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Oxo's 9 cup coffee maker is the most user-friendly machine I've ever tested
It doesn't get simpler than the one-button control on this sleek appliance. It's the best drip coffee machine we tried and reviewed!
Anytime I shop for a kitchen appliance or organizing product, I look at Oxo's offerings first: The brand has made a name for itself with its user-friendly designs that somehow manage to solve problems you didn't even know you had! So when I was testing machines for our guide to the best drip coffee makers of 2024, I had high expectations of the Oxo Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker. And I am happy to say it did not disappoint.
I used this machine over several weeks and found that it consistently produced flavorful java, whether I was making a full pot or a single serving of coffee. But more than that, it was legitimately simple to use, with a single dial that lets you control everything. My 75-year-old dad tried the coffee maker, too, and we both agreed that you could be half-asleep and still easily operate it. No wonder it's one of only 23 home brewers certified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), meaning it meets specific requirements for quality. At $230, it's definitely an investment, so read on to discover if it's worth the price for you. Here's my Oxo Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker review:
Welcome to the cafe ... I mean my house. I loved this machine's sleek, industrial design.
- Super-simple interface
- Looks cool and modern
- Good coffee quality
- Programmable
- Very quiet
- Oxo has excellent customer service
- On the pricey side
- Takes up a ton of counterspace
- Carafe and lid are not dishwasher-safe
- Doesn't come with a reusable filter
Oxo Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker: What I loved
With certain coffee makers, I feel like I need coffee just to get the energy to work the machine. Not the case here! The instructions for the Oxo 9 Cup are very straightforward, and it's clear what you need to do for setup immediately. I found the included manual extremely useful, especially the illustrations that show you how to program your brew and set the wake-up timer.
You control the machine by turning and/or pressing a single dial. I loved this for its simplicity, but it does take some getting used to. I played around with the dial for a few minutes and was able to get the hang of it; same goes for my dad. I also appreciated how the digital display is right on the machine — no separate screens. Little icons let you know what the machine is doing: water drops for brewing, a steaming mug when your coffee is ready, a clock for the wake-up timer, and so on. They're intuitive, but if you're unsure, there's a handy key in the manual.
The 9 Cup is also quiet — like hush-the-baby-is-sleeping quiet. All I heard was some gurgling and bubbling, so if you're someone who programs your coffee maker to brew first thing in the morning, you don't need to worry about it jarring you awake.
Finally, this drip coffee maker was one of the most consistent when it came to brew temperature. According to the National Coffee Association, a home brewer should maintain a water temperature of 195 to 200 degrees F for optimal extraction (a.k.a. the best taste). I checked the temp several times during the brew process and it always fell within that range.
Oxo Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker: What I liked
This machine looks good, with a big, clear water tank and a lot of stainless steel. It would be right at home in a professional kitchen (yes, chef!) or even in a lab (a tube in the water tank bubbles while heating, which gave chemistry-experiment vibes). If you're a fan of commercial- or industrial-looking appliances, you'll be happy.
During the testing process, I had more than a dozen coffee makers in my kitchen, all stacked on top of one another, along with their boxes. It was a precarious setup, to put it mildly, and the Oxo's thermal carafe fell from high up on a box, which dented the rim and cracked the lid. Why does this incident fall into the "what I liked" category? I called Oxo customer service and they offered me a replacement for free, no questions asked. It took all of three minutes on the phone, and they only requested the machine's serial number and my mailing address. No interrogation, no call transferring, no demands for my social security number or credit history. Maybe I have a low bar for customer service, but I was impressed.
Oxo Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker: What I didn't like
At 15 inches wide and 17.2 inches tall, the Oxo takes up a lot of real estate on the counter. I have a small kitchen, and I definitely can't leave this out all the time unless I want to sacrifice significant prep space.
Also, the thermal carafe leaves something to be desired. Generally, a thermal carafe is better than a glass one because it keeps your coffee uniformly hot without relying on a warming plate, which can scorch your brew. But I found that the Oxo carafe didn't keep the coffee as warm after an hour as other machines I tested. Plus, it's handwash-only with a narrow mouth, so it's tricky to clean without a bottle bush. And of course, this is the piece that broke, as I mentioned above. I would consider this practically unforgivable except that it was so easy and free to replace.
Oxo Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker: The final verdict
This machine is one of the more sophisticated drip coffee makers out there, comparable to models from Breville, Zwilling and Technivorm Moccamaster, but with one important difference: It retails for $230 whereas the others start at $250 and cruise well past the $300 mark. If you like to get a little nerdy about coffee — but don't want to have to do a lot of tinkering or bust your budget — the Oxo Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker is a great buy.
The coffee maker comes with a coffee scoop and 10 paper #4 cone filters to get you started.
