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Brio Bottom Load (CLBL420V2) vs Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Brio Bottom Load Water Dispenser

$193.99 from Amazon

Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser

$104.99 from Amazon
Brio Bottom Load (CLBL420V2) vs Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

The Brio CLB420V is a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser while the Costway 5-gallon is a top-loader. Although both machines are freestanding water cooler dispensers, the Costway is about a third smaller and 6 kg lighter weighing only 9 kg.

Other key differences are that the Brio has ambient water and uses buttons for dispensing. Other than that, the Costway ranks much better with overall performance. Both machines have their quality flaws, but the Costway is an acceptable choice for a budget water cooler dispenser.

In our tests, the flow rate of the Brio was unacceptably fast and the cooling function failed to work. The Costway not only produced more hot water per hour, but its heating times were faster. The only let down was the slow flow rate due to the outdated faucet design.

Both machines had build quality issues. For the Brio it was the noisy buttons and the hot water safety mechanism. The Costway fared much the same but with a different design. The Costway drip tray was exceptionally low quality while the Brio had a poorly aligned cabinet door, faulty panel indicators, and overall poor performance.

The Costway 5-gallon offers quite reasonable value for the price and its small, lightweight design, whereas the Brio 400 is not a machine we recommend.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Hot water temperature
  • Contrasting color scheme
  • Hot water temperature
  • Detachable faucets
  • Light weight
  • Overall performance
  • Panel indicators
  • Buttons
  • General build quality
  • Slow flow rate
  • Loose drip tray
  • Shoddy drainage plug
  • Poor build quality

Key Specs

Dimensions
W12.2 x D14.5 x H40.5 inches
W11.3 x D11.3. x H33.5 inches
Weight
33.0 lbs (15.0 kg)
9.0 lbs (4.1 kg)
Loading Type
Bottom Loading
Top Loading
Dispensing Mechanisms
Buttons
Faucet levers
Cold Water Temperature
Untested
50‒54 ℉
Cold Water Capacity
Untested
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$224.62
$112.68
$193.99 at Amazon
$104.99 at Amazon

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
3.2
5.9

Hot Water Test

8.0
7.2
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Single Draw Capacity
23.29 fl.oz.
19 fl. oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. / 3 min 6 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 2 min 48 sec
Temperature
198 ℉
199 ℉
Flow Rate
1.4 fl.oz. or 42 ml / sec
0.5 fl.oz. or 15 ml /sec

Cold Water Test

0.0
5.0
A paper cup standing on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser below the cold water spout.
A gloved hand dispensing old water from the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser
Serving Capacity
Not recorded
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr
Temperature
Not recorded
50-54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
5.9
5.1

In the Box

The unboxed Brio 400 water cooler dispenser with an open cabinet door, and the drip tray plus bundled literature to the side.
The Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser standing next to its box with the drip tray and included literature to one side

Build Quality

5.0
4.9
Side view of the body of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Side view of the body of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Ventilation slats on the side body of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
A pump attached to the cabinet ceiling of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
View of the plastic base of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
Close up of plastic stopper feet on the bottom of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the bottom of a small water cooler dispenser showing a plastic base and plastic stub feet.
A close up of the bottom of a small water cooler dispenser showing a plastic base and plastic stub feet.
A close up of a plastic stub foot on the bottom of a small freestanding water cooler dispenser.
The rear of a water cooler dispenser showing the quality of joining and workmanship.
Close up of the rear of a water cooler dispenser showing the quality of joining and workmanship.
Side Body
Gloss black stainless steel
White plastic
Front Panel
Gray and black plastic
White plastic
Cabinet Door
Silver plastic, white inside
Yes
Base
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Carry handle
Storage cabinet

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Costway Water Cooler Dispenser Dimensions
Depth
14.5" (36.8 cm)
11.3" (28.7 cm)
Width
12.2" (31.0 cm)
11.3" (28.7 cm)
Height
40.5" (102.9 cm)
33.5" (85.1 cm)
Weight
33.0 lbs (15.0 kg)
19.8 lbs (9.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

5.5
6.0
Close up view of the working panel indicators and buttons of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the working panel indicators and buttons of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the bottle indicator lit up and working on the display panel of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the control panel of costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the control panel of costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
The faucets and control panel of the Costway freestanding water cooler dispenser pictured together.
Power Status
None
Middle
Hot Water Test
Middle
Top left
Cold Water Test
Left
Top right
Bottle Or Filter
Right
No
Others
None
None

Water Inlet Controls

7.5
6.0
A water baffle removed from inside the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser and displayed above the tank.
A water baffle removed from inside the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser and displayed above the tank.
Inside a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser showing how a pipe connects to the top of a water baffle.
The perfectly straight water straw of a water cooler dispenser resting against the inside of the cabinet door.
Close up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
The baffle removed from a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Pump, bottle probe, water baffle
Water guard, water baffle
Materials
Stainless steel, plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
None
None

Water Dispensers

Top down view of three dispensing buttons of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
Top down view of three dispensing buttons of a freestanding water cooler dispenser.
A hand holding down the middle button on a water cooler dispenser to demonstrate the space between the buttons.
A view from beneath looking up at the detail of three water spouts on a water cooler dispenser.
A close up to two lever type dispensing faucets on a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
3 buttons
2 faucets
Outflow Points
3 recessed panel nozzles
2 tap nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hot water Safety
Nozzles detachable

Drip Tray

7.3
2.0
A close up of a drip tray found on a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of a drip tray found on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand removing the cover from the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing a drip tray of a water cooler dispenser removed from its slot and the cover slightly removed.
A top down view of a drip tray on a small water cooler dispenser.
A top down view of a drip tray on a small water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing how the cover on a water cooler dispenser drip tray can be removed.
Costway 5 Gallon Water Bottle Dispenser Drip Tray 2
A gloved hand removing a drip tray from a water cooler dispenser.
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Color
Light gray
White
Length
9.7" (24.6 cm)
8.2" (20.8 cm)
Width
2.9" (7.4 cm)
2.6" (6.6 cm)
Depth
1.4" (3.6 cm)
1.3" (3.3 cm)
Level Float
No
No

Rear Switches

Close up of two switches at the rear of a water cooler dispenser - green for the cold water tank and red for the hot.
Two color coded tank switches seen on the rear of a water cooler dispenser. The left one is green and the right is red.
Hot Water Test
Rear top right
Yes
Cold Water Test
Rear top left
Yes
Others
None
None

Door and Cabinet

Water straw hanging on the hook of the cabinet door of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser while switching bottles.
Water straw hanging on the hook of the cabinet door of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser while switching bottles.
Bottle cap and water probe of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser hanging from a cabinet door bracket.
The door safety pump switch of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser. The pump is seen in the background.
Close up of the door pump switch on a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser. The pump switches off if the door opens.
A gloved hand opening a small storage cabinet door of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand opening a small storage cabinet door of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A small storage cabinet on a water cooler dispenser with two paper cups and plastic jar demonstrating the size.
The storage cabinet of a small top loading water cooler dispenser with the door open.
Has Door
Yes
Yes
Internal WxDxH
10.5 x 11.5 x 18.5 in
5.6 x 5.4 x 6 in
Material
Silver plastic, white inside
Plastic
Extra Features
Bracket hook, pump switch
Magnetic lock

Cord and Plug

A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser up against the front control panel.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Brio 400 water cooler dispenser up against the front control panel.
A man holding the electric cord of a water cooler dispenser double folded across the body in a horizontal position.
A man holding the electric cord of the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser doubled over the horizontal length of the machine.
A man holding the electric cord of the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser doubled over the horizontal length of the machine.
A gloved hand showing the plug of the Costway freestanding water cooler dispenser with the panel faded into the background.
Length
6.1 ft (1.9 m)
6.2 ft (1.9 m)
Position
Rear rt., 25.5 in from ground
Rear rt., 2.7 in from ground
Plug Type
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
6.8
6.0

Dispensing Water

6.5
5.0
A paper cup resting on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser while hot water is being dispensed.
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from the faucet of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from the faucet of a water cooler dispenser.
A paper cup resting on a small drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle loaded onto the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Push button
Tap lever
Water Type
Hot, cold, normal temperature
Hot and cold water
Spout Type
Recessed into panel
Tap type
Dispensing Height
7.5 in
5.7 in

Hot Water Safety

7.5
5.5
Close up top view of three dispensing buttons on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up top view of three dispensing buttons on a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration of how to operate a hot water safety mechanism mounted on the button of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of a hot water faucet with a safety clip on a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of a hot water faucet with a safety clip on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand lifting up the lever of a hot water faucet to demonstrate that water doesn’t flow.
Mechanism
Mounted lever
Clip faucet

Bottle / Filter Changing

8.0
7.5
The inside of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser with the water straw with a bottle cap resting against the side.
The inside of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser with the water straw with a bottle cap resting against the side.
A water straw being placed into a 5-gallon water bottle in front of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a plastic bottle cap being placed onto a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a bottle cap on a 5-gallon water jug of a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
A bottle being loaded onto a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A bottle being loaded onto a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
The water needle and water guard of a top-loading water cooler dispenser seen from above.
Close-up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
Design
Bottom loading
Top-loading
Feature
Bottle probe, water baffle, door pump switch
Water needle, water baffle

Cleaning

6.3
6.8
A hand holding a spray-bottle with cleaning liquid and another a cloth wiping the front panel of a water cooler dispenser.
A hand holding a spray-bottle with cleaning liquid and another a cloth wiping the front panel of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand using a screwdriver to open the hood of a water cooler dispenser.
The opened hood of a water cooler dispenser with wires attached to an installation point.
Demonstration of how to open the lid on the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the internal design for water dispensing pipes in a bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.
The water drainage plug with a protective screw cap found on the rear of a water cooler dispenser.
Drainage plug cover on the rear of a budget water cooler dispenser.
Drainage plug cover on the rear of a budget water cooler dispenser.
A plastic screw cap removed from a rear drainage port on a water cooler dispenser
A cold water faucet which has been unscrewed from its connection to a water cooler dispenser.
The disassembled hot water faucet of a water cooler dispenser resting on the drip tray below.
The empty cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser needing to be cleaned.
Self Cleaning
None
No
Drainage Plug
Rear rt., 21 in from ground
Rear rt., 13.3 in from ground