Primo vs. Diedrich: Commercial Coffee Roaster Comparison
Diedrich has been building roasters in the United States for more than 45 years, and the IR series did more than any other machine to put infrared burners into specialty coffee. Primo builds infrared too — so unlike every other comparison on this site, this one does not turn on burner technology. It turns on what the machine costs, what comes in the box, and what the warranty actually covers.
Primo publishes every price. Diedrich sells by quote only and publishes none. But the resale market prices Diedrich in public, and that is enough for a real comparison. Here it is, with sources.
What They Actually Cost
| Batch class | Primo — new, published price | Diedrich — public market pricing |
|---|---|---|
| ~5 kg | XR-5 — $28,000 new · 5–12 lb batches · 110 V · Roast Master software included | DR5 / IR-5 — new pricing by quote only. A never-used 2020 IR-5 with full automation listed at $35,950, reduced to $33,950 |
| 12–15 kg | XR-15 — $40,000 new · 15–33 lb batches · up to 95 lbs/hour · software included | DR-12 (12 kg, 26 lb batches) — new pricing by quote only. A never-used 2023 IR-12 listed at $48,500; the automated IR-12A at $52,500 |
| 20–30 kg | XR-20 — $49,000 · up to 144 lbs/hour XR-30 — $76,000 · up to 230 lbs/hour |
Larger DR models — pricing by quote |
| 70 kg and beyond | XR-70 and custom builds — from $195,000 · 500+ lbs/hour | Industrial DR lines — pricing by quote |
Diedrich figures are asking prices from US equipment marketplaces, 2026; several of those listings have since sold. Diedrich does not publish new-machine pricing. Configurations and inclusions vary — confirm current pricing with Diedrich or any seller. Primo prices are our standard published prices, current as of this page.
A never-used 12 kg Diedrich IR-12 has listed for $48,500 — $8,500 more than a brand-new 15 kg Primo XR-15 at $40,000, which roasts larger batches, includes profiling software, and carries a full factory warranty.
Want the exact number for your setup? Our prices are already public — and quotes come back within 24 hours, Monday–Friday.
Call 1.800.675.0160 Get a Written QuoteTwo American Builds, Side by Side
| Primo XR-Series | Diedrich DR / IR Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Huntington Beach, California — 100% USA-made from American steel | Idaho. Diedrich describes its roasters as engineered and crafted in the US, with Idaho-made parts stocked in a Chicago warehouse |
| Parts | Every part priced on our website and stocked in California — replacements ship domestically, fast | Idaho-made parts held in Chicago; ordered through Diedrich's parts department |
| Burner technology | Infrared — conductive, convective and radiant heat with full control | Infrared on the IR series — the machines that made the technology mainstream. Confirm burner configuration on current DR models |
| Profiling software | Roast Master included with every machine — first year free, $250/year after (about $1,000 over 5 years). Also compatible with Cropster and Artisan | Data logging standard on every roaster; full automation is a paid option. One dealer listing valued the Zenith 2 automation package at $12,500 as originally purchased. Also compatible with Cropster and Artisan |
| Warranty | 12-month limited warranty on all electrical and mechanical parts, plus workmanship and fabrication coverage for the life of the roaster. Primo pays replacement parts and shipping | Diedrich publishes a one-year warranty on the craftsmanship of the roaster. Request the full terms in writing with your quote. Used machines typically carry no manufacturer warranty |
| Lead time | Your build slot and promised ship date are confirmed in writing when your deposit lands | Diedrich publishes 8–12 weeks for IR roasters and 4–6 months for CR roasters |
| Support | Factory-direct from California — real people, same-day response M–F, 45-minute onboarding call with every machine | Factory technical support, with parts and service coordinated through Diedrich |
To Be Fair to Diedrich
Diedrich earned its reputation honestly: more than 45 years of building in the United States, a family coffee story that runs back to a Costa Rican plantation in the early 1900s, and an IR series that holds its value better than almost anything else on the used market.
That resale strength is a genuine advantage to a buyer, and it is worth saying plainly — if you are willing to buy used, an older Diedrich is a good deal. A 2012 IR-12 has listed at $22,500 and a 2017 IR-5 at $23,500, both below the price of a new XR-5. If your budget only reaches a used machine, Diedrich is one of the better used buys in the industry.
But the same strength cuts the other way on a new purchase. A current Diedrich — new or barely used — costs more than a new Primo one size larger, arrives with data logging rather than full profiling software, and carries a one-year craftsmanship warranty rather than fabrication coverage for the life of the machine.
The bottom line: both machines are American and both are infrared, so this one comes down to the invoice. Primo publishes its prices, includes the software, and warranties the fabrication for as long as you own the roaster — and at the 12–15 kg size a new XR-15 costs less than a never-used Diedrich one size smaller. If you want a Diedrich and you want to save money, buy one used. If you want a new machine with everything already in it, the XR-Series is the stronger buy.
Primo vs. Diedrich FAQ
How much does a Diedrich coffee roaster cost?
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Diedrich sells new machines by quote and does not publish pricing. The resale market is public: a never-used 2023 IR-12 (12 kg) has listed at $48,500 and the automated IR-12A at $52,500, and a never-used 2020 IR-5 with full automation listed at $35,950, reduced to $33,950. Older used machines run considerably less — a 2012 IR-12 has listed at $22,500. Confirm current pricing with Diedrich or any seller.
How do Primo prices compare to Diedrich?
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Primo publishes every price: $28,000 (XR-5), $40,000 (XR-15), $49,000 (XR-20), $76,000 (XR-30), and XR-70/custom builds from $195,000. At the size most growing roasteries shop, a new 15 kg XR-15 at $40,000 costs less than a never-used 12 kg Diedrich IR-12 — with larger batches, up to 95 lbs/hour, and profiling software included rather than optional.
Are Primo and Diedrich both made in the USA?
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Yes — this is one of the few comparisons where both machines are American. Primo roasters are hand-built in Huntington Beach, California from American steel, with all parts priced on our website and stocked domestically. Diedrich describes its roasters as engineered and crafted in the US, built in Idaho, with parts stocked in a Chicago warehouse.
Do Primo and Diedrich both use infrared burners?
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Diedrich's IR series is built around infrared, and it is the machine that made the technology mainstream in specialty coffee. Primo uses infrared as well — conductive, convective and radiant heat under full operator control. On burner technology these two are closer than any other pairing on this site. The real differences are price, what software is included, and what the warranty covers.
What warranty does Primo offer?
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A 12-month limited warranty on all electrical and mechanical parts from delivery, plus workmanship and fabrication defects covered for the life of the roaster. Primo pays for replacement parts and shipping; labor and installation are the owner's responsibility.
Put a Primo quote next to your Diedrich quote — ours comes back within 24 hours, M–F, and the price is already on this page. Or run your volume through the Roast Income Calculator first.
Call 1.800.675.0160 Get a Written QuoteComparing other brands? See Primo vs. Probat, Primo vs. Mill City, and Primo vs. US Roaster Corp.