Aquach vs Toddy System Side-by-Side Comparison
Aquach cold brew coffee maker vs the Toddy Cold Brew System. Two brewers with a stylish twist, but only one stands out.
Specifications
Design
The Aquach has one of the most aesthetically pleasing and practical designs for an immersion cold coffee brewer. There’s very little not to like about it and the materials are first rate. However, the filter, as we suspected and our tests revealed, is not the best design for a high-quality cold brew experience.
Overall, the Toddy Cold Brew System is a high-quality product. It’s well thought out from eco-friendliness to aesthetic appeal to the practicalities of brewing and storage. The only feature we found lacking was the temperamental filter.
Usability Comparison
Because of its practical design, the Aquach is one of the easiest cold brew coffee makers to use. Not only that, but the hole at the bottom of the filter makes it easy to drain all remaining brew. For the most part, cleaning is also effortless.
Making cold brew coffee can be messy. The purpose of a cold brew coffee maker is to make brewing and decanting as easy as possible. There are more steps to the Toddy system than you’ll find in a simple immersion filter brewer. However, it produced superior results and the whole process can be made easier if you use a paper filter bag.
Brew Quality
As with any immersion filter brewer, the filter needs to be permeable enough to infuse sufficient flavor into the brew while keeping sediment contained. Unfortunately, the Aquach didn’t quite succeed here as our test results revealed it failed to produce a strong brew and it lacked a complex flavor. The brew ratio is also not the best.
The test of any cold brew coffee maker is ultimately the coffee it produces. Our repeated testing found that the Toddy makes the best cold brew coffee. Specifically, it’s the most rounded, full-bodied, and complex brew with a balance towards sweeter flavors. Its filtration system, although not the most convenient, is highly effective.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Stylish decanter
- Lid design
- Decanter handle
- High-quality filter
- No plastic parts
- Minimal parts
- No over-packaging
- Eco-friendliness
- Ergonomic components
- Attractive carafe
- Included paper filter bags
- Cold or hot brewing
- Poor brew quality
- Felt filter tends to clog
- No brew vessel markings
Conclusion
Aquach is a very stylish carafe-style brewer with an immersion filter. The filter can be lifted out with a little handle, and the stopper is a good fit. All looks good, except that the ultra-fine, lasered filter isn’t the best for producing a high-quality brew. However, the brew is good enough to drink, and the glass carafe and stainless steel filter can easily be used for additional hot beverage brewing.
The Toddy uses a freestyle brewing technique with a separate brew vessel. You can adjust the brew ratio as desired. The quality of the brew is excellent all round, as is the design of the product. The most attractive feature of the Toddy is its carafe, which stands out in much the same way as the Aquach does. It can also be used for cold brewing tea; two sample filter bags come with the package.
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.
