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Cafe Du Chateau vs Bodum Side-by-Side Comparison

Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 5, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 5, 2023
The Cafe du Chateau cold brew coffee maker standing to the right of its box.
The unboxed Bodum cold brew coffee maker standing between its box and an additional brewing lid.
Coffee Makers type
coldBrew
coldBrew

Our Verdict

Overall Verdict

7.7
Overall Score
  • Brew Quality (50%)
    7.3/10
  • Design (15%)
    7.6/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    8.3/10
9.1
Overall Score
  • Brew Quality (50%)
    9.1/10
  • Design (15%)
    9.8/10
  • Ease of Use (35%)
    8.7/10

The Cafe du Chateau and the Bodum have one thing in common — they are both a take on the French press coffee maker design. However, that is where the similarity ends. 

The Cafe Du Chateau attempts to adapt the French press design to an immersion filter brewer but it’s rather badly executed. The thick glass is heavy, the carafe badly weighted for smooth pouring, and the stopper is not particularly effective. 

The Bodum is an actual French press but uses a durable plastic carafe for cold brewing and a slightly modified lid with a plunge filter. The brewer actually has two lids — one for brewing and one with the plunge filter for decanting. The Bodum is a freestyle brewer meaning you can decide the brew ratio and quantity to brew. Moreover, the quality of the brew is one of the best for making a cold brew concentrate.

Brew Quality

Cafe du Chateau Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Coffee Maker: Brew Quality
7.3
Performance Scores
  • Bouquet (10%)6.0/10
  • Drinkability (70%)7.0/10
  • Sediment (20%)9.0/10
9.1
Performance Scores
  • Bouquet (10%)9.0/10
  • Drinkability (70%)8.8/10
  • Sediment (20%)10/10
6.0

Bouquet

9.0

After 18 hours of brewing, the Cafe du Chateau produced a noticeably weak bouquet despite a reasonable brew ratio of 1:8. The bouquet did, however, have a distinctively earthy note. Overall, there was very little complexity and sweet notes were indiscernible.

The bouquet of the concentrate the Bodum brewed was quite strong. There was a well-defined roasted note with a hint of underlying caramel. Although confident, the bouquet was not defined by complexity.

7.0

Drinkability

8.8
A glass of freshly-poured coffee standing in front of a cold brew coffee carafe.

Considering the brew ratio, we diluted the concentrate with one part water to one part coffee. The final serving was smooth to drink, but the aftertaste was neither rounded nor satisfying. It had a defined roasted and somewhat earthy flavor, but lacked character. Overall, the Cafe du Chateau produced an average to reasonably good brew, but it didn’t excite.

A glass of cold-brewed coffee standing near a brew carafe half-filled with coffee.

The Bodum produced a strong and hearty full-roasted flavor. We used a 1:2 dilution of cold brew concentrate to water, yet further dilution is recommended for a standard coffee strength. The brew was full-bodied with no bitter flavor and the finish was perfectly smooth. The brew, however, lacked complexity except for a slight roasted caramel undertone. To get this favorable result we did two brew tests using different techniques detailed in the ‘Brewing’ section below.

9.0

Sediment

10
The inside of a glass jar showing sediment left behind after a typical cold brew coffee maker brew.

After allowing the concentrate to settle, we decanted the contents of the Cafe du Chateau. The filter, made of laser-cut 304 stainless steel, did a good job overall.  There was not much sediment and it was mostly fine with some powdery grains. All considered, the filter seemed not porous enough to produce a high quality brew.

Sediment in the bottom of a jar from which cold brew coffee has been carefully decanted.

The sediment test result of this coffee maker was excellent. There was hardly any detectable sediment, even fine granules. Coupled with this, the filtration method is one of the easiest among the freestyle brewing devices we’ve tested.

Cafe du Chateau Cold Brew Design

Bodum French Press Cold Brew Design
7.6
design Scores
  • Stopper / Lid (30%)7.0/10
  • Filter (40%)8.5/10
  • Build Quality (30%)7.0/10
9.8
design Scores
  • Stopper / Lid (30%)9.5/10
  • Filter (40%)10/10
  • Build Quality (30%)10/10

Cafe du Chateau Cold Brew Maker In the Box

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Coffee Maker In the Box
The fully-assembled Chateau du Cafe cold brew coffee maker standing to the right of its box.
  • Fully assembled unit
  • Use manual and brew guide

The Cafe du Chateau was one of the few cold coffee brewers we bought that came with styrofoam packaging. It’s very secure and comes fully assembled. The user manual and brewing guide come together as a high-quality glossy booklet. Both the box and booklet feature a convenient QR code for the customer support email. They promise hassle free replacement for any damaged product. In terms of first impressions, we were well satisfied.

The unboxed Bodum cold brew coffee maker. To the right of the box  is the brew carafe, plunge filter lid, and then a spoon.
  • Decanter with airtight lid
  • Plunge filter with lid
  • Measuring spoon
  • Multilingual instruction leaflet

Most of all, we loved how the Bodum was boxed. It has a simple two-sided cardboard jacket that neatly folds out with an opening for the spout. It’s minimal and there was an additional bubble plastic wrapping. The device came fully assembled. Since it’s made in Portugal, the small instruction leaflet is in multiple languages including Russian, Chinese, and Japanese.

Cafe du Chateau Cold Brew Decanter

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Decanter
 A glass and stainless steel cold brew coffee maker standing on a countertop.
  • Height With Stopper Lid:
    9
  • Base Diameter:
    5
  • Width:
    6.5" (16.5 cm)
  • Weight:
    29.5 oz (836 g)
  • Material:
    borosilicate glass & stainless steel

The brew decanter has the look and feel of a solid and durable product. However, on closer inspection it’s not without its flaws. For one, we found it a bit on the heavy side even when empty. We filled the decanter with water to test pour it, and it poured rather heavily. It also felt unbalanced and the grip was somewhat slippery. The manual says the glass decanter can detach from the stainless steel sleeve, but it was difficult to do, so we left this for the cleaning stage.

The Bodum cold brew coffee maker brew vessel as it would appear before brewing is commenced.
  • Height With Stopper Lid:
    7.7
  • Base Diameter:
    5.1
  • Width:
    7.5" (19.1 cm)
  • Weight:
    16.3 oz (462 g)
  • Material:
    Plastic, silicone

The Bodum brew decanter is made entirely of plastic. It holds up to 37 fl oz (1.5 L) when full, so a plastic body certainly lightens the load. Notwithstanding, it’s also very durable and dishwasher safe. A key feature is the wide and comfortable handle with a silicone grip.

7.0

Stopper / Lid

 Stopper / Lid
Close up of a stainless steel stopper with a silicone seal from a cold brew coffee maker.
  • Diameter:
    3.9 in (100 mm)
  • Material:
    stainless steel
  • Additional Features:
    silicone seal

The stopper has an airtight when brewing, but is rather loose with the filter attachment removed. Furthermore, the silicone seal is very rubbery, deforms easily, and is overall not the best quality.

An empty Bodum cold brew coffee maker with its plunge filter lid in place.
An empty Bodum cold brew coffee maker with its plunge filter lid in place.
An empty Bodum cold brew coffee maker with its brew lid half resting in place.
  • Diameter:
    4.4
  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Additional Features:
    Silicone seal, plunge filter

There are actually two lids for the Bodum cold coffee maker, both having much the same diameter. The brew lid is the one without the plunger. It’s also airtight with a silicone seal and fits the brew vessel very neatly. 

The lid with the plunge filter attached has a handy lever that opens and closes the spout for pouring and an airtight silicone seal. Depending on the quantity of coffee grounds, the height can increase up to 10 cm or more due to the raised plunger.

8.5

Filter

10
A close up of a stainless steel immersion filter for a cold brew coffee maker.
  • Length:
    6.7" (17.0 cm)
  • Diameter:
    4
  • Material:
    laser-cut 304 stainless steel
  • Additional Features:
    silicone seal

The filter is made from laser-cut 304 grade stainless steel and comes with a ‘lifetime warranty’. It appeared well-machined and the edges were not sharp. However, like the decanter lid, the silicone seal around the filter top was not such great quality. The filter, however, did allow for a relatively decent brew to develop and the sediment produced didn’t require additional decanting.

The plunge filter of the Bodum cold brew coffee maker with its attached lid lay sideways on a wooden counter.
  • Length:
    7.9" (20.1 cm)
  • Diameter:
    6.9
  • Material:
    Plastic, stainless steel
  • Additional Features:
    Silicone seal

The filter of the Bodum functions of course much the same as a French press. This means that filtering is quick and easy. The filter is a double-ply stainless steel mesh constructed around a plastic frame. Our sediment test score showed that the filter is one of the best.

7.0

Build Quality

10
The Cafe du Chateau cold brew coffee maker disassembled into 5 parts.

The materials used, except for the silicone seals, are generally good quality, however, the design is not well executed. The brewer is all-round cumbersome to handle, the lid and seals are poorly designed, and it is weighted badly for pouring. Overall, this has been one of our least favorite cold coffee brewers to work with and will probably gather dust on the shelf.

The disassembled Bodum cold brew coffee maker showing all six parts.

For the price, the Bodum has excellent build quality. The lids fit perfectly, the pour lever is a nice feature, and the silicone seals and handle grip are of good quality. Some may not like the plastic body, preferring glass, however, it’s very durable and the product is designed and manufactured in Portugal.

Ease of Use

Cafe du Chateau Cold Brew

Bodum Bean Cold Brew Review: Ease of Use
8.3
usability Scores
  • Brewing (45%)9.0/10
  • Decanting (35%)8.0/10
  • Cleaning and Storage (20%)7.0/10
8.7
usability Scores
  • Brewing (45%)9.0/10
  • Decanting (35%)8.5/10
  • Cleaning and Storage (20%)8.5/10
9.0

Brewing

9.0
Cafe Du Chateau Brewing video
Cafe Du Chateau Brewing

Like its design, brewing with the Cafe du Chateau has its unique points. No measuring is required because you just fill the filter with grounds to about 1 cm (less than ½ inch) below the top. 

Then, you gradually pour water through the grounds but you don’t push the filter completely in. The filter has an upper chamber which makes pouring water very easy. The filter itself is very fine so you must wait for water to seep through. The last 200 ml of water takes a little time to pour.

Once the water is just below the 1-liter mark, you push the filter unit completely in and do the same for the lid. Despite the cumbersome design of the silicone seals, they do a pretty good job. Most air is completely compressed out of the brew decanter. All in all, the brewing method seemed very sound and we looked forward to the brewing results.

The Bodum doesn’t come with any brewing instructions other than: spoon in the coffee, pour the water, seal the lid, and refrigerate. The instruction manual and the website do not recommend any brew ratio. This kind of freestyle brewing is much appreciated, but it would be nice if the brew vessel had measurement markings to perhaps indicate approximate ratios.

In our first brew test, we simply took one standard bag of coffee ground of 8 oz and tipped the lot into the brew decanter. Next, we carefully measured and poured in 40 fl oz or 1.2 liters of water - about an inch and a half from the top, and stirred the contents. This was of course a perfect ratio of 1:5 of grounds to water — a ratio often recommended for making a strong cold brew concentrate. This ratio is comparable to other non-immersion filter brewers we have tested such as the OXO and the Toddy.

In the first taste testing, we were not entirely satisfied with the results due to a slightly sour edge to the brew and a lack of complete smoothness. We, therefore, brewed again, but this time took our cue from the Toddy brewing method.

We kept the same ratio but did layered brewing. We put a third of the grounds in the bottom and poured in 400 ml (13.5 fl oz) or two glasses of filtered water. To even the flow of the water, we poured around the edges using a wooden spoon.  This mixture was left to settle and bloom for seven minutes undisturbed. 

Then, we poured another third of the grounds on top and another two glasses of water. We gently pressed the grounds into the water and did the same with the remaining quantities. We did not disturb the contents by stirring, but sealed the brewer and placed it in the refrigerator for 18 hours. The brew quality result was much improved.

8.0

Decanting

8.5
Cafe Du Chateau Decanting
Cafe Du Chateau Decanting
Cafe Du Chateau Decanting video

As with all similar immersion brew filters, all we had to do was remove the filter and place it in a glass to catch the remaining liquid. The stopper comes off with the filter attached. To separate the stopper, you’ll need to hold the filter tight, twist and pull forcefully.

Additionally, the decanter lid doesn’t fit so snugly when the filter unit is removed.This means that your fridge may become contaminated with coffee odors and the concentrate may oxidize and spoil faster.

Once the filter and grounds are removed, you should have around 700 ml of cold brew coffee concentrate. The overall volume is 900 ml (30 fl oz) with the difference being taken up by the filter and grounds while brewing.

Decanting entailed a couple of operations. The first step is to activate the plunger, but you must make sure the lid is locked in place. After plunging, you just press down the lever on the lid, the spout will open, and you can pour. If you use the layered brewing method, it requires a bit of force to push the plunger down.

It operates much the same as any French press, however, since you’re making a cold brew concentrate, the design does leave some choices to be made. The manufacturer’s intention seems to be that you would leave the plunger depressed and store again in the refrigerator. This means that the concentrate will brew further. 

We decided, after plunging, to completely decant the contents in line with our testing parameters. After cleaning the brew vessel, we returned the concentrate, although the container was rather bulky for the yield volume. Therefore, you may prefer to decant it into a more suitable container. This is the only hassle with an otherwise excellent free brewing method.

The ease and speed of decanting exceed that of the similar freestyle OXO cold brew coffee maker, except that a separate decanter vessel is not provided. A 1:5 ratio yielded 25 fl oz or 750 ml of cold brew concentrate, which can easily be diluted at 1:2 or even 1:3 as you prefer.

7.0

Cleaning and Storage

8.5
Cafe Du Chateau Cleaning and Storage video 1
Cafe Du Chateau Cleaning and Storage video

Cleaning the Cafe du Chateau filter is easy enough. Use a standard non-abrasive sponge. You can reach to the bottom of the filter and the edges are not sharp. The decanter itself is easy to reach inside.

The user manual states the glass decanter is fully removable from the stainless steel jacket. Even after running under hot water, however, we were unable to remove the decanter. We didn’t want to exert too much force and break the glass, nor injure ourselves, so we didn’t succeed in separating the parts. 

All components except for the silicone seals can go into the dishwasher.

Once dried, the brewer can be stored fully assembled. It looks nice on a counter and should easily fit in a standard cupboard or a shelf space. The filter also stands well on its own for storage when the decanter is in use.

Bodum was perfectly easy to clean. The only things to be careful of are the two silicone seals. Because the grounds get quite compacted at the bottom, you will need a wooden spoon to level them out. We recommend hand-cleaning since it’s quick and easy.

The only inconvenience is a separate plunger lid and brewing lid. When storing, it's probably best to remove the silicone seal of the brewing lid and store it in the brew vessel for safe keeping. The brew lid needs to be stored separately.