Presto 02937 Dorothy™ Electric Rapid Cold Brewer – Cold brew at home in 15 minutes

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1. Richard C. Drew Verified Buyer – 6 April 2024

   When you but cold brew in the store, there’s one big difference compared to home-made: filtering. When you make it at home, you have silt – and lot’s of it. No matter the method used, without filtering you’ll have murky coffee. This one is no different – actually it’s a lot worse when it comes to silt. That’s because the grounds are constantly in motion, as compared to traditional cold brew where the grounds just sit. I’ve been doing cold brew at home for almost 10 years and have tried all kinds of methods. So I may ramble here – if you’ve made cold-brew at home, you’ll get it right away. If you’re just starting out, hopefully this well help. Traditionally you use 1 oz of coffee for each ounce of water – some like it stronger or weaker, but it’s a good start. You add coffee, water, wait, drain. The bottom of the “brewer” will have a bunch of silt. I pour it into a measuring cup, wait about 30 minutes, then pour into a glass bottle. That middle step removes a bunch more silt. When the coffee is all drank, there’s about 1/8″ of silt remaining mixed with a little coffee – you don’t want to drink that. You can purchase filters for the coffee to remove as much of the fine particles (silt) as possible – but each time you do this, you can lose a couple of ounces of coffee as well – absorption into the filter, etc. For small batches it’s often not worth it. The Dorothy (as in Wizard of Oz…..tornado….) makes small batches. I tried a variety of quantities of water and found the best to be just over 2 cups of water and 2 ounces of coffee. This is a cup below the maximum line, but all the coffee compresses into the base when done and there’s little waste. I tried to the fill line, then added coffee. This raised the level to the top – but nothing spilled over. However it was too much wet coffee grounds and there was almost 6 oz of waste. It was also much messier overall. Best results with the 2/2 combination. I ran it for 30 minutes and it did a nice job. I had to put a damp paper towel over the top because the thing splatters while spinning. Nothing heated up and the Dorothy handled it well, even maxed out. Issues: Splatter. No lid while spinning. Small volume. Very fragile carafe. Instructions could be better. More silt than with traditional cold brew. What I like: Easy to clean. Fast cold brew – you can make a fresh batch for company. Make it strong and it goes further. It’s compact – most cold brew pitchers alone are a foot tall – or more. You don’t want to store the coffee in the pitcher – it’s too delicate and there’s no lid. You can spend about two hours and make a weeks supply of cold brew. Most of that time is waiting, and actual “work” is maybe 20 minutes. Cleanup about 10 minutes. Photos: First batch, water and coffee. Splatter after 10 minutes, damp towel for a cover. After 30 minutes and pressing. Final result – just under 2 cups from a start of 2 1/4 cups. Cleanup. Next batch, maxed out. I found sticking in a fork helps break up the clumps in the vortex. The next to photo is the final result. Typical DIY cold brew. Final photo is a supplement to the instructions that I almost missed.

   

2. Ms Chia Verified Buyer – 1 May 2024

   Returned it. Try different coffee. We gave up. My din just did not like this version of cold brew.
   

3. Cheyenne Ertter Verified Buyer – 15 May 2024

   I like a good strong coffee flavor and I leave it running for 30 min, strain, add some ice and my zero sugar syrup….best coffee at home I’ve ever made!

   

4. Sam Verified Buyer – 20 May 2024

   I’m sure they’re great, but What I really dislike is ordering something and getting a used/ returned one.

   

5. Amy Verified Buyer – 29 May 2024

   The box itself also looked as if it had been repackaged and sent out again. Can’t even order a replacement for it either.

   

6. Stephanie Verified Buyer – 19 June 2024

   Purchased again because my children by mistake broke my first pitcher. Love the speed and that I can get ready for work while my coffee spins away. My favorite part is the nostalga anyone put two and two together with the orginal twister move? Dorothy in the back of the truck was a tornado observing machine and the rapid cold brew maker is as well!!! ❤️
   

7. Coler Verified Buyer – 23 June 2024

   So far this works without a hitch. I will say, it’s somewhat loud. The sound of it spinning and then the water sloshing. Not really a pleasant sound. I am currently brewing for first time. Will update after it completes. UPDATE: Worked perfectly. Follow the directions. You absolutely must wait the 5 min or longer before plunging or you will have the water and grounds burst upwards out of the carafe. It has too much pressure and needs to settle. Once you wait, it will push down smooth with ease and no resistance! Pour your coffee and call it wallah!! Grounds in the carafe and coffee in your cup, ground free! I let mine brew the 20 min. I feel like its the perfect black coffee cup level strength and I don’t like really weak coffee. Again that is only with 1/2 grounds, not the 2/3 it recommends. You can do the 2/3 and then even brew longer if you want it STRONNGG.

   

8. Jerome brown Verified Buyer – 1 August 2024

   Easy set up. Couldn’t believe how quickly I was making coffee. First time I ever made homemade iced coffee and it came out flawlessly. If y’all didn’t buy this while it was on prime sale you done messed up A’ A’ RON

   

9. Susan Marie Verified Buyer – 16 August 2024

   This is the best cold brew ever, extremely simple, easy clean up, I have no complaints. I used Folgers Breakfast Blend in this because that’s what I had on hand and that is delicious cold brew. The possibilities are endless. Flavored coffee, flavored non dairy milk and creamers, flavored syrups . . . whatever you desire. I put the cold brew in a Mason Jar in the fridge, next day, a pint glass of ice and cold brew with flavored coffee creamer and it was perfection.
   

10. Carol Verified Buyer – 17 August 2024

    I have been trying to get coffee right with this thing for an entire week. The whole idea of it was so I could make quick cold brew. I have been using the countertop 12 hour method for a while and have been super happy with the results. Sometimes I run out though and don’t feel like waiting 12 hours for more so thought this was going to be amazing. I read through reviews and tips. The picture on the left is what I get using the recommended amount of coffee and water with the Dorothy and the picture on the right is what I got when I used the same amount of coffee and water with traditional soaking methods. They are both using the same coarse grind and the same beans. The Dorothy coffee has been passed through a paper filter and I have not passed the other coffee through anything other than a mesh filter. Not sure what I am doing wrong but all I am getting is a muddy cloudy mess even after filtering. It doesn’t taste terrible and it will do in a pinch but this is not something I would be comfortable serving to guests because it looks gross.

    

11. SQ Verified Buyer – 30 October 2024

    Was so excited to get this – watched a quick video tutorial to get started but so easy! I had been doing cold brew the hard way and it would sit in the fridge for 24 hrs. Using this it takes about 25 mins (strong brew) with no bitter taste. Very happy – just have to be careful not to break it!

    

12. chick Verified Buyer – 1 December 2024

    We do not accept cold brew looks so cloudy, and we still prefer the traditional 24hr brewing time for a good quality one, sorry this is not even a cold brew

    

13. Kelady Verified Buyer – 7 December 2024

    I liked this so much I bought a second one, and I make them both at the same time and save the coffee in the fridge, rather than making it every day. I let it spin for about 30 minutes as I like my coffee strong enough to handle adding creamer without losing the taste of the coffee. I have used them for about 3 years now. The motor shorted out in one of them, sadly, but my husband was able to replace the motor cheaply (not a Presto replacement, he just bought a motor). And… I broke a carafe because the glass is pretty thin. Pro-tip: when you pull the plunger/grounds basket out, there is a lot of suction. Hold the carafe firmly pressed against a counter or your sink so that it doesn’t jerk when the plunger releases and you slam into something like a dumb-dumb. Otherwise, these have been a godsend as I don’t like making or drinking drip coffee. It’s about as easy as a french press, just takes a little while because you have to let it spin for a bit. When I bought mine, they were $30, and now they are selling for half that- well worth it! In fact, it’s cheaper to buy one of them than it would be to buy a replacement carafe so I’m about to have a THIRD base as I buy it *again* lol.
    

14. Cassandra Voulgarakis Verified Buyer – 3 January 2025

    Arrived broken. Will be returning for a full refund.

    

15. Madison Streng Verified Buyer – 12 January 2025

    Amazing! I am so happy I no longer have to make a run to starbucks for my iced coffees. The only thing is it doesn’t filter the coffee grounds very well so when it was done stirring itself I had to put it in my regular french press. I could be using too fine of grounds but it’s just how the coffee grounds came and you’d think they would accomodate to how coffee is usually ground up but it’s fine I’m so happy to have this. I would just also recommend buying you beans whole so you can create the appropriate medium gring that it does say in the instructions.

    

16. ANDREW Verified Buyer – 15 January 2025

    I will start out by saying that I’ve been making my own cold brew for approximately 2 years now. Prior to this, I was “wasting” a lot of money buying cold brew on a nearly daily basis. I love a cold glass of cold brew in the summer after dinner. It’s usually my dessert! I also love the taste of coffee, and I only add a little milk (sometimes half/half) to my cold brew, no sweetener. I have been more than happy with my County Line Mason Jar cold brew maker. I’ve had it for two years and never once had coffee grounds in my finish product. It makes an extremely strong cold brew. Only downfall is the 14 plus hours to make it! There have been many of nights that I wanted to kick myself for forgetting to make it when it ran out! Enter the “Dorothy”! What a fantastic idea, I thought. I wondered if it would work. I read through the reviews, and depending on what you want to believe, some say yes, other said no. Here is MY opinion after using this for about a month now. It does work! I can say that what I’ve made in this rapid brewer has tasted fantastic, and I have not had any grounds in my finished product (although it can be a bit cloudy/silt). I think that silt is a problem more with the French Press, which this is like! I have never had an issue getting the “tornado”, or whirlpool to form. I can say that when using filtered refrigerator water that you will have to double (possibly triple) the amount of time needed to make the coffee as strong as you would with room temperature water. I have also noticed a difference in cold brew strength depending on how fast the coffee is introduced to the “tornado”. The instructions say to add the coffee slowly, so definitely do that! I have now been filling the carafe slightly below the max line (using refrigerated water), using 2/3 cup of coffee grinds (store purchased, but not freshly ground), and running this for an hour. I’ve gotten into the habit of starting this process while I’m cooking dinner. Bottom line here is that I don’t think you can obtain “concentrate strength” cold brew with the Dorothy, but filled close to the max will give you more than enough for two large glasses of cold brew. And it will still taste as good (more coffee, less milk/creamer) in the rapid brewer. As long as the instructions are followed, I don’t find it “watered down” at all, as some reviews have stated. My last batch was quite strong (1 hour spinning). Deviating from the instructions (like when I just dumped the entire 2/3 cup of coffee in at once), and you might experience different results. My biggest knock on this product would be the fragile glass carafe. Be careful!! I actually broke the first one in a week (my mistake, as it was bumped off the counter). I can’t say that any glass would have survived that fall on a wooden floor. To order a replacement carafe from Presto would be $20, plus $9 shipping, so I bought another new Dorothy for $35 (Prime, no shipping). Now I have spare parts. But this carafe feels very fragile and I use extreme caution even washing it (I hand wash all parts even through it states that it is dishwasher safe). That brings me to my second criticism, cleaning the Dorothy. Let’s just say it is messy! Coffee grinds all over the place trying to get the press part/plunger off of the stirring cup. I’ve learned to use a plastic bag (grocery store bag or bread bag) and place the plunger, with stirring cup still attached, in the bag and release the stirring cup from the plunger (which once you know how, it’s easy to release) all in the bag. Yes you have some liquid in the bag, but this keeps most of the grounds from going down into the plumbing. I just have a paper towel or two in the bag to absorb the liquid. I enjoy having fresh cold brew that I can make relatively quick, so for that, I recommend the Dorothy. I will continue to use my old cold brew maker, but definitely have room in my kitchen for the Dorothy! My daughter also thinks it’s so cool to watch, and she doesn’t drink cold brew, but offers to make it for me!! Bonus!

    

17. Watty Watts Verified Buyer – 23 January 2025

    As an older coffee addict, I’ve found that regular coffee from coffee shops have been irritating my stomach a lot lately. I’ve recently went full cold brew mode, adding Fairlife nutrition plan beverages to my coffee to reduce the acid and add protein as a breakfast substitute. I recently found these for five bucks at Ollie’s and grabbed one, and then grabbed a brick of bold German coffee from Aldi on the way home. 2/3 of a cup of coffee to a full pitcher of water, 30 minutes, a little bit of waiting, and pouring it through a pour over filter to get the additional french press sediment out, gives me the perfect cup of coffee for me every time.

    

18. Jackie Verified Buyer – 27 January 2025

    Got this little honey, took it out of the box, washed it and started making coffee. Followed the directions to the letter for the first brew, the 30 minute cycle makes very strong coffee, which I like. I’m enjoying a cup right now. Put the grounds cup in the carafe. Fill the carafe with water to the line, place it on the base and start the whirlpool (about half way on the knob). Pour in the coffee. As the coffee wets turn up the speed and brew for the desired time. After brewing, let it stand for about 5 minutes for the grounds to settle. The filter press has this clip in the bottom, this is designed to engage the cup full of grounds to remove it after brewing. When you lift the press handle back up, the cup of grounds comes up with it. Dump the grounds, rinse everything out and you’re ready to brew again. I spent a little over an hour and brewed enough coffee for a few days. The carafe is glass so don’t drop it. I filtered the coffee through a funnel with a paper towel to remove the last of the grit. Happy brewing! I was concerned about the price but it’s worth every penny. As with all cold brewers, it only makes a small amount of coffee per brew, hence the 4 stars.

    

19. Jorge Abelardo Rodriguez Verified Buyer – 20 February 2025

    El sabor es bueno pero queda muy opaco. Intenté filtrarlo y aún así queda brumoso. Para algo rápido sin necesidad de presentación está bien, pero si te gusta servir algo estético no te va a servir.
    

20. Dereck Verified Buyer – 4 March 2025

    Works as intended with seemingly no flaws.
    

21. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 6 March 2025

    Worked great the first two times , then completely stoped working. Can’t send it back because I threw the box away!
    

22. Yuranny Garcia Verified Buyer – 7 March 2025

    I do not recommend this product. The machine is terrible. It does not work and the grounds of the coffee still remain after draining it.

    

23. Jason G Verified Buyer – 7 March 2025

    The glass broke after the second use. The bottom blew out when I was pulling out the filter the way the instructions read.

    

24. Katie Verified Buyer – 8 March 2025

    I have only used this 3 times so far, but I am already loving it! I bought 4 different Torani sauces to go with it, and some plastic cups to make it feel like I am getting coffee from a coffee shop. And let me tell you, yesterday’s coffee was spot on! Better than from a coffee shop.

    People say the glass is easy to break. Just be careful with it and hand wash it. For $15, if you are wanting iced coffee/cold brew, you can’t beat it!
    

25. JavaMama Verified Buyer – 9 March 2025

    I bought this machine after the hot summer we’ve had. It is easy to use and made 2 cold brews for my daughter and I.

    

26. KJ Verified Buyer – 11 March 2025

    So easy to use. Four minutes of reading the directions and 30 minutes later, I had a great glass of cold brew, plus one for the next day (makes two servings). Clean up is easy too. I strongly encourage 30 minutes of “brewing.” Shorter than that isn’t as good.

    

27. YL Verified Buyer – 23 March 2025

    Nice gadget! Yield about 18oz of coffee at the max fill line or probably 22oz if you push it (fill water to 1/3inch above the max fill, which pushes to the edge once it starts spinning and with coffee added as in my picture). I use about 70g of ground to make a batch of 3 6-7oz cups each time. I leave it spinning for about 2 hours which produces a fairly bold coffee. Getting the ground out is a bit messy. Just wouldn’t come out easily unless you are just washing everything down the drain (I don’t because I don’t want potential clog) Messier than the typical French press.

    

28. R. Beltran Verified Buyer – 28 March 2025

    So far, it has been working as expected. I get a smooth tasting coffee every time. It takes about 20 mins if full of water to produce a full flavored jar of cold brew. It is on the quiet side but on video sounds louder that what it really is.

    

29. Kindle Customer Verified Buyer – 2 April 2025

    This was easy to use. But the carafe was not sturdy. Cleanup was messy. We did a taste test with an overnight brew and this one. Both tasted about the same, but the coffee made with the Presto is muddy looking. We used the same brand of ground coffee for both. See the attached picture.

    

30. Simone Rogers Verified Buyer – 8 April 2025

    Works instantly so that’s great. Makes coffee so that’s great too. I’m not convinced it’s any different then blending and straining coffee and despite brewing for 25 mins it was diner shop strength. Can always add some instant to it. Takes 2/3 cup grounds and makes 1x 20 oz and 1x 16 oz when you add ice and creamer so to me it takes more than it gives. Nice toy but not sure if I’ll keep it.