Good coffee is easy to come by. But great coffee? Head over to the nearest café. If you don’t have that luxury, and still want a superb cup of coffee, then the OXO Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker is the best coffee maker for the job. Not only is it easy to use, its SCA certification proves the coffee it makes is of a golden standard. You might also be interested in our review of the black hole coffee table to decorate the rest of your home. If you sometimes struggle with drinking water, you should also read our review of Cove: filters everything out of your water, for a price.
Why We Like It – OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker
The OXO Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker gives you every reason to stay home to brew your coffee, without needing a million and one buttons to mess with. If you’re looking to upgrade the rest of your kitchen, take a look at our Hard Anodized Cookware vs Stainless Steel review. If you also love homemade icecream, you might also want to learn more about how Yonanas creates delicious all-natural soft serve.
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- Superb coffee quality with SCA certification
- Easy to use
- Has a single-serve option
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- Brewing time is a little slow
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Performance
Believe it or not, the OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker is a monster at making superb coffee. It has even been recognized by the Specialty Coffee Association for how great it is. While the OXO is indeed a drip coffee maker, it distributes water differently than most coffee makers by way of a shower head. This allows for the coffee grounds to be evenly watered, and ultimately a better cup of joe. And while we’re on performance, you might also want to read about the 5 reasons why the Krups Infinity Slow Juice Extractor is the only juicer you’ll ever need.
However, the brewing process takes a little longer than the Bodum BISTRO Coffee Maker and Moccamaster KB 741, but not by much. Its brew cycle is just a few seconds longer. On the bright side, the OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker is great as a one-cup coffee maker, rather than brewing an entire pot.
Design
To keep brewed coffee hot, the OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker makes use of a very important feature: a stainless steel thermal carafe. Its stainless steel carafe is double-walled, allowing for your delicious coffee to be kept at water temperature. It’s kept at around 197 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s definitely hot water! Temperature aside, to keep the coffee from tasting bad (over time), an internal mixing tube is used. There’s even a freshness indicator below the brew basket and water reservoir. The filter basket does use paper, unlike the stainless steel filter on the Bodum BISTRO. You can compare the OXO with the Scanomat Top Brewer coffee machine that is controlled with an iPhone.
Value
For good coffee on a budget, turn to the Bodum BISTRO. For the best coffee, the Moccamaster KBG 741 does just that. That puts the OXO Coffee Maker squarely in the middle of the two. It isn’t as good as the KB 741, but it’s a league above the BISTRO by making great coffee.
In fact, the difference between the Bodum BISTRO and OXO is $25. Given its performance, the OXO has way better value per dollar than the BISTRO—especially when you consider the OXO is SCAA certified and the BISTRO isn’t. In other words: it makes some of the highest quality coffee.
OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker Wrap Up
The OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker is in a favorable position. It’s so easy to make an excellent cup of coffee, thanks to its simple controls and SCAA certification. And for the price you’re paying? You won’t even notice the ever so slightly longer brew time, just that you’re enjoying a delicious cup of coffee every time.
