Primula Burke vs Coffee Gator Side-by-Side Comparison
Primula Burke cold brew coffee maker vs Coffee Gator. Two nice designs, but one fails to deliver. Find out why filter design is so crucial.
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.
The overall design of the Coffee Gator is simple and practical. The way the lid works is particularly nice, but the handle needs rethinking. The stainless steel measuring spoon and silicone funnel are also quite versatile in and of themselves.
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.
Coffee Gator is exceptionally easy to use because of the included measuring spoon and silicone pouring funnel. The filter attaches securely and effortlessly, and the lid design is most practical. Hand cleaning is also no issue.
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.
The brew quality of the Coffee Gator was fairly average and much in line with other immersion brewers with a similar ratio. The brew lacked complexity overall but was drinkable enough without dilution. Hot blooming may be an option, but many people prefer a stainless steel filter for this.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Detachable filter base
- Protective plastic jacket
- Lid design
- Easy to clean
- Thick glass
- Quality of glass carafe
- Additional spoon and funnel
- Neat and clever lid
- Twist to pour lid
- Personalized extras
- No measurement markings
- A little heavy
- Weak brew strength
- Grip and length of handle
- Brew rather average
Conclusion
The Primula Burke and Coffee Gator cold brew coffee makers have a few things in common. Both are glass jug-type brewers using a plastic and nylon immersion filter and each tries to create distinct value. However, only one of the brewers passed our rigorous testing procedures.
The Primula is a nice-sized 1.6-quart brewer for a larger brew volume. However, a major oversight is the filter design. The nylon filter is too fine, thus limiting the cross flow. The resulting brew is weak and insubstantial.
The Coffee Gator is a smaller 1.4-quart, more slender brewer that can easily fit in the door bin of a small refrigerator. Its brew quality, while quite acceptable, is not the best. Like the Primula, it has a twist-to-pour lid but the real added value is an included stainless steel measuring spoon and a nifty silicone funnel.
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.
