Hario Mizudashi vs Willow & Everett Side-by-Side Comparison
Hario Mizudashi cold brew coffee maker vs Willow & Everett mason jar. Two very different designs and sizes, one lacking in fundamentals.
Specifications
Design
The Hario scored well for its build quality, but it fell short on the key fundamentals of the lid and filter design. Overall, the design did not contribute to producing a good quality brew.
Although the Willow & Everett looks neat and handy, the build quality and design didn’t quite match our expectations. The lid and filter, in particular, are poorly made and the tap mechanism is not well thought out. Cleaning is straightforward, and as long as you handle the jar carefully, you may be perfectly happy with this product.
Usability Comparison
The Hario Mizudashi is really easy to use because it requires little effort. Additionally, it is easy to brew without having to measure out the grounds or water. The tall size is a little troublesome when hand washing, but everything is dishwasher safe. Our key issue, however, is with the non-airtight design.
Brewing with the Willow & Everett is very straightforward, as is cleaning and storage. Unfortunately, the design makes decanting somewhat cumbersome. The tap does not work so well and leaves about 20% of the liquid behind. That means you must decant it into a smaller vessel, largely negating the value of a tap in the first place.
Brew Quality
The Hario Mizudashi was an overall poor performer. The brew lacked complexity and had an overall sourish taste. This was largely down to a short filter, a poor brew ratio, and a non-airtight vessel. One way to improve the brew quality would be hot blooming where you pour hot water over the grounds and allow to bloom for 30 to 40 seconds before pouring cold water.
The Willow & Everett produced a relatively strong and delicious brew. In fact, it was one of the best brews we got out of any immersion-filter cold brew coffee maker. Overall, the taste was defined by a deep roasted flavor and an almost bitter aftertaste. If you enjoy a strong coffee, or are looking for a quality cold brew concentrate to mix into something else, this is one of the better choices.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Attractive brew decanter
- Easy-to-clean filter
- Color choice
- Hot or cold brewing
- Funky design
- Brew ratio
- Brew quality
- Tap dispenser
- Not airtight
- Odor contamination
- Poor brew quality
- Lid design
- Weak glass around tap
- Tap is temperamental
- No literature
Conclusion
The aesthetics of the Hario Mizudashi and Willow & Everett brewers could not be more different. The Hario is quite tall and slender, ideally suited for in-door brewing even in a small refrigerator. Apart from its poor brew ratio (1:14), the Hario is not airtight. It produced one of the poorest quality brews for an immersion filter brewer and is a brewer we recommend you avoid.
In stark contrast, the Willow & Everett has the appearance of a rotund barrel and the one gallon is one of the largest cold brew coffee makers. The Willow & Everett, compared to the Hario, produced one of the best quality brews for an immersion filter brewer.
However, the design and material quality of the Willow & Everett could be better. The lid is of poor quality, the spigot tap doesn’t always work well, and the surrounding glass is fragile - more so with the half-gallon jar than the one gallon one.
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.
