Cappio vs Chameleon
Why They Make The Cut?
Review Summary
Flavor Profile
Alright, so this is probably the only redeeming part of drinking Capio Coffee. The flavor isn’t too horrible, however, it does have a very slight sour taste to it. I think that’s a byproduct of their unique extraction process…
And if I had to compare it to the other cold brew concentrates I’ve tried, it probably fits right in the middle. However, some of the other coffee drinkers I’ve talked to have different opinions. A few of them say it’s the best coffee they’ve ever tasted.
And the other coffee aficionados, well… let’s put it in their own words:
“It tastes very bitter, like old sludge from the coffee pot at Grandma’s house.”
Now, I think that’s the problem with having this patented and trademarked process. Because it locks you into following the same exact process for DECADES, even when better-tasting brewing, roasting, and mixing methods come out.
So, let’s start with the positives of Chameleon. What I like about it, is that it tastes clean and gentle. The flavor isn’t too harsh, and it feels smooth when drinking it. The only downside, is that some coffee drinkers report Chameleon having an unpleasant sour taste. Now, I didn’t experience that myself, but a few of the people I’ve talked to, as well as people online have reported that sour taste.
And compared to many of the other cold brews on the market, I’ll say that Chameleon ranks pretty close to the top. I don’t have a lot to complain about here, and I had a pleasant time drinking it during the last week. However, I will also say that it’s not the BEST coffee I’ve tasted. In my opinion, pure coffee concentrates usually taste a lot better, as long as they aren’t freeze dried, and the company doesn’t add in a lot of chemicals. (For example, Javy is a good alternative).
Flavor Notes
Caffeine Content
Here’s another place where Capio dropped the ball. Because in my opinion, it should be illegal for a company that sells a stimulant (yes, coffee is a stimulant) to NOT publish how much caffeine is in the product.
I’ve tried to email and call Capio’s customer service time to find this information (as we’ll talk about in the customer service review section)... but they haven’t given me a straight answer.
The fact that I can’t know how much caffeine is in their cold brew concentrate is straight up RIDICULOUS! Other people have complained about this problem online too, and I can’t believe that they still haven’t published this crucial information.
I’m going to be honest here, and this is something that really irked me. The Chameleon packaging doesn’t tell you how much caffeine is in the cold brew, and their website doesn’t say anything either.\
I don’t know how a company can get away without providing that information, it just doesn’t make sense to me. However, what I can say is that after drinking their concentrate, I got a pretty strong buzz after drinking it. So there’s definitely caffeine in the brew, but I’m not quite sure how much. (And it also makes you wonder, if they’re leaving out crucial information like that, what else are they leaving out?)
Convenience Factor
Alrighty then, let’s move onto the next point. When you think of a coffee concentrate, you think of a really powerful form of coffee, where you just have to add a small amount of it to water in order to make your cup of goodness. (Like Javy or Jot where you just need 1tsp - 1tbsp)...
However, with Capio’s cold brew concentrate, that’s NOT what you get. If you follow their directions, using 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water… yeah you’ll get coffee. But from my taste test, it was WEAK, so I had to add in a lot more concentrate to my coffee…
Basically, I had to use almost half a bottle to make a 12oz cup of coffee. And considering the fact that each bottle runs about $10, that’s a rip off! So if you want to regularly make your coffee with Capio, you better stock up on A LOT of bottles. And you better be ready to give them hundreds of dollars every month.
Now, while I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t find the caffeine information I was looking for.I was even more disappointed with their concentrate. And here’s why:
To make normal hot coffee with Chameleon, it takes 2 parts concentrate, and 1 part water. (For example, that would be 2 cups of concentrate, and 1 cup of water). And that’s super annoying, because what’s the point of using a concentrate if it takes SO MUCH of it to make your coffee with? I’ve used other concentrates that only take 1 tsp to make a full cup of coffee, and that makes the bottle last a lot longer.
And in other words, this means if you’re using Chameleon’s Concentrate to make your coffee every day. Well, you better stock up on bottles, because you’re going to need A LOT of them. (And you’ll have to spend a lot more money as well!)
Ease of Use
I’ve mentioned this in a few of my other reviews, but I can’t stand it when concentrates use the “1 part concentrate 2 parts water” stuff. When I’m making my coffee in the morning, I’m already DEAD tired, and I don’t want to be doing math at 6:30 in the morning…
So, what I started doing after a few days, was just eyeballing how much concentrate I poured into my mug. Is that scientifically accurate? NO! But it’s a heck of a lot easier than grabbing a bunch of measuring cups and trying to get the perfect ratio of concentrate to water.
Ugh….
Honestly, I can’t stand the way that you have to measure their concentrate. I don’t have time to pull out a notepad and a pen just to calculate how much concentrate and how much water that I’ll need. PLUS- they also recommend that you use different ratios for different kinds of drinks!
WHAT!
We’re making coffee here, and it shouldn’t have to be like rocket science to make your favorite drinks. And I might be exaggerating a little bit here, but I just like the idea of being able to use 1 tsp of a concentrate for ANY drink that I want. This 1 part concentrate, 2 part water thing is just annoying…
Scoring Breakdown
Coffee
Cappio Cold Brew
Chameleon Cold Brew
Attribute Ratings
Origin
Cappio Cold Brew
Chameleon Cold Brew
Quick Facts
Recommended Preparations
1 part concentrate to 2 parts water (though reviewer suggests using more concentrate for better taste)
Different ratios required for different drinks, with a basic ratio of 2 parts concentrate to 1 part water for hot coffee.
Ideal For
Pros and Cons
Cappio Cold Brew
- Convenient to use
- Available in grocery stores
- Only a few servings per bottle
- Bitter tasting
- Bulky in a fridge
Chameleon Coffee
- Convenient to use
- Available in grocery stores
- Only a few servings per bottle
- Bitter tasting
- Bulky in a fridge