Coffee Gator vs Bodum Side-by-Side Comparison
Coffee Gator cold brew coffee maker vs Bodum. A small brewer with nice extras, but out-matched by a French press freestyle-brewing design.
Specifications
Design
The overall design of the Coffee Gator is simple and practical. The way the lid works is particularly nice, but the handle needs rethinking. The stainless steel measuring spoon and silicone funnel are also quite versatile in and of themselves.
The Bodum cold brew coffee maker is an adaptation of a French press. It uses a similar fast and convenient plunge filter. Since it’s only meant for cold brewing, the entire body is made from plastic. This makes it light, convenient, and affordable. There’s a lid with a plunger attached for decanting and filtering, and a simple lid for brewing.
Usability Comparison
Coffee Gator is exceptionally easy to use because of the included measuring spoon and silicone pouring funnel. The filter attaches securely and effortlessly, and the lid design is most practical. Hand cleaning is also no issue.
The Bodum doesn’t come with any ‘easy-to-use’ instructions. This means you have to decide your own brew ratio. We chose a 1:5 ratio of grounds to water, and everything else was straightforward. Decanting, however, can be a bit involved.
Brew Quality
The brew quality of the Coffee Gator was fairly average and much in line with other immersion brewers with a similar ratio. The brew lacked complexity overall but was drinkable enough without dilution. Hot blooming may be an option, but many people prefer a stainless steel filter for this.
Taking the brew method into account, the Bodum produces a high-quality, strong cold brew coffee concentrate. It’s beautifully smooth to drink and full-bodied, however, it didn’t capture the complexity that our leading brewer was capable of. The filtration method, however, was one of the best.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Quality of glass carafe
- Additional spoon and funnel
- Neat and clever lid
- Twist to pour lid
- Personalized extras
- Light and durable
- Open/close spout
- Perfectly airtight
- Comfortable handle
- Freestyle brewing
- Made in Portugal
- Grip and length of handle
- Brew rather average
- Decanting can be tricky
- No measuring guides
Conclusion
The Coffee Gator is a somewhat average-performing immersion filter brewer. However, it comes with a number of extras that seal the deal. These include a stainless steel measuring spoon, a handy silicone funnel for pouring in grounds and water, plus various promotional offers.
Despite these attractive extras, the Coffee Gator is no match for the Bodum. The Bodum is an adaptation of a French press design and it uses a freestyle brewing technique. The result is a full-strength cold brew coffee concentrate. The only advantage of the Coffee Gator is that it can fit the door bin of a small refrigerator.
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.
