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Hario Mizudashi vs Bodum Side-by-Side Comparison

Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 18, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 18, 2023
Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker Review
Bodum Cold Brew Coffee Maker Review
Coffee Makers type
coldBrew
coldBrew

Our Verdict

7.7
Overall Score
  • Brew Quality (50%)
    6.5/10
  • Design (15%)
    7.2/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    9.7/10
9.1
Overall Score
  • Brew Quality (50%)
    9.1/10
  • Design (15%)
    9.8/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    8.7/10

The Hario Mizudashi and the Bodum French press could not be any more different. The Hario is a brewer we don’t recommend due to fundamental design flaws, whereas the Bodum is one of our top recommended cold brew coffee makers. 

The Hario Mizudashi is a tall and elegant glass carafe brewer with an immersion filter. However, due to the poor brew ratio, short filter, and non-airtight environment, the brew quality is below acceptable standards. 

The Bodum is made of durable yet affordable plastic. It uses a freestyle brewing technique and a typical French press plunge filter. You can also control the strength and volume of your brew. While there are more steps to brewing and decanting, the quality of the Bodum brew is one of the best.

Brew Quality

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Coffee Maker: Brew Quality
6.5
Performance Scores
  • Bouquet (10%)7.0/10
  • Drinkability (70%)6.0/10
  • Sediment (20%)8.0/10
9.1
Performance Scores
  • Bouquet (10%)9.0/10
  • Drinkability (70%)8.8/10
  • Sediment (20%)10/10
7.0

Bouquet

9.0

After 18 hours of brewing, the bouquet produced by the Hario Mizudashi can best be described as medium strength. The brew brought out a dominant nuttiness, but with underlying bitter and resinous notes. Sweet notes were very understated.

The bouquet of the concentrate the Bodum brewed was quite strong. There was a well-defined roasted note with a hint of underlying caramel. Although confident, the bouquet was not defined by complexity.

6.0

Drinkability

8.8

Compared to other cold brew coffee makers we tested, the Hario output tasted like a low-grade coffee. There was no real distinction to it and the texture was not smooth. We detected a mild woodiness indicating an under-extracted brew. With dilution, it tasted somewhat watery and sour with a bitter aftertaste.

The Bodum produced a strong and hearty full-roasted flavor. We used a 1:2 dilution of cold brew concentrate to water, yet further dilution is recommended for a standard coffee strength. The brew was full-bodied with no bitter flavor and the finish was perfectly smooth. The brew, however, lacked complexity except for a slight roasted caramel undertone. To get this favorable result we did two brew tests using different techniques detailed in the ‘Brewing’ section below.

8.0

Sediment

10

The Hario produced noticeable sediment, but most of it is relatively fine with only a few large granules present. The filter worked well, but at the same time its design may be a compromise for the poor quality of the brew.

The sediment test result of this coffee maker was excellent. There was hardly any detectable sediment, even fine granules. Coupled with this, the filtration method is one of the easiest among the freestyle brewing devices we’ve tested.

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot Design

Bodum French Press Cold Brew Design
7.2
design Scores
  • Stopper / Lid (30%)7.0/10
  • Filter (40%)6.0/10
  • Build Quality (30%)9.0/10
9.8
design Scores
  • Stopper / Lid (30%)9.5/10
  • Filter (40%)10/10
  • Build Quality (30%)10/10

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker In the Box

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Coffee Maker In the Box
  • Box WDH: 4.9 x 4.3 x 11.8 in
  • Brew decanter
  • Detachable filter
  • Manual

The Hario Mizudashi comes in a very nice box. On the side are simple instructions highlighting its key features. There is no unnecessary plastic covering, and inside you find the decanter, detachable filter, and a handy instruction manual.

  • Box WDH: 5.5 x 5.1 x 9.5 inches
  • Decanter with airtight lid
  • Plunge filter with lid
  • Measuring spoon
  • Multilingual instruction leaflet

Most of all, we loved how the Bodum was boxed. It has a simple two-sided cardboard jacket that neatly folds out with an opening for the spout. It’s minimal and there was an additional bubble plastic wrapping. The device came fully assembled. Since it’s made in Portugal, the small instruction leaflet is in multiple languages including Russian, Chinese, and Japanese.

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Pot Decanter

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Decanter
  • Height With Stopper Lid:
    11.5
  • Base Diameter:
    3.7
  • Width:
    5.4" (13.7 cm)
  • Weight:
    15.0 oz (425 g)
  • Material:
     heat-resistant glass, polypropylene plastic

The Hario Mizudashi brew decanter is quite attractive in its design and this is a key reason why people choose to buy it. It fits easily into the door of even a small refrigerator and looks good on the table. The handle is fixed to the glass and cannot detach and there are a number of colors to choose from.

  • Height With Stopper Lid:
    7.7
  • Base Diameter:
    5.1
  • Width:
    7.5" (19.1 cm)
  • Weight:
    16.3 oz (462 g)
  • Material:
    Plastic, silicone

The Bodum brew decanter is made entirely of plastic. It holds up to 37 fl oz (1.5 L) when full, so a plastic body certainly lightens the load. Notwithstanding, it’s also very durable and dishwasher safe. A key feature is the wide and comfortable handle with a silicone grip.

7.0

Stopper / Lid

 Stopper / Lid
  • Diameter:
    3.7 in (95 mm)
  • Material:
    polypropylene plastic
  • Additional Features:
    N/A

While we liked the slender and practical design of the Hario Mizudashi decanter, the  lid design is not completely airtight. This we thought to be a fundamental design flaw especially for odor contamination in the refrigerator and excess oxidation while brewing. The lid itself has a snap mechanism so it doesn’t slip off accidentally.

  • Diameter:
    4.4
  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Additional Features:
    Silicone seal, plunge filter

There are actually two lids for the Bodum cold coffee maker, both having much the same diameter. The brew lid is the one without the plunger. It’s also airtight with a silicone seal and fits the brew vessel very neatly. 

The lid with the plunge filter attached has a handy lever that opens and closes the spout for pouring and an airtight silicone seal. Depending on the quantity of coffee grounds, the height can increase up to 10 cm or more due to the raised plunger.

6.0

 Filter

Filter
  • Length:
    6.5 in (165 mm)
  • Diameter:
    3.3 in (85 m)
  • Material:
    polypropylene frame, polyester resin
  • Additional Features:
    detachable base

The best thing about the filter is the removable bottom which makes it easy to clean. Additionally, it’s small, stores away easily, and appears to be of high quality. However, the relatively short length of the filter and its lack of porousness created a weak and rather sourish brew.

  • Length:
    7.9" (20.1 cm)
  • Diameter:
    6.9
  • Material:
    Plastic, stainless steel
  • Additional Features:
    Silicone seal

The filter of the Bodum functions of course much the same as a French press. This means that filtering is quick and easy. The filter is a double-ply stainless steel mesh constructed around a plastic frame. Our sediment test score showed that the filter is one of the best.

9.0

 Build Quality

Build Quality

The Hario Mizudashi is well built. The brew decanter is elegant and the plastic parts fit well. The filter is also easy to clean thanks to its removable end cap. However, the design is flawed in the short length of the filter and the non-airtight lid.

For the price, the Bodum has excellent build quality. The lids fit perfectly, the pour lever is a nice feature, and the silicone seals and handle grip are of good quality. Some may not like the plastic body, preferring glass, however, it’s very durable and the product is designed and manufactured in Portugal.

Ease of Use

Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Review

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Review: Ease of Use
9.7
usability Scores
  • Brewing (45%)10/10
  • Decanting (35%)10/10
  • Cleaning and Storage (20%)8.5/10
8.7
usability Scores
  • Brewing (45%)9.0/10
  • Decanting (35%)8.5/10
  • Cleaning and Storage (20%)8.5/10
10

 Brewing

Brewing

Brewing with the Hario Mizudashi is very straightforward. You don’t immerse the filter into water, but instead gradually pour water over the grounds once the filter is put in place. After pouring, you mix the grounds around a little.

There’s no real need for measuring. The prescribed 80g of coffee more or less reaches the top of the visible portion of the filter. You then add water until it reaches the level of the plastic neck.

The Bodum doesn’t come with any brewing instructions other than: spoon in the coffee, pour the water, seal the lid, and refrigerate. The instruction manual and the website do not recommend any brew ratio. This kind of freestyle brewing is much appreciated, but it would be nice if the brew vessel had measurement markings to perhaps indicate approximate ratios.

In our first brew test, we simply took one standard bag of coffee ground of 8 oz and tipped the lot into the brew decanter. Next, we carefully measured and poured in 40 fl oz or 1.2 liters of water - about an inch and a half from the top, and stirred the contents. This was of course a perfect ratio of 1:5 of grounds to water — a ratio often recommended for making a strong cold brew concentrate. This ratio is comparable to other non-immersion filter brewers we have tested such as the OXO and the Toddy.

In the first taste testing, we were not entirely satisfied with the results due to a slightly sour edge to the brew and a lack of complete smoothness. We, therefore, brewed again, but this time took our cue from the Toddy brewing method.

We kept the same ratio but did layered brewing. We put a third of the grounds in the bottom and poured in 400 ml (13.5 fl oz) or two glasses of filtered water. To even the flow of the water, we poured around the edges using a wooden spoon.  This mixture was left to settle and bloom for seven minutes undisturbed. 

Then, we poured another third of the grounds on top and another two glasses of water. We gently pressed the grounds into the water and did the same with the remaining quantities. We did not disturb the contents by stirring, but sealed the brewer and placed it in the refrigerator for 18 hours. The brew quality result was much improved.

10

Decanting

8.5

Decanting is about as effortless as brewing. You simply pop the lid off and remove the filter. You may want to leave the filter at an angle in a glass to catch any remaining concentrate as it drips out.  

Decanting entailed a couple of operations. The first step is to activate the plunger, but you must make sure the lid is locked in place. After plunging, you just press down the lever on the lid, the spout will open, and you can pour. If you use the layered brewing method, it requires a bit of force to push the plunger down.

It operates much the same as any French press, however, since you’re making a cold brew concentrate, the design does leave some choices to be made. The manufacturer’s intention seems to be that you would leave the plunger depressed and store again in the refrigerator. This means that the concentrate will brew further. 

We decided, after plunging, to completely decant the contents in line with our testing parameters. After cleaning the brew vessel, we returned the concentrate, although the container was rather bulky for the yield volume. Therefore, you may prefer to decant it into a more suitable container. This is the only hassle with an otherwise excellent free brewing method.

The ease and speed of decanting exceed that of the similar freestyle OXO cold brew coffee maker, except that a separate decanter vessel is not provided. A 1:5 ratio yielded 25 fl oz or 750 ml of cold brew concentrate, which can easily be diluted at 1:2 or even 1:3 as you prefer.

8.5

Cleaning and Storage

8.5

One thing the Hario Mizudashi has going for it is the practical filter design. The bottom comes off so it was very easy to clean. The slender brew decanter is too narrow and long for hand cleaning, but you can use a brush. All parts are also dishwasher safe. Once everything’s dry, store it fully assembled. Its height is the main concern when it comes to storage.

Bodum was perfectly easy to clean. The only things to be careful of are the two silicone seals. Because the grounds get quite compacted at the bottom, you will need a wooden spoon to level them out. We recommend hand-cleaning since it’s quick and easy.

The only inconvenience is a separate plunger lid and brewing lid. When storing, it's probably best to remove the silicone seal of the brewing lid and store it in the brew vessel for safe keeping. The brew lid needs to be stored separately.