Primula Burke vs Ovalware Side-by-Side Comparison
Primula Burke cold brew coffee maker vs Ovalware. A brewer that fails to understand design for cold brew coffee making and one that gets it.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Detachable filter base
- Protective plastic jacket
- Lid design
- Easy to clean
- Thick glass
- Brew quality
- Brew markers in cups and ml
- Silicone base pad
- Comfortable handle
- Ease of brewing
- No measurement markings
- A little heavy
- Weak brew strength
- Quality and fit of silicone seals
- Additional decanting
- Narrow head for cleaning
Conclusion
The Primula Burke is a cold coffee brewer that pays a lot of attention to design. The lid has a perfect twist-to-pour design and, by removing the inner lid, you can easily stir the contents or pour in water when brewing. The filter is really sturdy and the bottom removes for easy cleaning.
The only problem with the Primula Burke is that the filter is too fine and the lack of cross-flow means it only produces a very mediocre brew. One is left to wonder if the product was even tested for brewing or if the designers knew anything at all about making cold brew coffee.
The Ovalware, by contrast, is a product of a dedicated coffeeware manufacturer. It doesn’t have the most favorable brew ratio (1:11 ratio and not 1:9) for an immersion brewer, but it makes a brew good enough to drink as it is. The stainless steel and glass design means it can also be used for tea or hot brewing beverages.
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.
