Ovalware vs Bean Envy Side-by-Side Comparison
Ovalware cold brew coffee maker vs Bean Envy. Two brewers with excellent brew quality. Find out what the real difference is.

Specifications
Design
The Ovalware has a distinguished look, but for us, the most prominent feature was the detachable silicone base stand. It made handling the carafe very comfortable. The small lip poured very nicely, and the handle was easy to grip. The only drawback was the quality and fit of the silicone seal.
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
Both brewing and decanting required little effort. However, since it is better to decant the contents twice or use a paper filter, additional work may be required. The thin neck of the decanter and the long filter required a bottle brush for deep cleaning.
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
The brew quality of the Ovalware was quite in line with what one would expect from a good cold brew coffee maker. It did well in bringing out sweeter flavors, although the concentrate itself was not so strong. Brewing for longer than 18 hours may produce even better results.
We partly attributed the good brewing results to the carafe having a wide base, but narrow neck. This seems to accommodate the more favorable design of a lower-down brewing area. The filter is also permeable enough to produce a favorable brew.
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
- Brew quality
- Brew markers in cups and ml
- Silicone base pad
- Comfortable handle
- Ease of brewing
- Two lid design
- Silicone base
- Handle design
- Measuring markers
- Quality and fit of silicone seals
- Additional decanting
- Narrow head for cleaning
- Filter bottom
- Pouring with silicone lid
Conclusion
The Ovalware and Bean Envy are neck-and-neck as cold brew coffee makers. The Ovalware, however, tends to produce a slightly better quality brew. Compared to the Bean Envy, the Ovalware has a more slender-necked design. The Ovalware comes in 34 and 51 oz carafes while the Bean Envy comes in a 32 oz size only.
Both brewers have a silicone base, but the Bean Envy proprietary design comes out tops. Additionally, the Bean Envy comes with two stoppers — one for brewing and a pop-up silicone stopper for easier pouring and better airtightness after decanting. Which is better really depends on the type of design and look you prefer.
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.