Hario Mizudashi vs Cafe Du Chateau Side-by-Side Comparison
Hario Mizudashi cold brew coffee maker vs Cafe Du Chateau. Two poorly designed brewers that fail to make the grade. Find out why.
Specifications
Design
The Hario scored well for its build quality, but it fell short on the key fundamentals of the lid and filter design. Overall, the design did not contribute to producing a good quality brew.
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.
Usability Comparison
The Hario Mizudashi is really easy to use because it requires little effort. Additionally, it is easy to brew without having to measure out the grounds or water. The tall size is a little troublesome when hand washing, but everything is dishwasher safe. Our key issue, however, is with the non-airtight design.
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.
Brew Quality
The Hario Mizudashi was an overall poor performer. The brew lacked complexity and had an overall sourish taste. This was largely down to a short filter, a poor brew ratio, and a non-airtight vessel. One way to improve the brew quality would be hot blooming where you pour hot water over the grounds and allow to bloom for 30 to 40 seconds before pouring cold water.
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 Scores
Pros & Cons
- Attractive brew decanter
- Easy-to-clean filter
- Color choice
- Hot or cold brewing
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- Not airtight
- Odor contamination
- Poor brew quality
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
Conclusion
The Hario Mizudashi and the Cafe Du Chateau are two cold brew coffee makers that we do not recommend you buy. The Mizudashi fails to produce a worthy cold brew coffee and the Cafe Du Chateau fails in a number of other ways.
The issue with the Mizudashi, despite its good looks, is the short filter, poor brew ratio, and non-airtight design which all contribute to a rather weak and sourish brew. The long slender carafe, however, is a nice fit for any size refrigerator door bin.
The Cafe Du Chateau produces a much better-quality brew, but still, pretty average when compared to other immersion filter brewers we have tested. The Cafe Du Chateau is also rather cumbersome. It's heavy, doesn’t balance well for pouring, and the stopper is a poor fit.
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.
