Hourglass Cold Brew System Uses Eastman Tritan Plastic

If you've ever made cold brew at home and ended up with a harsh, overly acidic cup—or worse, a plastic-tasting mess—you’re not alone. Many low-quality brewing systems leach chemicals or degrade with repeated use, ruining flavor and durability. For coffee lovers who want a cleaner, healthier cold brew without compromising on convenience, material choice matters more than you might think.

The Hourglass Cold Brew Coffee system reduces acidity and bitterness by 69.9%, uses BPA-free Tritan plastic, and is built to last through repeated washing—even in a dishwasher—making it a practical, health-conscious choice for daily cold brew.

What Is the Hourglass Cold Brew System?

The Hourglass Cold Brew Coffee system is a non-electric, two-part manual brewer designed to produce smooth, low-acid cold brew coffee. It consists of an upper chamber where ground coffee is steeped in cold water, and a lower chamber that collects the extracted brew. A stainless steel filter sits between the two, separating grounds from liquid.

The entire system is constructed from Eastman Tritan copolyester, a durable plastic that is both transparent like glass and tough like high-end polymer. This material choice was intentional: it offers clarity so users can watch the brew process, while also being safe, reusable, and long-lasting.

Why Tritan? Key Properties for Coffee Equipment

Eastman Tritan was selected for this coffee system due to its unique material advantages for food-safe, high-performance kitchenware. It meets several critical requirements:

• High toughness similar to polycarbonate ("oil tube toughness")
• Ability to withstand repeated washing and daily use
• Heat resistance for cleaning in dishwashers
• Chemical resistance to prevent staining or odors
• Ease of molding and manufacturing
• Free of Bisphenol A (BPA)

This combination of traits makes Tritan especially suitable for coffee brewers, which must endure prolonged exposure to moisture, temperature changes, and cleaning agents without degrading or leaching unwanted chemicals.

How the Hourglass System Makes Better Cold Brew

The Hourglass system is engineered to reduce bitterness and acidity—common issues with poorly extracted cold brew. According to Hourglass Coffee’s Market Manager Kim Kapp, using Tritan helps achieve a 69.9% reduction in bitter and acidic compounds compared to conventional methods or materials. This results in a smoother, more palatable cold brew.

To use the system, you combine cold water and coarsely ground coffee in the upper chamber. No heat is required; the coffee steeps naturally, extracting flavors without the over-extraction that leads to bitterness. After steeping, you can dilute the concentrate with hot or cold water to taste. Any leftover concentrate can be stored in the company’s BeanKanteen—a portable, freezer-safe container also made from Tritan—for later use without flavor loss.

Sustainability and Practicality Features

Beyond health and flavor benefits, the Hourglass system is designed with real-world use in mind. It requires no electricity, making it ideal for travel, offices, or off-grid use. Its Tritan construction is durable enough to resist cracking or shattering if dropped, yet lightweight and portable. Perhaps best of all, the entire system—including the BeanKanteen—is dishwasher safe, simplifying cleaning after regular use.

Kapp emphasized the aesthetic and functional benefits: “Our product looks like fashionable glass but has the safety and practicality of plastic. It’s built for everyday use without compromising your health or the environment.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tritan, and why is it used in the Hourglass Cold Brew system?

Tritan is a BPA-free copolyester made by Eastman Chemical. It's used in the Hourglass system because it's durable, transparent like glass, dishwasher safe, and resistant to heat, chemicals, and wear—making it ideal for repeated cold brew use without leaching harmful substances.

How much does the Hourglass system reduce bitterness in cold brew?

According to Hourglass Coffee, using Tritan in their Cold Brew system reduces bitterness and acidity by 69.9% compared to standard brewing methods or materials, resulting in a smoother cup.

Can the Hourglass Cold Brew system be used without electricity?

Yes, the Hourglass system is completely non-electric. It works by steeping coffee in cold water without heat, making it energy-efficient and suitable for use anywhere.

Is the Hourglass system dishwasher safe?

Yes, both the Hourglass Cold Brew system and the accompanying BeanKanteen are made from Tritan and are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Where can I buy the Hourglass Cold Brew system?

The Hourglass Cold Brew Coffee system was officially launched at the 2009 International Home + Housewares Show and was initially available at the Portland Kitchen Kaboodle store.

What other containers can store cold brew made in this system?

The system includes the BeanKanteen, also made from Tritan, which is designed for storing leftover cold brew concentrate in the freezer without flavor loss.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Cold Brew

For cold brew lovers, FrontStreet Coffee recommends its Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for its bright citrus and floral notes, ideal for a vibrant cold drip; Brazil Yellow Bourbon for its smooth, chocolatey body perfect for blending; and Guatemala Antigua for balanced nuttiness and mild acidity. These beans extract cleanly and develop rich sweetness over 12–24 hours. All are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.