Bean Envy vs Coffee Bear Side-by-Side Comparison
Bean Envy cold brew coffee maker vs Coffee Bear. A carafe-type brewer and a jug-type brewer. Find out which is better.
Specifications
Design
Bean Envy is an all-round top-quality product and it makes a fairly good brew. The silicone base and the two-lid design are particularly nice, and the stainless steel filter was well-machined. Unfortunately, pouring with the silicone lid popped up was not so smooth.
There’s nothing to fault about the quality of the glass carafe and the lid design. The silicone base pad, on the other hand, is not the best quality and the handle is a little small.
Usability Comparison
Brewing and decanting required minimal effort. Additionally, the volume markings on the carafe are great for telling how much yield is produced and how much coffee you have remaining during use. For hand-washing, you will need a bottle brush and a little extra care is required so as not to misplace either of the lids in storage.
Using the Coffee Bear is quite simple and straightforward. The most practical aspect is the lid, but besides that, the product doesn’t offer any added value. It’s easy to miss spots when cleaning the black-framed filter, but the detachable filter base does make a difference.
Brew Quality
For an immersion filter brewer, the Bean Envy ranks very competitively and the brew quality is relatively good. The brew is strong, flavorful, and smooth but not as complex as a cold brew can be. We found it brewed more towards the bitter flavors rather than the sweeter ones.
The brew quality of the Coffee Bear corresponded with its brew ratio and the functionality of its filter. The brew was decidedly average and lacked complexity with a watery aftertaste.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Two lid design
- Silicone base
- Handle design
- Measuring markers
- Glass decanter
- Lid design
- Twist to pour
- Filter bottom
- Pouring with silicone lid
- Silicone base not top quality
- Handle not so comfortable
- Appears to be a generic copy
Conclusion
The Bean Envy is one of our top tested cold brew coffee makers. The glass carafe with a wide base and slender neck is well-designed for brewing. Furthermore, the stainless steel filter is permeable enough to produce a good brew. The Bean Envy also comes with a special silicone stopper for superior airtightness and easy pouring after brewing.
The Coffee Bear brewer is a little different. It’s a jug-type design with a plastic and nylon filter. The twist-to-pour lid is very nice, but the filter does not work so well. The brew quality is less than the Bean Envy and the only advantage is that it’s a better fit for a refrigerator door bin.
Behind the Comparison
Roger Shitaki is a writer, author, and editor. His niches are household appliances, health & wellness, and travel. He’s a freelance contributor to a Tokyo lifestyle website and a leading ophthalmology magazine in Asia.
