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Ovalware vs Coffee Gator Side-by-Side Comparison

Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 5, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 5, 2023
Ovalware Cold Brew Coffee Maker Review
The Coffee Gator cold brew coffee maker standing to the right of its box.
Coffee Makers type
coldBrew
coldBrew

Our Verdict

Overall Verdict

8.5
Overall Score
  • Brew Quality (50%)
    7.8/10
  • Design (15%)
    9.0/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    9.3/10
8.2
Overall Score
  • Brew Quality (50%)
    7.2/10
  • Design (15%)
    8.9/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    9.2/10

The choice between the Ovalware and Coffee Gator depends on your priorities. The Ovalware produces a stronger brew and ranks as one of the top immersion filter brewers we have tested. It uses a stainless steel filter and the stopper design is well executed. 

The Coffee Gator uses a plastic-framed nylon filter, so it’s not as well suited to hot brewing as the Ovalware. Furthermore, the brew is weaker. However, the Coffee Gator twist-to-pour lid is a lot more convenient and secure than a stopper. 

The Coffee Gator also fits more easily into the door bin of a smaller refrigerator. This is its key advantage. Additionally, its nifty silicone filter makes pouring in grounds and water a breeze.

Brew Quality

Ovalware Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Coffee Gator Cold Brew Coffee Maker: Brew Quality
7.8
Performance Scores
  • Bouquet (10%)7.5/10
  • Drinkability (70%)8.0/10
  • Sediment (20%)7.5/10
7.2
Performance Scores
  • Bouquet (10%)7.0/10
  • Drinkability (70%)7.0/10
  • Sediment (20%)8.0/10
7.5

Bouquet

7.0

The Oval produced a somewhat surprising bouquet, but its medium strength was more or less in line with the brew ratio. The bouquet had distinctly herbie and somewhat earthy, chocolatey notes, and we were keen to see what kind of flavor it produced.

The bouquet of the coffee gator was of a slightly medium strength. We detected a mild roasted note, as well as a definite woodiness. There was a slight hint of caramel. This suggested that the extraction was either average or a little under par.

8.0

Drinkability

7.0
The Ovalware cold brew coffee maker with a freshly produced cold brew and an empty glass to the left.

With a one-to-one dilution, the Ovalware cold brew had a mildly roasted and surprisingly sweet taste. It also felt rounded and smooth, but lacked the rich complexity that our top brewer was able to produce. There was a slight bitterness, but overall the taste was very satisfying and not watery at all.

We would recommend less dilution for a more robust flavor - maybe two thirds coffee to a third of water. It may also be worth brewing for longer than our standard 18 hours.

A small glass of coffee standing in the foreground and the Coffee Gator cold brew coffee jug-carafe in the background.

The Coffee Gator produced a mild to medium strength brew. It had a dominant roasted flavor, but no real complexity. The aftertaste had a very slight sourness with a watery finish. It’s a nice enough brew especially if you prefer a little sweetness added. We don’t recommend diluting it, but the addition of a little milk or mixed as a smoothie or protein drink would work fine. You may want to brew for longer than 18 hours.

7.5

Sediment

8.0
A view of sediment left behind after all coffee has been carefully decanted from a typical cold brew coffee maker.

We brewed the Ovalware undisturbed  for 18 hours in a refrigerator. After allowing the contents to settle, we decanted the brew and the sediment left behind was quite substantial. Decanting the contents a second time, or even filtering through a paper filter, would probably be the best solution. However, we felt the good quality of the brew concentrate was a reasonable compromise on the filter.

An inside view of a cold brew coffee carafe showing remaining sediment after all the brew has been carefully decanted.

After decanting the brew, there was a moderate amount of fine granular sediment remaining. This was typical for the type of brewer and filter, or as good as one could expect. If you prefer, you can decant the brew a second time, but there is no grittiness to the final drink.

Design

Ovalware rj3 Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Coffee Gator Cold Brew Design
9.0
design Scores
  • Stopper / Lid (30%)9.0/10
  • Filter (40%)9.0/10
  • Build Quality (30%)9.0/10
8.9
design Scores
  • Stopper / Lid (30%)10/10
  • Filter (40%)8.0/10
  • Build Quality (30%)9.0/10

Ovalware Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker In the Box

Coffee Gator Cold Brew Coffee Maker In the Box
The unboxed contents of the Ovalware RJ3 cold brew coffee maker: the box, the glass carafe with the filter, and user manual.
  • Assembled brewer
  • Promotional card
  • User manual and warranty

The Ovalware comes neatly packaged in a custom box, but a little over packaged with plastic bubble wrap. The user manual was inside the carafe which is common but annoying because it bends. You should register your warranty on their website and there’s a handy QR code link for non-English instructions in most major languages.

An unboxed Coffee Gator cold brew coffee maker. The box is to the left, a measuring spoon and silicone funnel are upfront.
  • Borosilicate glass jug brewer
  • Stainless steel measuring spoon
  • Silicone funnel
  • Instruction and message card

Our first impressions of the Coffee Gator cold brew setup were very positive. The carafe has a solid look and feel, the black and white design is very catchy, and it’s not heavy to lift. The stainless steel spoon is something you won’t get with other brewers, and the silicone funnel for pouring in grounds was very thoughtful. 

We liked the personalized message card and instruction card too. The box had a seal saying ‘This product is not dishwasher safe’. The box also says if you register for a Platinum Membership, you get an additional year’s warranty, priority access to new products, discount codes, and coffee masterclass brew videos. They have full social media profiles and you can view their videos on Youtube.

Ovalware rj3 Cold Brew Decanter

Coffee Gator Cold Brew Decanter
Ovalware RJ3 cold brew coffee maker empty glass carafe with no filter and the stopper resting to the right on the countertop.
  • Height With Stopper Lid:
    8
  • Base Diameter:
    4.7
  • Width:
    5.5" (14.0 cm)
  • Weight:
    17.3 oz (490 g)
  • Material:
    borosilicate glass

The decanter is very attractive and the markings in cups and milliliters are very useful. The handle was comfortable and the flat edge easy to grip. The carafe poured well with the small lip, a nice feature that means less chance of accidental chipping.

We particularly liked the base’s silicone stand. There’s a hole to let out air and you can easily hook it off for cleaning. Overall, the carafe design is excellent.

The Coffee Gator glass brew jug standing on a countertop. There is no filter inserted.
  • Height With Stopper Lid:
    10.2
  • Base Diameter:
    3.9
  • Width:
    6.7" (17.0 cm)
  • Weight:
    19.3 oz (547 g)
  • Material:
     borosilicate glass

The decanter is of excellent quality and the glass is quite thick, but not heavy. The full capacity is 1.2 liters. The plastic neck handle screws on tightly and the only fault is the handle. It’s a little short and uncomfortable while the grip is not so secure.

9.0

Stopper / Lid

10
The stainless steel stopper with a rubber silicone ring resting on its side on a wooden countertop.
  • Diameter:
    3
  • Material:
    stainless steel
  • Additional Features:
    silicone seal

The stainless steel stopper is a nice complement to the glass design. Our only qualm was the quality and fit of the silicone seal. Without the filter, the stopper was not so tight and required a little turning to get a more airtight fit.

A close up of a screw-on rim handle and lid stopper of a cold brew coffee maker.
  • Diameter:
    4.3
  • Material:
    BPA-free plastic
  • Additional Features:
    2 white silicone gaskets

We loved the design of the Coffee Gator lid. It’s made of clear see-through plastic with a silicone gasket around the inner rim. It fits very neatly into the hole of the screw-on handle rim. The rim handle has an additional silicone gasket for proper air-tight sealing. If you turn the lid slightly to one side, the spout opens up to pour.

The lid design is very practical,  however, it’s practically identical to that of the Coffee Bear. Upon reaching out, we confirmed that there is no relationship between the two coffee brands.

9.0

Filter

8.0
A typical stainless steel immersion filter used in a cold brew coffee maker or tea infuser.
  • Length:
    6.9" (17.5 cm)
  • Diameter:
    2.7
  • Material:
    lasered stainless steel
  • Additional Features:
    silicone seal

The filter appeared well-made and there were no sharp edges. We noticed the holes on the bottom seemed finer than on the sides. The silicone seal for the filter, and for the stopper, was not the best quality. In our testing, we have come across better quality designs, so this was a little disappointing considering the Ovalware brand status. Our brew quality test showed that the paucity of the filter allowed for a good brew to develop.

A close up side angle of a plastic and mesh filter used in a cold brew coffee maker.
  • Length:
    7.8" (19.8 cm)
  • Diameter:
    2.5
  • Material:
    White plastic & nylon mesh
  • Additional Features:
     Detachable base

We loved the refreshing white design of the filter, and how it clips securely into the rim. The base of the filter unscrews and comes off for cleaning. Since the brew ratio is only 1:14, and the filter had a fair amount of solid plastic, we wondered how well it would actually brew. The mesh filter seemed porous enough on first inspection.

9.0

Build Quality

9.0
The Ovalware JR3 cold brew coffee maker completely disassembled. There are 6 parts in total.

Except for the compromise on the silicone stoppers, the overall design quality of the Ovalware is excellent. The filter is well-machined and the silicone cushion is an extra that you don’t often find on other cold brew coffee makers.

The disassemble Coffee Gator cold brew coffee maker showing all 9 parts.

The overall build quality is really good. The carafe is solid and the lid an excellent design. On the downside, the handle lacks a solid grip and feels uncomfortable. The silicone gaskets seem good quality, and the stainless steel measuring spoon and silicone funnel add excellent value to the product.

Ease of Use

Ovalware Cold Brew Review

Coffee Gator Cold Brew Review: Ease of Use
9.3
usability Scores
  • Brewing (45%)10/10
  • Decanting (35%)9.0/10
  • Cleaning and Storage (20%)8.5/10
9.2
usability Scores
  • Brewing (45%)9.5/10
  • Decanting (35%)9.0/10
  • Cleaning and Storage (20%)9.0/10
10

Brewing

9.5
The Ovalware RJ3 cold brew coffee maker set up to brew with the filter on a scale and a carafe of filtered to the far right.

Brewing steps are clearly outlined in the manual. They recommend weighing 85 g (3 oz) of medium to coarse ground coffee which is a little more than 80% of the filter volume. Then pour room temperature filtered water slowly over the grounds. You should stir and mix the grounds a little. Like any immersion brewer, we found brewing simple and effortless.

A short video showing how to brew with the Coffee Gator cold brew coffee maker.
The Coffee Gator cold brew coffee maker set up for brewing with measured coffee grounds on a scale.

The addition of the silicone funnel and the measuring spoon made brewing practically effortless. The recommended amount of grounds is 75 g or 2.6 oz, however, we put in eight spoons to top off some of the space. One level spoon is 11 g, so the total weight was 88 g or 3.1 oz.

The silicone funnel was also perfect for pouring water around the edges so the flow was more gentle and gradual. If you pour too fast, liquid and grounds will move up the funnel, so be careful when you take the funnel out. You can use a teaspoon to push any grounds around the edges into the filter. The lid also made for a perfect air-tight fit.

9.0

Decanting

9.0

Like brewing, decanting was straightforward. As with any immersion filter, you simply lift it out of the carafe and place it in a small cup to catch the remaining liquid. The holes on the bottom of the filter make decanting fast and effortless. After decanting, we rinsed off the stopper even though there were no granules present.

Due to the amount of sediment left behind, we recommend a second decanting at the expense of a little extra work. The more health conscious may want to use a paper filter at the same time.

Like any immersion filter brew, decanting was effortless. All you need to do is pop off the lid and carefully twist loose the neck ring. We detached the filter immediately and left it to rest in a jar to collect the last few drips. After rinsing the screw-on neck ring, we immediately resealed the carafe to protect the flavor and aroma. We returned the brew to the refrigerator to await our brew score testing.

8.5

Cleaning and Storage

9.0

The shape of the Ovalware carafe means that you need to clean it with a bottle brush. Although slightly more effort is needed than other brewers, it’s a small compromise on a design that works comparatively well. The filter requires a bottle brush too, however, all parts can go in the dishwasher.

The Ovalware cold brew coffee maker simply stores as it is. We noted that the silicone base is an excellent design feature for safer storage. The glass doesn’t bang and the sides are protected from scratching.

To clean the filter, you need to rinse out the grounds and then gently clean with a bottle brush and a small amount of liquid soap. We noticed a fair amount of coffee oil that required soap for cleaning. Also, the filter lost its pearly white appeal after the first brew. However, you can see the residue oil to wash off more easily than with a black-colored filter.

The carafe itself also cleans easily. We had no problem getting our hands inside, but larger hands may be a problem. You can put the glass carafe in a dishwasher, but Coffee Gator recommends hand washing.