Cafe’s CDT805 dishwasher has an interesting set of features, including their new ultra wash and dry system, as well as a few problems.
Should you consider a Cafe in your kitchen versus a Miele, a KitchenAid or Bosch?
In this article you’ll learn the basic advantages of the Cafe and whether you should consider it versus the other competitor brands.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Best Features
First of all, this dishwasher loads well. It has a basic third rack for silverware, along with an adjustable top rack like the others in this price range.
Tines in the bottom rack, however, fold down so you can fit that odd shaped platter tray. Only Miele has a similar loading rack in their better models.
Their ultra wash employees 90 wash jets on a reversing bottom rack and an odd shaped middle washer on as well, so it covers more of the dishwasher, at least in theory.
The top, however, is just a spray head like a Bosch, not a full arm, like KitchenAid or Miele.
Cafe does have four dedicated bottle wash with direct water feeds to spray the residue from your sports or baby bottles.
They also have a dedicated steam setting the loosen and baked on dishes, in addition to all the main cycles and twelve options.
Customization is also possible with your choice of copper, brass, or stainless handles.
The model is not available in the matching white or black of the rest of the Cafe line.
Their drying is interesting, insofar as it is the opposite of the industry’s more effective drying modes.
Miele’s CleanDry and KitchenAid’s ProDry introduce the outside air into the dishwasher so the warmer steamier air is attracted the colder outside air and is dissipated as water.
A number of brands automatically pop open as well as to release excess heat andsteam. Cafe does the opposite. It has the heating element to dry, but also a fan to pull the steamier air outside the dishwasher.
They claim it dries plastics even faster.
Cons
Cafe’s 45 decibels or 1 decibel above the 44 decibel quietness threshold, so you will it hear faintly in an open kitchen.
45 is not bad when you consider Cafe has a grinder on the bottom, while all the others employ just a filter to trap leftovers or whatever you leave on your dishes.
However, there are lesser Profile series in the GE lineup, also as a grinder and 42 decibels well below the quietness threshold.
The wash arm on the top is just a sprinkler like the Bosch.
Conclusion
At $1,079, you have an interesting dishwasher.
At 45 decibels, it’s slightly noisier than KitchenAid, Bosch and Miele. Even their own Profile series.
Their washing, drying and racking are at least comparable to their higher end competition, and you do have some worthwhile unique features.
Steam will help loosen up the tough, baked on dishes you left in the sink the night before, and you can fit that odd shape in the bottom rack.
The bottle wash will finally get that protein powder residue out of your taller sports bottles.
Lastly, Cafe is also available which may be the best feature for any dishwasher currently on the market.