County Line Kitchen vs Bean Envy Side-by-Side Comparison
County Line Kitchen vs Bean Envy cold brew coffee maker. Two neck-and-neck brewers with key differences in design and usability.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Versatile product
- Minimal packaging
- Packed and shipped in the US
- Robust and durable
- Airtight silicone gasket
- Two lid design
- Silicone base
- Handle design
- Measuring markers
- Brew strength average
- Filter not so effective
- Filter bottom
- Pouring with silicone lid
Conclusion
The County Line Kitchen and Bean Envy are neck-and-neck when it comes down to brew quality. They also rank in our tests as two of the better immersion filter cold brew coffee makers. The key difference lies in what kind of design you prefer.
The Bean Envy is a stylish glass carafe brewer with a unique two-stopper design. One for brewing and a silicone stopper with a better fit for sealing after the filter is removed. The Bean Envy will generally not fit in the door bin of a small refrigerator.
The County Line Kitchen range, on the other hand, comes in 1 and 2-quart sizes which can easily fit in your refrigerator door bin. Alternatively, with their spill-proof screw-on lid you can easily lay the brewer on a shelf after the filter is removed.
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.
