Cu-Cr-based composites with Cr content ranging from 20 to 50 wt% are widely used as electrical contacts for vacuum interrupters for medium voltage applications because of their excellent combination of mechanical, thermal, and electrical conductivity. Cu-Cr electrical contacts are usually processed by sintering or casting. Their mechanical properties have been the interest of some studies to enhance their percussion welding performance. However, a detailed microstructure-mechanical properties relationship for such composites is yet to be established. Herein, we report an in-depth multi-scale microstructural characterization of solid-state sintered and vacuum arc-remelted Cu-35Cr composites, coupled with the characterization of their mechanical properties. The strengthening mechanisms in both Cu and Cr phases are discussed in light of the microstructure differences caused by the processing route. The presence of large and interconnected pores at the Cu/Cr interfaces in the sintered Cu-Cr composites reduces the load transfer from the Cu matrix to the Cr reinforcing particles and leads to a lower dislocation density by differential thermal mismatch in the Cu matrix. We shed light on the influence of the processing routes on the microstructure-mechanical property relationships for Cu-35Cr composite materials.