County Line Kitchen vs Aquach Side-by-Side Comparison
County Line Kitchen cold brew coffee maker vs Aquach. A versatile and practical mason jar brewer outperforms a stylish glass carafe.
Specifications
Design
The County Line Kitchen cold brew coffee maker is a practical design which captures the aesthetic of a traditional homestead. The screw-top lid can be purchased with or without a handle. The flip lid is very convenient and pours well. The brewer is airtight with a silicone seal, and you can also fit the mason jar with a traditional metal screw cap.
The Aquach has one of the most aesthetically pleasing and practical designs for an immersion cold coffee brewer. There’s very little not to like about it and the materials are first rate. However, the filter, as we suspected and our tests revealed, is not the best design for a high-quality cold brew experience.
Usability Comparison
Brewing with the County Line Kitchen is very easy and straightforward. It’s not necessary to weigh or measure either grounds or water. Just fill the filter and jar as described below.
Although decanting is just a question of removing the filter, its lower level of filtration means you may want to refilter or further decant the contents. For the 1-quart jar, we had to use a bottle brush to scrub it out.
Because of its practical design, the Aquach is one of the easiest cold brew coffee makers to use. Not only that, but the hole at the bottom of the filter makes it easy to drain all remaining brew. For the most part, cleaning is also effortless.
Brew Quality
We found the brew quality of the County Line Kitchen cold brew coffee maker to be promising. It did well to bring out sweet profiles, but at the same time, the brew lacked complexity. We recommend brewing for longer than our test standard of 18 hours. The amount of sediment indicated that the filter was not so effective, but nonetheless a good compromise on the brew quality.
As with any immersion filter brewer, the filter needs to be permeable enough to infuse sufficient flavor into the brew while keeping sediment contained. Unfortunately, the Aquach didn’t quite succeed here as our test results revealed it failed to produce a strong brew and it lacked a complex flavor. The brew ratio is also not the best.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Versatile product
- Minimal packaging
- Packed and shipped in the US
- Robust and durable
- Airtight silicone gasket
- Stylish decanter
- Lid design
- Decanter handle
- High-quality filter
- No plastic parts
- Brew strength average
- Filter not so effective
- Poor brew quality
Conclusion
The County Line Kitchen is an old-style mason jar sporting a screw-on plastic lid with a flip cap for pouring. You can also choose a lid with or without a handle or a typical mason jar lid. The brewer can fit easily inside a refrigerator door bin or lay on its side when the filter is removed.
The Aquach, although glass with a stainless steel filter, is not as versatile as the county Line Kitchen. It can only brew standing up and does not fit the door bin of a small refrigerator.
With its insertable stainless steel neck, you don’t have to worry about water overflow when brewing, and the stopper fits well. However, the County Line Kitchen has a better filter design which produces a stronger and higher-quality brew.
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.
