Ovalware vs Coffee Bear Side-by-Side Comparison
Ovalware cold brew coffee maker vs Coffee Bear. A top quality brewer vs an average brewer for a small refrigerator door.
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.
There’s nothing to fault about the quality of the glass carafe and the lid design. The silicone base pad, on the other hand, is not the best quality and the handle is a little small.
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.
Using the Coffee Bear is quite simple and straightforward. The most practical aspect is the lid, but besides that, the product doesn’t offer any added value. It’s easy to miss spots when cleaning the black-framed filter, but the detachable filter base does make a difference.
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.
The brew quality of the Coffee Bear corresponded with its brew ratio and the functionality of its filter. The brew was decidedly average and lacked complexity with a watery aftertaste.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Brew quality
- Brew markers in cups and ml
- Silicone base pad
- Comfortable handle
- Ease of brewing
- Glass decanter
- Lid design
- Twist to pour
- Quality and fit of silicone seals
- Additional decanting
- Narrow head for cleaning
- Silicone base not top quality
- Handle not so comfortable
- Appears to be a generic copy
Conclusion
The Ovalware’s design is well-thought out. The full-length stainless steel filter is a good match for its thin neck and wide base. The brewers come in 1-liter (32 oz) and 1.5-liter (52 oz) sizes. Although the base is a little wide for smaller refrigerator doors, the silicone pad grips tightly to any surface.
The Coffee Bear is by comparison taller and more slender but is also made of glass. The filter, on the other hand, is plastic and nylon so it’s not suited to brewing hot beverages. The easy twist-to-pour lid design, however, is more convenient than the Ovalware’s stopper.
All that said, the Coffee Bear is almost identical to the Coffee Gator except the latter comes with a stainless steel measuring spoon and a silicone filter for pouring in grounds and water. If you need an in-door brewer for a smaller type of refrigerator, the Coffee Gator is the better choice.
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.
