Primula Burke vs Toddy System Side-by-Side Comparison
Primula Burke cold brew coffee maker vs Toddy System. Two brewers with attention to design detail. But, Primula fails on fundamentals.
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.
Overall, the Toddy Cold Brew System is a high-quality product. It’s well thought out from eco-friendliness to aesthetic appeal to the practicalities of brewing and storage. The only feature we found lacking was the temperamental filter.
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.
Making cold brew coffee can be messy. The purpose of a cold brew coffee maker is to make brewing and decanting as easy as possible. There are more steps to the Toddy system than you’ll find in a simple immersion filter brewer. However, it produced superior results and the whole process can be made easier if you use a paper filter bag.
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 test of any cold brew coffee maker is ultimately the coffee it produces. Our repeated testing found that the Toddy makes the best cold brew coffee. Specifically, it’s the most rounded, full-bodied, and complex brew with a balance towards sweeter flavors. Its filtration system, although not the most convenient, is highly effective.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Detachable filter base
- Protective plastic jacket
- Lid design
- Easy to clean
- Thick glass
- Minimal parts
- No over-packaging
- Eco-friendliness
- Ergonomic components
- Attractive carafe
- Included paper filter bags
- Cold or hot brewing
- No measurement markings
- A little heavy
- Weak brew strength
- Felt filter tends to clog
- No brew vessel markings
Conclusion
A lot can be said for the care and attention that went into the design of the Primula Burke. However, the ultra-fine filter does such a fantastic job of keeping the grounds at bay that the lack of cross-flow results in a poor quality brew.
The Toddy, on the other hand, is a specialized product from a brand that is a dedicated cold brew coffee maker. It uses a freestyle brewing method and its cold brew system was one of the first marketed for domestic use. While the Toddy comes highly rated, the Primula Burke is not a cold brew coffee maker that we recommend you buy.
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.
