I loved testing the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker, but it has one major flaw

If you want a simple coffee maker — a.k.a. pressing just one button to start brewing — but still want a high-quality cup of joe, the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker offers the best of both worlds. This popular model is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), meaning it will make a consistent, flavorful cup of coffee every time, but unlike many other similar models, it’s incredibly straightforward to use.

This OXO coffee maker can brew either full carafes or single cups of coffee, and it does so with the push of one button. That means no messing around in menus or programming complicated settings. It’s also quite compact, making it a top choice for smaller kitchens, but after weeks of testing, I did find a few quirks that you should know before you buy.

Here’s what I thought of the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker’s performance and design, as well as how it compares to the best coffee makers we’ve tested.

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker: Price and availability

The OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker costs $199.99, which is fairly average for an SCA-certified drip coffee machine. You can purchase it from the brand’s website, as well as stores like Amazon, Williams Sonoma, and Crate & Barrel.

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker: Design

The first two things I noticed about the OXO Brew coffee maker is that it’s quite small and quite basic. This appliance is only 13.5 inches tall, as it’s designed to fit under kitchen cabinets, and it has a much smaller footprint than most other coffee machines I’ve tested.

It’s also extremely easy to operate — while other coffee makers often have complex menus and multiple brew settings, the OXO only has two buttons. One lets you brew 2-4 cups, and the other is to brew 5-8 cups. That’s it. There’s no temperature adjustment, brew strength, or option to program the machine ahead of time. So if you like an appliance that’s intuitive to operate, this machine is right up your alley.

The one thing I don’t like about this coffee maker’s design, however, is that the water reservoir isn’t removable. This means you have to find a measuring cup or other vessel to fill up the tank, and frankly, it drove me crazy. (You can’t really use the carafe, either, because its stainless steel walls don’t let you see how much water is inside.) I’m used to bringing the coffee machine reservoir over to the sink each morning to fill it up, so the change in routine was bothersome. Its fixed design also makes it much more challenging to clean.

You can use this coffee maker to brew directly into a cup or travel mug, but it also comes with an 8-cup stainless steel thermal carafe. It has a substantial feel and double-walled design for better heat retention, but I don’t like the lid very much. It screws into place, and the threads are quite deep, so several turns are needed. I’m sure this helps to seal in heat, but it’s much less convenient than a regular flip-up lid.

OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker: Performance

I tested the OXO Brew Coffee Maker in my kitchen for two weeks, using it daily to brew coffee for myself and my husband. As I suspected based on its bare-bones design, the machine is incredibly simple and straightforward to use. You simply fill up the water tank to your desired cup amount, load up a filter and coffee grounds, then hit start.

There are different filter holders to use depending on if you want 2-4 cups or 5-8 cups, and the filter size varies, as well. To brew a carafe, you use classic flat-bottom coffee filters, but the filters for smaller servings are an unconventional size that you probably won’t find in the supermarket. They’re Kalita Wave 185 filters, which are technically meant for pour-over coffee makers, and you’ll likely end up purchasing them online if you make a lot of single-serving cups.

Despite its simplicity, this coffee maker is SCA certified, which means it brews at a specific temperature and pace for optimal flavor. It also has a rainmaker shower head that evenly distributes water over grounds for maximum extraction. During testing, we typically used it to brew 6 cups in the morning — just the right amount for two people — and it usually took around five minutes from start to finish. Immediately after brewing, the coffee was 175 degrees Farenheit, and after 20 minutes in the carafe, it was still at 165 degrees.

Every cup that I made in the OXO Brew Coffee Maker was rich and flavorful, and there were never any unpleasant acidic notes. I also like that it doesn’t continue to heat the coffee inside the carafe, so there was never any bitter or burnt flavor if I went back to top up my cup.

We occasionally used the OXO to brew an individual cup of coffee — usually either in the afternoon or to take on the go in the morning. If you’re brewing directly into a mug, you can flip the well cover over to elevate your cup and minimize splashing, or it can also be removed completely to accommodate tall travel mugs. The coffee tastes exactly the same when brewed in smaller quantities, and it’s much better than anything you’ll get from most pod-based machines. It also results in less plastic waste, which is a bonus if you’re eco-conscious.

How does the GE Profile Smart Grind & Brew compare?

If the OXO Brew is too basic for your tastes, there are plenty of other SCA-certified coffee makers to consider. For instance, the GE Profile Smart Grind & Brew has earned the distinction, and this machine offers tons of customization settings so you can make your coffee just the way you like it. This unit also offers both carafe and single-cup brewing, and it also has a built-in burr grinder for fresh beans every time.

Another (slightly) less expensive option is the Braun MultiServe Plus, which is also SCA-certified and can brew single servings or up to 10 cups. This unit also offers “brew over ice” and cold brew settings, but you have fewer serving size options — it can only brew a half carafe or full carafe.

Should you buy the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker?

As a whole, I was really impressed by the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker. It doesn’t take up too much space on the counter, is incredibly easy to use, and offers the versatility of brewing a single cup or full carafe. Plus, thanks to its SCA-certified design, this coffee maker brews a flavorful cup of coffee every time.

However, I personally dislike the design of its water tank, which can’t be removed for refilling or cleaning. This makes it less convenient to use and may be a dealbreaker for some people.

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