Cafe Du Chateau vs Coffee Gator Side-by-Side Comparison
Cafe Du Chateau cold brew coffee maker vs Coffee Gator. A fancy name with careless design flaws and an average brewer with thoughtful extras.
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 overall design of the Coffee Gator is simple and practical. The way the lid works is particularly nice, but the handle needs rethinking. The stainless steel measuring spoon and silicone funnel are also quite versatile in and of themselves.
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.
Coffee Gator is exceptionally easy to use because of the included measuring spoon and silicone pouring funnel. The filter attaches securely and effortlessly, and the lid design is most practical. Hand cleaning is also no issue.
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.
The brew quality of the Coffee Gator was fairly average and much in line with other immersion brewers with a similar ratio. The brew lacked complexity overall but was drinkable enough without dilution. Hot blooming may be an option, but many people prefer a stainless steel filter for this.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- Quality of glass carafe
- Additional spoon and funnel
- Neat and clever lid
- Twist to pour lid
- Personalized extras
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
- Grip and length of handle
- Brew rather average
Conclusion
The Cafe Du Chateau, despite its fancy name and French press look, is a badly thought-out product. For one, the thick glass makes the brewer heavy. The stopper is difficult to remove after brewing, and a poor fit after decanting. The fine stainless steel immersion filter impedes the development of anything more than a barely-average brew. The Coffee Gator is basically well-designed and comes with a few thoughtful extras, namely a stainless steel measuring spoon and a silicone funnel. Our tests revealed that its plastic and nylon filter is more porous than the Cafe Du Chateau’s fine stainless steel one, therefore producing a better brew.
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.
