Elegant borosilicate glass cold brew maker with ultra-fine stainless filter
Ovalware RJ3 Cold Brew Maker: Clean glass design, no filters to replace
The Ovalware RJ3 at $25 is a 34oz borosilicate glass cold brew maker with a permanent stainless steel mesh filter. It's the cleanest, simplest cold brew system in this price range: add coarse grounds to the filter, fill with cold water, refrigerate for 12–24 hours, remove the filter, and pour. No paper filters, no felt pads, no consumables.
What works
Borosilicate glass is the right material for a cold brew carafe. It won't absorb coffee odors over time like plastic, it's clear enough to watch the brew develop, and it's dishwasher safe — filter and carafe both. At $25, getting genuine borosilicate construction (not cheap glass) is unusual and is the main reason to choose the Ovalware over plastic alternatives.
The ultra-fine stainless steel mesh filter does a good job of keeping grounds out of the finished brew. There's minimal sediment in the final cup, which matters if you prefer a clean cold brew without the muddy texture some immersion systems produce.
The minimalist design looks good in a refrigerator or on a counter when serving. The compact profile is fridge-friendly and doesn't demand significant shelf space.
What doesn't
34oz capacity is modest. For a single person drinking one glass daily, you'll brew every two to three days. For two people, daily brewing becomes necessary. Systems like the Filtron ($35) or Toddy ($45) produce double or triple the volume per batch.
Glass breaks when dropped. In a busy kitchen this is a real consideration, and at $25 a replacement isn't ruinous, but the inconvenience is worth noting.
Who should buy this
The solo cold brew drinker who wants a glass vessel over plastic, values an all-washable system with no replacement filters, and brews in moderate quantities. At $25, it's the best-value glass cold brew system available.
Who should look elsewhere
Households who go through cold brew quickly need more capacity — the Filtron ($35), Toddy ($45), or KitchenAid ($80) produce larger batches. If you want plastic with more capacity at a similar price, the Takeya ($30) is a solid alternative.