Primula Burke vs County Line Kitchen Side-by-Side Comparison
Primula Burke vs County Line Kitchen cold brew coffee maker. A brewer that fails on 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.
The County Line Kitchen cold brew coffee maker is a practical design which captures the aesthetic of a traditional homestead. The screw-top lid can be purchased with or without a handle. The flip lid is very convenient and pours well. The brewer is airtight with a silicone seal, and you can also fit the mason jar with a traditional metal screw cap.
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 with the County Line Kitchen is very easy and straightforward. It’s not necessary to weigh or measure either grounds or water. Just fill the filter and jar as described below.
Although decanting is just a question of removing the filter, its lower level of filtration means you may want to refilter or further decant the contents. For the 1-quart jar, we had to use a bottle brush to scrub it out.
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.
We found the brew quality of the County Line Kitchen cold brew coffee maker to be promising. It did well to bring out sweet profiles, but at the same time, the brew lacked complexity. We recommend brewing for longer than our test standard of 18 hours. The amount of sediment indicated that the filter was not so effective, but nonetheless a good compromise on the brew quality.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Detachable filter base
- Protective plastic jacket
- Lid design
- Easy to clean
- Thick glass
- Versatile product
- Minimal packaging
- Packed and shipped in the US
- Robust and durable
- Airtight silicone gasket
- No measurement markings
- A little heavy
- Weak brew strength
- Brew strength average
- Filter not so effective
Conclusion
The Primula Burke, despite its thoughtful design, fails as a cold brew coffee maker because of its oversight in the filter design. The fine polyester-type mesh of the filter lacks sufficient cross flow for a decent brew to develop.
It has a glass body with a plastic jacket and the lid is well-designed. The lid simply twists to pour or you can remove the inner core to insert the filter or stir the contents. The County Line Kitchen excels with its screw-on plastic lid with a flip cap for pouring. You can also choose a lid with a handle or one without.
That said, the County Line Kitchen produces an excellent-quality brew. The stainless steel mesh filter means you can also use it for hot beverage brewing. It also fits neatly into most refrigerator door bins whereas the Primula would require a gallon door bin.
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.
