Primula Burke vs Bean Envy Side-by-Side Comparison
Primula Burke cold brew coffee maker vs Bean Envy. A brewer that neglects good brewing fundamentals and one that gets it right.
Specifications
Design
The Primula cold brew coffee maker boasts a couple of design features to really appreciate. One is the plastic jacket which also includes a base cushion, the other is the practical lid design. The height is comparatively low which allows you to brew easily on a refrigerator shelf, or in the door.
On the other hand, the 1.6 qt size and the thick glass make it a bit heavy when full. Additionally, even though the filter is high quality, our testing revealed it lacks sufficient permeability to make a good cold brew coffee.
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
The Primula certainly can’t be faulted for its easy-to-use design. Parts are minimal, with only a couple of silicone gaskets to keep an eye on. They fit well, are high quality, and the double lid design is an excellent feature. You can easily remove the inner lid to stir the contents, and also close the spout by turning it.
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
With its unique and practical design, the Primula was a pleasure to brew with. As such, we expected better results. However, the Primula failed to deliver a worthy cold brew coffee concentrate even when compared to brewers using a similar brew ratio. The design of the filter is fundamentally flawed, and the brew quality ranks as one of the lowest we have tested.
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
- Detachable filter base
- Protective plastic jacket
- Lid design
- Easy to clean
- Thick glass
- Two lid design
- Silicone base
- Handle design
- Measuring markers
- No measurement markings
- A little heavy
- Weak brew strength
- Filter bottom
- Pouring with silicone lid
Conclusion
The Primula Burke pays a lot of attention to design detail. It’s a 1.6-quart glass jug with a neat plastic jacket available in a number of colors. The double lid design allows you to easily insert the filter, stir the contents, or just twist to pour. The nylon-type filter, however, is extremely fine and results in a very poor-quality brew.
Bean Envy is likewise a well-designed product but it pays due attention to good brewing fundamentals. Its stainless steel filter is permeable enough to produce a good brew, and the thin neck / wide base design of the carafe is favorable. The Primula is not a brewer we actually recommend, while Bean Envy is one of the top brewers we have tested.
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.
