Cafe Du Chateau vs Bean Envy Side-by-Side Comparison
Cafe Du Chateau cold brew coffee maker vs Bean Envy. A brewer that hardly inspires, and one that makes some beans green with envy.
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.
Bean Envy is an all-round top-quality product and it makes a fairly good brew. The silicone base and the two-lid design are particularly nice, and the stainless steel filter was well-machined. Unfortunately, pouring with the silicone lid popped up was not so smooth.
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.
Brewing and decanting required minimal effort. Additionally, the volume markings on the carafe are great for telling how much yield is produced and how much coffee you have remaining during use. For hand-washing, you will need a bottle brush and a little extra care is required so as not to misplace either of the lids in storage.
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.
For an immersion filter brewer, the Bean Envy ranks very competitively and the brew quality is relatively good. The brew is strong, flavorful, and smooth but not as complex as a cold brew can be. We found it brewed more towards the bitter flavors rather than the sweeter ones.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- Two lid design
- Silicone base
- Handle design
- Measuring markers
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
- Filter bottom
- Pouring with silicone lid
Conclusion
The Cafe Du Chateau does not inspire much envy from other cold brew coffee makers. The brew quality is somewhat less than average since its fine-lasered stainless steel filter is not so permeable. Additionally, the thick glass carafe is rather heavy and uncomfortable to pour and the stopper is badly designed.
The Bean Envy, on the other hand, is one of the top immersion filter brewers we have tested. Its narrow neck and wide base, together with a more permeable stainless steel filter, produce a good-quality brew. It also has a unique two-stopper design ‒ one for brewing and another—a pop-up silicone stopper—for easy pouring.
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.
