Cafe Du Chateau vs Toddy System Side-by-Side Comparison
Cafe Du Chateau cold brew coffee maker vs the Toddy System. Find out why it takes more than a fancy name to be a standout brewer.
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.
Overall, the Toddy Cold Brew System is a high-quality product. It’s well thought out from eco-friendliness to aesthetic appeal to the practicalities of brewing and storage. The only feature we found lacking was the temperamental filter.
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.
Making cold brew coffee can be messy. The purpose of a cold brew coffee maker is to make brewing and decanting as easy as possible. There are more steps to the Toddy system than you’ll find in a simple immersion filter brewer. However, it produced superior results and the whole process can be made easier if you use a paper filter bag.
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 test of any cold brew coffee maker is ultimately the coffee it produces. Our repeated testing found that the Toddy makes the best cold brew coffee. Specifically, it’s the most rounded, full-bodied, and complex brew with a balance towards sweeter flavors. Its filtration system, although not the most convenient, is highly effective.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- Minimal parts
- No over-packaging
- Eco-friendliness
- Ergonomic components
- Attractive carafe
- Included paper filter bags
- Cold or hot brewing
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
- Felt filter tends to clog
- No brew vessel markings
Conclusion
Cafe du Chateau is a take on the French press design but comes with an immersion filter. The true value of a French press, however, is the plunge filter coupled to a free-style brewing technique. The Cafe Du Chateau with its fixed brew ratio and immersion filter eschews these advantages for no apparent gain.
Cafe Du Chateau falls short in other ways. The brewer is top heavy and cumbersome at pouring. Furthermore, the stopper is too tight while brewing and too loose when the filter is removed.
The Toddy System, by comparison, is a well-thought out design using quality materials, but filtering and decanting can sometimes be bothersome.
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.
