OXO Barista Brain: 9-cup coffee maker review

Why choose Barista Brain 9-cup coffee maker over others?

OXO BREW 9-cup coffee maker bridges the gaps between what users need and other drip coffee makers. What makes this drip coffee maker special (and more special than others) are small details, which make a huge difference in the quality of coffee beverage.

Here are some distinct features of OXO Barista Brain coffee machine:

• Perfect water temperature set between 190 and 205 F degrees.
• A flexible choice in the volume of coffee 2-4 or 5-9 cups of coffee.
• Double-walled stainless steel carafe that can keep coffee hot for much longer.
• A more even extraction of coffee thanks to the rainmaker showerhead that spreads water evenly over coffee grounds (full saturation and flavor extraction).
• A possibility to program the next brewing.

As I was testing the machine for the OXO Barista Brain review, I was impressed how thoughtful the manufacturer was in designing the coffee maker. It incorporates many features and functionalities that I was missing in other drip coffee makers.

Who is OXO BREW 9-cup coffee maker perfect for?

As I was testing the product for this OXO BREW review, I really wanted to understand who would most likely fall in love with this product.

I feel that OXO BREW 9-cup coffee maker can be a compelling choice for those who are looking for:

✓ Stylish, modern and elegant coffee maker for many kitchen spaces

✓ The ability to choose a desired volume of coffee to avoid waste

✓ High quality coffee that brews at a perfect brewing temperature

✓ Coffee that stays hot for longer thanks to a smart design

✓ Rich and complete flavors thanks to more even infusion

✓ Flexibility with programming the coffee maker for another brew

✓ Ground coffee for flexibility and more perfectly tasting cup of coffee

Unlike other drip coffee makers, this machine comes at a higher price point. However, a coffee lover can enjoy unparalleled flexibility, convenience and a memorable cup of coffee.

Who is OXO BREW NOT perfect for?

Just like with other coffee maker reviews, I would love to remain honest in this OXO Barista Brain review. I think that there are a couple of examples where where OXO Barista Brain might not be a perfect choice:

✗ Low budget

✗ A coffee machine that will make you feel like a barista

✗ A machine that uses capsules (like k-cups, nespresso capsules or other coffee pods

✗ Small kitchen space (OXO BREW is quite tall)

✗ Desire to brew different types of specialty drinks

✗ Removable water reservoir

OXO Barista Brain Review and Evaluation 🕵️

→ Appearance

I was really excited when I got my own model for this OXO Barista Brain review. My coffee machine was made of both plastic and stainless steel materials. Though minimalist at first, I found its design very impressive. I liked the versatile looks with stainless steel and transparent water reservoir. The machine had two parts: a reservoir with the heating element, and a brewing basket with a stainless steel carafe.

The control panel was fairly straightforward and featured only onle backlit button/dial and a digital screen:

• A backlit button/dial to set up my preferred brewing.
• A digital screen to view the time and current selections.

With a backlit button/dial, I was able to select the following:

• Beverage size (2-4 cups or 5-9 cups)
• Program the coffee maker for the next brewing

On the other hand, the digital screen (located above the rotating dial) allowed me to easily and quickly view the following:

• Current time (clock)
• A timer. The timer is set up automatically to count up to 60 minutes, indicating the time period over which the coffee is still fresh and still has the best possible flavor.

I was able to access the brew basket by raising its lid. The brew basket sits over an insulated, double walled, stainless steel carafe that keeps the brew hot and fresh.

→ Features and technical specs

Voltage: OXO Barista Brain is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only.

Basket size: OXO BREW’s basket is large enough to contain enough coffee grounds for 9 cups of coffee. The manufacturer recommends that I should use 8 grams (or 1.5 teaspoons) of coffee grounds per each cup of coffee (up to 13.5 teaspoons of coffee grounds).

The basket does not come with its own filter, as is the case of many other drip coffee machines. Therefore, in order to brew coffee using the OXO Barista Brain, I need to use paper filters. This machine uses #4 paper filters that I was able to purchase separately.

Beverage size: OXO Barista Brain gives me the possibility to choose between two brewing settings: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. That is a very useful feature to offer, because it allows me to brew depending on my needs, and it helps me avoid situations in which I need to throw out unused coffee. It is important to remember that, according to OXO standards, each cup of coffee contains 5oz of coffee liquid.

Weight: When I was preparing this OXO Barista Brain review, I was expecting a super heavy and bulky coffee maker. With stainless steel, I thought it would be a heavy machine. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it weighted only about 8 pounds. This was much lighter than expected, given the size of the coffee maker.

Unit size: The unit itself is indeed very tall, but otherwise quite slim and handsome. OXO BREW is 8.30 inches deep, 15 inches wide, and 17.20 inches tall. It may create issues for those who do not have a lot of space under their top cabinets.

Water reservoir: The water reservoir is not removable. It has an innovative design that allows the water to pass through the heating element at the base of the tank, and then to be suctioned up through a tube placed in the middle of the reservoir. After that, the water passes through a silicone bridge, and it is then poured in the brew basket.

Additional perks: I was so excited for this OXO Brew Review. It comes with really nice features.

✓ Pour over quality at home. The BrewBetter technology uses a microprocessor to control the brew cycle in such a way that it replicates the pour over method. In fact, when I was brewing, I was able to notice that the water flow stopped several times during brewing in order to allow coffee grounds to be fully soaked and to bloom.

✓ An even extraction for complete and rich flavors. The rainmaker shower head is a simple but effective improvement in the brewing process. The showerhead evenly disperses water over coffee grounds for uniform saturation and full flavor extraction. What that means is that the coffee grounds will be soaked with water evenly. Thus, you can enjoy their full flavor potential in a better and tastier cup of coffee.

✓ Optimal temperature and time for a perfect tasting cup of coffee This machine is certified by the SCA, which guarantees that that coffee brews at the optimal brewing temperatures (197-205 degrees Fahrenheit). We noticed that OXO Barista Brain brewed coffee much hotter than other drip coffee makers. And, we loved it!

✓ Intuitive and easy design. The control panel of the OXO BREW 9-cup coffee maker features a backlit screen that displays the status. It turns into a freshness indicator once one brewing cycle has ended. OXO believes that coffee stays fresh for one hour after it has been brewed, and the timer is meant to keep track of that time period of optimum freshness.

✓ Double-walled stainless steel carafe that keeps coffee hot for longer. While we are no fans of stainless steel carafes, we actually appreciated OXO’s carafe. It kept coffee warm and tasty for much longer. The carafe comes with a silicone mixing tube that goes through the middle of the carafe. With this setup, the carafe was able to mix colder coffee with hot coffee, thus maintaining even temperature.

→ Performance

Brewing time: We are happy to report in this OXO Brew review that the machine takes what drip coffee makes should take to brew coffee. The exact brewing time depends on the size 2-4 cups or 5-9 cups of coffee. However, the OXO Barista Brain should take no more than 8 minutes to brew 5-9 cups of coffee, and a minute or 2 less for 2-4 cups.

Flavor: I was excited about my coffee from OXO Barista Brain 9-cup coffee maker. With the technology (BrewBetter and pre-infusion), I was able to obtain complete, rich and deep coffee flavors. It was clear that coffee beans had proper means to fully extract oils and flavors.

Temperature: Although OXO Brew did not allow me to control the temperature, I am happy to report that the machine brew coffee in near-to-perfect brewing temperature. In my tests, the water reached about 190 F degrees, which is slightly below the ideal temperature of 195 to 205 F degrees. That being said, OXO Barista Brain received certification from the SCA, a seal that recognizes coffee makers for proper brewing conditions.

Noise levels: I would never call OXO Brew 9-cup coffee maker a noisy machine. In fact, it makes only a discreet buzzing sound while brewing. That’s the kind of sound I expect from a drip coffee maker that brews delicious coffee.

Cleaning: In this OXO Barista Brain review, we would like to recommend cleaning the exterior of the machine quite regularly. Specifically, we recommend wiping with a damp cloth and then wiping it dry. Once in a while, we clean it with a soft cloth and a mild detergent.

We noticed that the carafe was not dishwasher safe. So we had to manually wash it by soaking it overnight with a small amount of dishwasher detergent. Other removable parts, like the brew basket, the rainmaking shower head, the coffee scoop, and the mixing tube, are all top-rack dishwasher safe.

The machine displays an automated descaling reminder (an icon containing an exclamation mark) every 90 brewing cycles. However, I can choose to descale the machine any time.

Customer-reported technical issues

As we were preparing this OXO Brew review, we did not encounter any breakdowns while testing and using the product.

Similarly, customers who purchased this coffee machine are very happy with the quality of the coffee OXO Barista Brain brews. Customers also enjoy the design and functions of the machine.

However, there is one issue that many consumers experienced in 2017 and 2018. It appears that the machine used to leak from the brew basket once the carafe was removed. That happened when the valve at the bottom of the basket is faulty and does not close properly in order to prevent leaking.

This problem now appears to have been resolved. However, it might be worth checking as soon as you receive your OXO Barista Brian.

→ Health and safety

In regards to transparency, I was disappointed with OXO Brain Barista. As I was preparing the review, I tried to research what the product is made of. I did not find information whether OXO Brain Barista was made with BPA-, BPS-, or BPF-free plastics. While some users reported BPA-free plastics, I did not find this at the source.

From my observations, OXO Brew 9-cup coffee maker is made mostly with plastic. Whether it is BPA-free or not, this plastic comes into direct contact with scorching hot water. As you may know by now, I am personally very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

OXO did not visibly publish information what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so I am not able to verify.

→ Price to value: is OXO Brew worth the money?

At present, OXO Brew 9-cup coffee maker sells at multiple stores, including Amazon, Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Overall, the cost seems much higher than other drip coffee makers. With Breville Precision Brewer and Technivorm Moccamaster Cup One, OXO Brew is in the $$$$ price range.

We believe that OXO Brain Barista offers a very fair price-to-value. Specifically, the machine comes with technologies and functions that few other drip coffee makers have. Therefore, I was able to enjoy a much tastier coffee.

On the flip side, the retail price seems a bit high. At this price, I can purchase more advanced coffee machines with more features (such as milk frothing wand), or machines that also brew tea in different styles and sizes.

Should I buy OXO Barista Brain? Owly’s verdict! 🔨

As I attempted to show in this OXO Brew review, this is an advanced and innovative drip coffee maker. It brews some great coffee with more advanced technology and features.

This machine looks great and is very easy to use. Thanks to the innovative BetterBrew technology that controls time and temperature, as well as thanks to the rainmaking shower head, OXO Barista Brain is able to provide pour over coffee quality. This is a SCA certified coffee maker, which guarantees that the machine uses the perfect water temperature to make coffee (always between 197.6 and 204.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

Personally, I am a bit put off by the price and the lack of transparency regarding the materials.

Nevertheless, if you decide to purchase OXO Barista Brain, you will be contributing to OXO’s mission to support environmental non-profit organizations. It appears that the organization dedicates 1% of its sales towards different groups worldwide.

Will you get OXO Brew? What was your experience with OXO Brew? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, under this OXO Barista Brain review!