OXO On Barista Brain Coffee Brewer
The Oxo On Barista is one of the better-known coffee makers around the closed and mysterious circles of baristas around the world. All jokes aside, this is a very decent unit that is capable of maintaining the optimal brewing temperature. As a result, it definitely produces better coffee than most machines on the market. However, it is also not priced like most other machines on the market. This certainly adds some hesitation when it comes to purchasing one.
Pros
- SCAA Certified
- Optimal brewing temperature
- Double walled carafe
- Fully programmable
Cons
- Pricey
- Non-removable reservoir
The OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker is a computer controlled machine that takes pride in the ability to regulate temperature, time and volume when it comes to brewing your daily morning, Joe. It distributes water in timed cycles by mimicking a pour over and produces equal amounts of coffee at the set time every time.
OXO On Barista Performance
The Oxo 9-Cup Coffee Maker has an art of sophistication, its ‘Barista brain’ system, designed with a microprocessor that maintains real-time brewing parameters: water flow speed, water temperatures and maintains target volume of brewed coffee plus the total time taken in brewing.
According to the Oxo, the barista brain chip is inbuilt in order to achieve and maintain optimal results by balancing it against ideal values.
However, sometimes the average heat levels inside the brewing chamber tend to swing to a wide 66.5 degrees F (138 F, 58.9 C to 204.4 F, and 95.8 C).
In addition, the thermal carafe keeps its contents hot (above 150 F, 66 C) optimally for a period of around 5 hours and 11 minutes (yes, we are that precise). The only other brewer that we tested and showed similar results was the Technivorm Moccamaster.
Taste
Fortified with an out of this world intelligent microprocessor, this Oxo coffee system has the ability to monitor ambient temperatures during the brewing process. This is an integral feature to achieving great taste because it allows the chassis to undergo an optimal heating up process.
Another essential part the attainment of gloriously delicious taste is the Oxo’s ability to dose coffee grinds with water to perfection. The unit’s showerhead guarantees uniform saturation and extraction that leads to a brew filled with delicate flavors and aromas.
This art-like brewing process consistently produces a bold rich refined brew that will tease and beckon your taste buds to a delicious coffee experience you will never get the hang of.
If the taste is your first priority, this crème de la crème Oxo brewer should be the one thing giving life to your coffee mug.
OXO On Barista Brain Design
With a touch of elegance incorporated into its design, this 21st-century high-end Oxo coffee maker has a modern design that allows it to blend with just about anything offered by your kitchen counter.
Built from a mixture of black plastic and brushed stainless steel, a transparent reservoir with minimal adornments, this brewer comes out as a simple no-ordinary brewer with an extraordinary profile.
I found this luxurious brewer anything but short. Standing at 15 inches, it towers over most kitchen appliances, making it difficult to slide it under low-slung cabinets.
Its large cylindrical main section weighing at 45-ounce has a capacity to hold a (1.3 L) water tank on top and below house a heater assembly. Located to the tank’s right is the brew basket that allows access to type-4 cone paper filters. Beneath it sits the Oxo 9-Cup’s thermal carafe.
To enhance further this premium look, the brewer’s front has a recessed LED display that flushes at the main section’s curved surface.
In order to emphasize on its simple design, the brewer has only one physical control made of a circular dial that doubles as a push button.
Durability
Being a standard high-end drip coffee maker with a versatile system, Oxo has gone out of its comfort zone to build a high quality plastic and stainless steel that gives it an overall classic sturdy appearance.
Although it feels substantial, sleek and perfectly designed, its durability is not determined. However, with a two-year warrant, it is sure to guarantee your coin is well spent.
Brewing Speed
The machine’s brewing cycle runs efficiently and effectively beyond expectations. This is because, after dispensing small amounts of hot water in order to soak the coffee grounds, brewing continues without a glitch after a short pause.
On average, the total time has taken ranges between 6-7 minutes when brewing a full pot. This is because you have the pleasure of enjoying a programmable auto start option.
However, if you decide to have a longer brewing cycle, your wish is its command as long as the timer is set. With this, you wake up to a sumptuous morning treat, as the Oxo machine will always dutifully prepare coffee for you by the time you get up.
OXO on Barista Brain Features
- Removable silicone internal mixing tube: Thoroughly blends brewed coffee in the carafe, ensuring that the first and last sips are equally delicious.
- Intuitive led Interface: a backlit screen that displays the status of the freshness indicator and coffee maker.
- Dial/ OXO button: This is a single dial or button that allows users to program the number of cups to be brewed and a 24-hour start timer.
- 1 cup coffee scoop and 10 filters included in the package.
- Removable ‘Rainmaker’ showerhead: evenly disperses water over grounded coffee to create uniform saturation and maximum full flavor extraction.
- Soft non-slip handle: for easy pouring, this carafe provides a controlled non-slip grip.
- Vacuum-insulated carafe with brew-through lid: this Double-walled, stainless steel carafe keeps fresh coffee hot for longer hours.
- Detailed temperature control: heated water is retained at perfect coffee temperatures of 197.6-204.8° Fahrenheit
- Removable silicone Water Bridge: allows the flow of water from the reservoir to the brew
- Cone-shaped brew basket: the cone-shape ensures the grounding bed is in size for extraction of full flavor.
- Intelligent Microprocessor: The Barista Brain monitors every operations in order to achieve optimal results.
Ease of use
Zero surprises here. Operating the Oxo On Brain Barista is quite straightforward and user-friendly.
All you have to do is choose how much coffee you need(2-4 or 5-9 cups) then kick-start the process by filling the water reservoir. Next, drop a brewers filter basket, mainly a standard type-4 paper and then add your coffee grounds. Finally, press the button at the dial center to start the machine. It is a snap!
Unfortunately, the Oxo lacks scale and it cannot automatically detect the volume of water in the tank. So, make sure to pay more attention to the water levels in the reservoir to ensure that there is enough for your desired brew size.
You can easily boss around the Oxo by specifying the exact time you need your coffee teasing your nose buds.
In case you have too many things on your mind, this particular Oxo unit has a set count-up timer that is designed to notify you how long your coffee has been waiting for you in the carafe.
The timer is set to go for an hour and it is quite useful if you hate chilled coffee.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning the OXO On Barista Brain is a walk in the park.
Always ensure to use a damp cloth after each brewing process, when cleaning the carafe and the brew basket with mild detergent since they are not dishwasher safe. You can always use a mild detergent or an overnight soak when it comes to hard-to-remove stains.
In addition, removable connected plastic parts such as the filter basket, carafe head, showerhead, silicone water bridge, and plastic mixing tube used in the carafe can be dish washed. Hence, occasional cleaning is recommended in order to prevent residue buildup.
Descaling the machine gets rid of minerals from the water reservoir. This process takes approximately 60 minutes and the exciting part is that the OXO actually reminds you to do so by use of a red light after every 90 brews.
Oxo On Barista Brain Warranty
Features covered by the warrant: OXO on electrics
Warrant validity: Two years
Warranty support: OXO Company.
The warrant is not eligible for SCG extension
PROS
- SCAA Certified due to its consistency in brewing high quality coffee.
- Maintain optimal temperature levels throughout the brewing cycle.
- Has a minimal design with a sleek outlook that makes brewing easier.
- Its brewing cycle replicates a pour over through distribution of water in timed cycles.
- Double walled carafe that keeps your coffee hot without burning it on a heat plate.
- Fully programmable
- LCD display
CONS
- Has a non-removable water tank
- Highly Priced
- The spout of the carafe turns out to be frustratingly slow particularly when serving a number of people.
- Low water levels cause’ minor audible sounds by the machine.
Final thoughts
Drinking coffee like a barista requires one to have a barista brain such as the Oxo. Seriously, if you like a manual pour over coffee maker but always wake up to lazy mornings, do not think twice about this one.
However, if you are not too fussy about tastes and do not have a spacious counter space, this would not be a smart buy.
If you like a little bit of control, I would highly recommend the Bonavita BV1900TS which takes up less counter space, brews faster and better at the same price range.
The Verdict: OXO On Barista Brain is a drip coffee maker system that consistently delivers good taste. It is reliable, sturdy and easy to use. The only problem we have with it, is its price range. There are cheaper coffee makers on the market that are capable of delivering similar tasty brews. So, if you are not into the barista wildlife, maybe this price is a stretch for you.
But, if you insist on the good taste, this machine will not disappoint.
Anthony is a professional barista in the city of Chicago. He has written for many online publications on various topics related to coffee.
