Cafe Du Chateau vs Oxo Compact Side-by-Side Comparison
Cafe Du Chateau cold brew coffee maker vs OXO Compact. A brewer with fancy ideals versus a brewer that simply makes good cold brew coffee.
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.
We unboxed the OXO Compact cold coffee brewer to see what came in such a neat and small package. The initial impression was a product that delights and excites.
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.
The OXO Compact is one of the easiest cold brew coffee makers to use. You simply measure your ingredients using the markings on its brew vessel and decanter. Decanting was fast and effortless, and cleaning straightward. It also stored very neatly, adding to its compact appeal. The only thing to be careful of is the sensitive decanting spring valve.
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.
Overall, the OXO Compact produced a smooth and full-bodied brew. It was very satisfying to drink with a simple dilution. However, the brew tended to lack sweeter flavor subtleties and the complexity one would expect from a cold brew.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- Compact design
- Quality packaging
- Aesthetic decanter
- Easy measuring
- Pours very smoothly
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
- Stopper doesn’t fit tightly
- Sensitive decanter valve
- Brew not so complex
Conclusion
Cafe Du Chateau is an attempt to repurpose the French press design for cold brew coffee making using an immersion filter. The design is flawed and the brew it produces is pretty average. We found this brewer to be top heavy, overall weighty, and the stopper cumbersome.
OXO, by contrast, is a company dedicated to coffeeware and their cold brew coffee makers use a proprietary rainshower drip method. The OXO Compact is also just as easy to use as any immersion filter brewer because of the measurement guides on the side.
While the Cafe Du Chateau is not a brewer we recommend due to its design flaws and difficult weighting, the OXO Compact is one of our top recommended cold coffee makers.
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.
