OXO 8718800 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The OXO 8718800 is a 12-cup drip coffee maker that combines thoughtful design and innovative features to brew delicious coffee right at home. OXO is known for making kitchen tools and appliances with user-friendly designs, and this automatic drip coffee maker is no exception.

With its sleek stainless steel and black plastic exterior, the OXO 8718800 coffee maker has an attractive, contemporary look that suits any kitchen décor. But beyond its stylish design, this coffee maker is packed with helpful features that simplify the coffee brewing process while also allowing users to customize their coffee to their preferences.

The OXO 8718800 uses a rainmaker shower head to evenly saturate grounds for full flavor extraction. It also has a precision brew cycle that allows you to choose between regular or bold coffee. Keep reading this review for a more in-depth look at the features, performance, design, and ease of use of the OXO 8718800 drip coffee maker.

Design and Build Quality

The OXO On Barista Brain 9-Cup Coffee Maker has an attractive, modern design with a metal exterior and plastic interior. The metal housing gives it a sleek, durable look that fits well on most kitchen countertops.

The water reservoir and carafe are made from BPA-free plastic for durability and safety. The water tank has volume markings printed on the side so you can easily see how much water you've added. The carafe has a comfortable handle and clear viewing window so you can monitor your brew.

The overall build quality feels solid and stable. The buttons have a satisfying click and the parts fit together precisely with no looseness. Owners mention this coffee maker still looks and functions like new after a few years of daily use.

The materials seem chosen to balance aesthetics, durability, and functionality. With its combination of metal and plastic, the OXO On Barista Brain coffee maker manages to look great while also delivering reliable performance. The careful construction gives owners confidence in its longevity.

Brewing Performance

The OXO 8718800 brews a full pot of coffee in around 6-7 minutes, which is fairly standard for drip coffee makers in this class. The hot plate keeps the carafe contents hot for 2 hours after brewing.

The water reaches an optimal brewing temperature of 195-205°F, helping extract the best flavor from the coffee grounds. Many users remark how the OXO consistently yields flavorful, aromatic coffee with each brew. It strikes a nice balance between full body and acidity. The flat-bottom filter basket evenly saturates the grounds during brewing for balanced extraction.

Some reviewers do note the brew can be slightly weaker than expected and recommend using two scoops of grounds per cup of water. But in general, most find the OXO brews a tasty cup of joe.

Ease of Use

The OXO On 12-Cup Coffee Maker is designed for convenient, hassle-free operation. The intuitive controls include a front-facing button interface and LED display that clearly shows the clock and brew settings.

Setting up the coffee maker is very straightforward - just add water to the reservoir, insert a filter into the basket, add ground coffee, and select your settings. Programming the brew options like cup size, strength, and auto-brew time can be easily done through the buttons.

The coffee maker takes removable dishwasher-safe parts for fast and simple cleaning. The drip tray can also be removed and is spill-proof. There is an auto-clean function that reminds you when it's time to descale and walk you through the descaling process.

Overall, the coffee maker is simple to operate and easy to maintain thanks to its thoughtful design and clever features. The controls and instructions are user-friendly, minimizing setup time and allowing you to brew great coffee with little effort.

Features

The OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker has several useful features for customizing and controlling your brew.

Programmable Timer

The coffee maker has a programmable timer that allows you to set the machine to automatically brew coffee up to 24 hours in advance. This is very convenient if you want to wake up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee or have coffee ready when you get home from work. Just set the timer before you go to bed or leave in the morning.

Brew Size Options

You can customize the brew size from a single cup up to 9 cups. The single serve mode is great if you just want a quick cup without having to brew a whole pot. And the 9 cup carafe capacity is good for entertaining or large families.

Other Notable Features

• The coffee maker has a rainmaker shower head that evenly distributes water over the coffee grounds for full flavor extraction.

• There is an optional pre-infusion cycle that wets the grounds before brewing to help bloom the coffee flavor.

• The double walled carafe keeps coffee hotter for longer while also staying cool on the outside to the touch.

• An LED interface clearly displays settings and freshness time after brewing.

• It has a removable water reservoir with a wide opening for easy filling.

• The grounds basket and carafe are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

Capacity

The OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker has a generous 60oz water reservoir which allows you to brew up to 9 cups of coffee at a time. The glass carafe has clearly marked measurement lines and can hold the full 60oz of brewed coffee. This is a great size carafe for brewing coffee for a family or to last you throughout the day.

The 60oz capacity gives you flexibility - if you want a smaller amount of coffee you can brew as little as 2-3 cups using the same grounds and water. The OXO will automatically adjust the brewing for the amount of water you add. Being able to brew anything from a single cup up to the full 9 cups in one go makes this an ideal drip coffee maker for households with varying coffee consumption.

Pros

• The OXO Brew has an attractive, modern design made from durable stainless steel and high-quality plastics. The carafe is double-walled stainless steel to keep coffee hot.

• Brews a full pot of drip coffee (9-12 cups) quickly, in around 6-7 minutes. Brews a flavorful, aromatic pot of coffee with balanced tasting notes.

• Very easy to use control panel with one-button functionality to start brewing. The rainmaker shower head evenly saturates grounds for optimal extraction.

• Convenient 24-hour programmable auto brew timer, allows you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee. Pause brew mid-cycle if you need to pour a cup before it's done.

Cons

• The water reservoir capacity is relatively small at just 12 cups. This means you'll need to refill it more frequently for households that drink a lot of coffee.

• There is no programmable timer, so you can't set the machine to brew coffee in advance at a specific time. The machine starts brewing immediately when you turn it on.

• The water tank can be tricky to properly align and seat when putting it back into the machine. It may take a few tries to get it fitted back into place correctly.

• While the heating element is powerful, some users felt it didn't get water hot enough for optimal extraction. This resulted in coffee that was a bit weak or watery for their preferences.

Comparable Alternatives

The OXO 8718800 is a popular single-serve drip coffee maker, but there are several alternatives worth considering depending on your needs and budget.

Technivorm Moccamaster 59616 KBG Coffee Brewer

The Moccamaster 59616 KBG is a premium drip coffee machine handmade in the Netherlands. It features a copper boiling element for fast brewing, an automatic drip-stop, and a thermal carafe to keep coffee hot. The Moccamaster is renowned for brewing flavorful, aromatic coffee consistently. It's an excellent choice for coffee enthusiasts who want exceptional taste. The main downside is the high price tag.

Bonavita BV1900TS 8-Cup Carafe Coffee Brewer

For a more affordable alternative, the Bonavita BV1900TS is an 8-cup machine with a thermal carafe. It has a powerful 1500-watt heater and showerhead design for saturated and flavorful coffee brewing. The Bonavita doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the OXO, but it consistently brews great-tasting coffee at a reasonable price point. It's a good option if you want something simpler.

Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker

On a tight budget? The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable coffee maker delivers solid performance for the cost. It has a removable water reservoir, pause-and-serve function, andbrew strength control. The Mr. Coffee doesn't have a thermal carafe or other premium features, but it's inexpensive and user-friendly. Overall, a decent choice for budget-conscious coffee drinkers.

Conclusion

The OXO On Barista Brain 9 Cup Coffee Maker is an excellent drip coffee machine that offers great brewing performance and useful features in an attractive, well-built package. Here's a summary of the main pros and cons:

Pros

• Brews coffee evenly and extracts maximum flavor
• Rainmaker shower head evenly distributes water over grounds
• Precise temperature control for optimal extraction
• Intelligent microprocessor controls brew cycle
• Programmable auto-start timer for scheduled brewing
• Pour-over style kettle for manual brewing
• Bypass doser for pre-ground coffee
• Stylish and modern design

Cons

• Expensive compared to other drip coffee makers
• Water reservoir can be tricky to access and fill
• Can't brew smaller cup sizes like 4 cups

Overall, the OXO On Barista Brain is an excellent choice for someone who wants great-tasting drip coffee and doesn't mind paying a premium for quality design and brewing technology. The intelligent microprocessor delivers precise brewing customized to your preferences. While not cheap, it's a worthwhile investment for coffee lovers who appreciate a great cup of joe from a drip coffee machine.