The OXO Single Serve Coffee Maker is an innovative single cup coffee brewing system that allows you to easily make fresh, barista-quality coffee at home. This compact and stylish coffee maker is designed to extract the optimal flavor from your favorite coffee grounds or pods using a combination of precise temperature control and intelligent brewing.

With the OXO Single Serve, you can brew directly into your favorite mug or cup, eliminating the need for wasteful k-cups or coffee pods. The single serve design provides convenience and customization, allowing you to adjust the brew strength and size for each individual cup. The rainmaker shower head evenly saturates your grounds for full flavor extraction.

So if you're looking for an eco-friendly and customizable single cup brewer that can deliver delicious coffee house style drinks from the comfort of home, the OXO Single Serve is an excellent option worth considering. This review will cover the key features, benefits, drawbacks and overall value of this single serve coffee making system.

Design

The OXO Single Serve Coffee Dripper features a sleek and modern design made from sturdy plastic, stainless steel, and silicone materials. Despite its durable construction, the coffee maker maintains a lightweight and portable frame.

Standing about 5 inches tall, the coffee dripper occupies minimal counter space with its compact circular base and slim profile. It comes in a stylish black and stainless steel color scheme that will suit most kitchen decors.

The top of the coffee maker has a smooth black plastic outer ring and a stainless steel inner ring with etched measurement markings. The inner basket and outer housing connect via a silicone gasket for a snug and spill-proof fit.

The simple but elegant design allows the coffee dripper to blend into kitchen environments from modern to traditional. Its thoughtful details like the silicone grip make the coffee maker easy and comfortable to use.

In addition to the OXO dripper, the Keurig K-Mini Plus offers a compact solution for coffee lovers with limited space. This single-serve coffee maker is designed for convenience, brewing a fresh cup in just minutes. Its sleek, minimalist profile complements any kitchen decor, and it easily fits into tight spots. With customizable brew strength and an intuitive interface, the K-Mini Plus is an excellent choice for anyone seeking quality coffee without the bulk.

Brewing Features

The OXO On Single Serve Coffee Dripper has several excellent brewing features that allow you to customize your coffee.

• Brew size options - The dripper can brew anywhere from 8 oz to 14 oz, so you can make a small cup or large mug of coffee. It includes both 8 oz and 14 oz filters.

• Precise extraction brewing - The rainmaker shower head evenly distributes water over the coffee grounds for uniform saturation and full flavor extraction. This helps optimize the brewing process.

• Microprocessor-controlled brewing - An intelligent microprocessor monitors variables like water temperature and volume for precise brewing. This removes guesswork and ensures optimal results.

• Adjustable temperature - You can select a brewing temperature between 197°F and 204°F using a dial on the back. This allows you to tailor the water temperature to the roast of your coffee beans.

• Rainmaker shower head - The shower head design evenly saturates the grounds for full flavor extraction and great tasting coffee.

So in summary, the OXO coffee maker provides excellent brew size flexibility, precision brewing technology, and customizable temperature control for the perfect cup of coffee.

Another great option is the Keurig K-Compact 5000376527, which is designed for convenience and ease. This compact coffee maker brews delicious coffee quickly, allowing you to enjoy your favorite beverages with just the press of a button. It has a sleek design that fits well in any kitchen space and is compatible with the wide variety of K-Cup pods. The K-Compact also offers a removable water reservoir for easy filling and cleaning, making your morning routine a breeze.

Ease of Use - Buttons, Display, Cleaning, Maintenance

The OXO Single Serve Coffee maker is designed for convenience and ease of use. It has an intuitive interface with two buttons - one for a small cup and one for a large cup. The large backlit LCD display clearly shows the selected cup size and brewing progress.

Cleaning and maintenance are straightforward with removable parts that are top-rack dishwasher safe. The drip tray pulls out to accommodate travel mugs. Descaling is recommended every 3-6 months to keep the machine operating properly. The descaling process involves mixing vinegar and water, running cycles to flush the solution through, and rinsing thoroughly.

The water reservoir is easy to access and has markings to gauge the amount of water added. An auto-off feature turns the coffee maker off after 5 minutes of inactivity. Overall, the simple interface, convenient cleaning, descaling process, and auto-off make this a very easy to use single serve coffee maker.

Coffee Quality

The OXO On Barista Brain produces coffee that rivals what you'd get from your favorite cafe. The water is heated to the optimal brewing temperature between 197°F - 204°F for rich, flavorful coffee.

The coffee comes out with a balanced taste that brings out the subtle notes and aromas of the beans. There's no bitterness or acidity, just a smooth, mellow flavor. The crema on top is a rusty brown color and quite thick and creamy.

The coffee has a nice, syrupy consistency thanks to the metal mesh filter basket that doesn't absorb oils like paper filters do. This helps produce a full-bodied cup of coffee with a silky mouthfeel.

The aroma while brewing and drinking is heavenly - you get hints of nuttiness, chocolate, and fruit depending on the coffee beans. It really allows the natural flavors of different beans to shine through beautifully.

Overall, the OXO Barista Brain makes coffee that is on par with specialty coffee shops. The optimal water temperature and slow, pulsing pour really extract the best flavor for a balanced, nuanced cup.

Additional Features

The OXO Single Serve coffeemaker has several handy additional features that add value.

Reusable Filter

The OXO comes with a reusable stainless steel filter that eliminates the need to buy wasteful paper filters. This is both economical and environmentally friendly. The mesh filter allows for full coffee flavor extraction while removing sediment for a clean cup.

Travel Mug Compatibility

Another useful extra is the brewer's compatibility with travel mugs up to 7 inches tall. Simply place your travel mug in the drip tray, lock it in place and brew directly into your mug. This allows you to easily take your freshly brewed coffee to go.

Pros

Compact and Portable Design

The OXO Single Serve Coffee Dripper has a compact and portable design that fits neatly on top of most coffee mugs. It takes up minimal counter space and is easy to store away in a cabinet or drawer when not in use. This makes it a great option for small kitchens, offices, dorm rooms, or travel.

Brews Directly Into Your Mug

There's no carafe or extra equipment needed with this coffee maker. It brews directly into your favorite mug, saving you extra dishes to wash later. This is also convenient for making just a single serving of coffee.

Simple and Intuitive Controls

The OXO coffee dripper has intuitive, user-friendly controls. There's just an on/off switch and a start button. You don't have to program any settings or deal with complex interfaces. It's designed to be easy to operate even early in the morning before you've had your first cup of coffee.

Cons

• The carafe handle can get hot, especially when brewing multiple cups one after the other. Some users have suggested adding an insulation sleeve for the handle.

• The plastic cone and coffee catcher feels a bit flimsy compared to other models, and there's no metal filter option. The included paper filters work well though.

• Cleaning can be tricky with the fixed water reservoir. It's not easily removable so you have to wipe it down after each use. A self-cleaning cycle would be a nice addition.

Value

The OXO Single Serve coffee maker offers good value considering its price and feature set. At around $15, it's very affordable for a single serve coffee maker, especially compared to more expensive models from Keurig and Nespresso.

The simple but effective design means you get good functionality and brew quality without paying for unnecessary extra features. For the price, it makes a great basic single cup brewer.

OXO provides a satisfactory 1 year limited warranty. This is fairly standard for small kitchen appliances in this price range.

Compared to other top manual single serve drippers like the AeroPress, this OXO model is similarly priced but offers some nice added conveniences like the rainhead shower that evenly saturates the grounds and the auto-drip tank that automates the brewing. The AeroPress in contrast requires a more hands-on approach.

Overall, for shoppers looking for an inexpensive but capable single serve dripper that doesn't compromise too much on quality or features, the OXO Single Serve offers a compelling value proposition. It delivers the convenience of single cup brewing without the high cost premium of some competing pod-based models.

Conclusion

The OXO On Barista Brain may be the best single serve coffee maker for people who want a satisfying brew with maximum convenience. It produces a rich, smooth, and flavorful cup of coffee that rivals what you'd get from your favorite coffee shop.

The combination of features like the rainmaker shower head, precise temperature control, and microprocessor-controlled brew cycle allow you to optimize the brew to your taste. The large water reservoir and programmable schedule make it easy to set up your morning coffee in advance. The design is sleek and compact to fit any kitchen.

While it carries a premium price tag, the Barista Brain delivers an exceptionally delicious cup of coffee that's hard to beat with other single serve makers. If you want café-quality coffee that you can make yourself at the push of a button, the Barista Brain is a worthwhile investment. Its ability to deliver consistent results and hands-off convenience make it the best choice overall for discerning coffee lovers.