Cafe Du Chateau vs Ovalware Side-by-Side Comparison
Cafe Du Chateau cold brew coffee maker vs Ovalware. An ill-conceived idea on a French press, and a brewer of class and distinction.
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 Ovalware has a distinguished look, but for us, the most prominent feature was the detachable silicone base stand. It made handling the carafe very comfortable. The small lip poured very nicely, and the handle was easy to grip. The only drawback was the quality and fit of the silicone seal.
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.
Both brewing and decanting required little effort. However, since it is better to decant the contents twice or use a paper filter, additional work may be required. The thin neck of the decanter and the long filter required a bottle brush for deep cleaning.
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 Ovalware was quite in line with what one would expect from a good cold brew coffee maker. It did well in bringing out sweeter flavors, although the concentrate itself was not so strong. Brewing for longer than 18 hours may produce even better results.
We partly attributed the good brewing results to the carafe having a wide base, but narrow neck. This seems to accommodate the more favorable design of a lower-down brewing area. The filter is also permeable enough to produce a favorable brew.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- Brew quality
- Brew markers in cups and ml
- Silicone base pad
- Comfortable handle
- Ease of brewing
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
- Quality and fit of silicone seals
- Additional decanting
- Narrow head for cleaning
Conclusion
Both the Cafe Du Chateau and the Ovalware are glass carafe brewers with a stainless steel immersion filter. Apart from that, the differences between them couldn’t be broader.
Cafe Du Chateau fails in its design and its take on a French press look doesn’t help in any way. The brewer is actually quite heavy and bulky and badly weighted for pouring. The stopper is also ill-conceived being either too tight when brewing, or too loose when the immersion filter is removed. The filter is also a little too fine to allow a decent brew to develop.
The Ovalware is a cold brew coffee maker with class and distinction. The slender neck and wide base are ideal for cold brew coffee-making and the filter allows for enough cross-flow during brewing. The silicone base gives a secure feel, it’s lightweight, and pours very easily. The Ovalware ranks as one of our top immersion filter brewers.
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.
