Primula Burke vs Cafe Du Chateau Side-by-Side Comparison
Primula Burke cold brew coffee maker vs Cafe Du Chateau. Two cold brew coffee makers we do not recommend, but for different reasons.
Specifications
Design
The Primula cold brew coffee maker boasts a couple of design features to really appreciate. One is the plastic jacket which also includes a base cushion, the other is the practical lid design. The height is comparatively low which allows you to brew easily on a refrigerator shelf, or in the door.
On the other hand, the 1.6 qt size and the thick glass make it a bit heavy when full. Additionally, even though the filter is high quality, our testing revealed it lacks sufficient permeability to make a good cold brew coffee.
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 Primula certainly can’t be faulted for its easy-to-use design. Parts are minimal, with only a couple of silicone gaskets to keep an eye on. They fit well, are high quality, and the double lid design is an excellent feature. You can easily remove the inner lid to stir the contents, and also close the spout by turning it.
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
With its unique and practical design, the Primula was a pleasure to brew with. As such, we expected better results. However, the Primula failed to deliver a worthy cold brew coffee concentrate even when compared to brewers using a similar brew ratio. The design of the filter is fundamentally flawed, and the brew quality ranks as one of the lowest we have tested.
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
- Detachable filter base
- Protective plastic jacket
- Lid design
- Easy to clean
- Thick glass
- No plastics used
- Airtight brewing
- Well-machined filter
- No measurement markings
- A little heavy
- Weak brew strength
- Weighty and unbalanced
- Lid stopper tough to remove
- Loose decanter lid
- Cumbersome silicone seals
Conclusion
We recommend neither the Primula Burke nor the Cafe Du Chateau as cold brew coffee makers. Both fell short of our testing criteria for different reasons – the Primula because of its flawed filter design, and Cafe Du Chateau for its poor design quality.
Overall, though the Primula Burke is well-designed, its plastic and nylon filter is too fine for a decent brew to develop, and the materials used also mean it is not a great choice to double up for hot brewing. Therefore, the device has limited practical use.
The Cafe Du Chateau, on the other hand, is an attempt at a repurposed French press design. It fails because the glass carafe is heavy and bulky, poorly weighted for a steady pour, and the stopper is either too tight or too loose. Its brew quality is average, but the device itself is not a pleasure to work with.
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.
