for a coffee bar without hiding the brewing process.
• Hand-blown borosilicate glass: Heat-resistant glass components that are dishwasher- and microwave-safe. That care guidance applies to the glass, not the wooden frame.

Getting started with your cold brew tower

Follow the Yama assembly and brewing instructions when setting up the tower. The brewing arrangement uses a reusable ceramic filter at the bottom of the coffee chamber and a paper filter over the grounds. These serve different jobs: the lower filter separates the grounds from the brewed coffee, while the upper filter helps spread incoming water over the coffee bed.

Start with a coffee you already enjoy. A medium or medium-light roast is worth trying if you want to explore how a familiar coffee tastes with cold drip brewing. Keep notes on your grind, dose, and drip setting, then change one thing at a time. Taste the finished brew before deciding whether to serve it straight, over ice, or diluted to your preference.

Cleaning and daily care

Rinse the glass components after each brew so coffee residue doesn't build up. For stubborn coffee oils, use a cleaner suitable for coffee equipment and follow its directions, then rinse thoroughly. Handle the glass carefully during cleaning and reassembly, and keep the wooden frame out of the dishwasher.

If you want a compact brewer for a quick cup, this isn't it. If you want a larger-batch cold drip setup that makes the brewing process part of your coffee space, the Yama tower makes a much more interesting centerpiece than another appliance with a button.