Cafe Du Chateau vs Aquach Side-by-Side Comparison
Cafe Du Chateau cold brew coffee maker vs Aquach. A brewer with a cumbersome design vs one that brings a little panache to the table.
Specifications
Design
The Cafe du Chateau is an attractive, durable product made from high grade materials. There are no plastics whatsoever, though the product arrived in a styrofoam jacket in the box. We were, however, not so thrilled with the overall 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.
Usability Comparison
Brewing was the easiest part of using the Cafe du Chateau cold brew coffee maker. Decanting was straightforward except that removing the filter required some effort. However, the cumbersome silicone seals were a hindrance, and the brew decanter did not separate from the stainless steel jacket as advertised.
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.
Brew Quality
The Cafe du Chateau produced a medium-strength brew. While smooth to drink and well-filtered, it lacks complex flavor and the aftertaste is not very rounded.
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.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- Stylish decanter
- Lid design
- Decanter handle
- High-quality filter
- No plastic parts
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
- Poor brew quality
Conclusion
In terms of brew strength and quality, Cafe Du Chateau cold brew coffee maker slightly outperforms Aquach. This is because the Cafe Du Chateau has a more porous filter. However, apart from that, it is not a brewer we recommend. The device is bulky, is unsteady while pouring, and its stopper is not well-designed.
Aquach, on the other hand, has quite an attractive design. The stainless steel insertable neck is a unique feature, as is the easy-to-lift filter. Aquach also doubles up as a hot beverage brewer and it pours really well. If you like the look of Aquach and appreciate its versatility as a stylish breakfast table carafe, it's not a bad choice.
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.
