The best drip coffee maker of all time – OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker review

These days, it's common knowledge that the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker is one of the top drip coffee makers on the market. The competition for such an impressive title is fierce, but OXO works hard to deserve it.

According to the SCA, the OXO makes a 'Gold Standard' cup of filter coffee. While there are other models in our list of the best drip coffee makers that have similar awards, none seem to be as nimble, simple, or as good value as the OXO.

We've tested and re-tested the OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker to make sure that it's still the best on the market. It's not the most elaborate or the most attractive, but if you just want delicious filter coffee, it's perfect.

Specifications

Unboxing

The coffee maker arrived in a large box, wrapped in minimal protective cardboard packaging, which is environmentally friendly. It comes with a single-serving and regular coffee basket and a coffee scoop. It included a manual, though I was determined to figure it out myself. This coffee maker has a rainmaker shower head, which ensures that water is evenly distributed over the coffee grounds. The metal finishes are modern and easy to wipe down if needed. 

This coffee maker is primarily designed to be used with the large brew basket, though it also comes with a smaller filter and small brew basket, which holds two to four cups of coffee, for single-serve brewing. It also has a double-wall, vacuum-insulated thermal carafe with a brew-through, pour-through carafe lid, though you can swap in a mug if you’re making a single cup of coffee. The design was modern and matches my other stainless steel appliances, so it's a welcome addition to my kitchen.

What is it like to use?

This coffee maker was easy enough to use. However, the water tank isn't removable, so I usually used a large kettle (or my mug for a single serving) to pour in the water. This could be awkward if you struggle with mobility. Once you’ve added filtered water proportional to the amount of coffee you want to brew, choose whether you’re brewing a mug or whole carafe and add your vessel under the spout. You have the option of brewing coffee for one using the smaller basket and mug, or brewing a bigger pot for multiple people and sticking to the regular carafe. Keep in mind that this coffee maker is designed to brew 8 cups, or 40 ounces, max. 

From there, put a coffee filter into your filter basket of choice and add in your coffee grounds. Thankfully, one scoop of the included coffee scoopers corresponds to 1 cup of coffee, so it’s easy to measure the right amount of coffee grounds. Snap the brew basket in place and slide the toggle to the single-serve cup icon or carafe icon, which activates the drip-free valve. When everything is set, press the power button and select either 2-4 cups or 5-8 cups depending on the quantity. While the coffee brews, keep the brew basket lid closed. 

Once the coffee has been brewed, you’ll hear a single chime to let you know that it’s ready to be served. The coffee was delicious and flavorful every time, and it helped that it was significantly less watery than the miniature coffee pot I’ve relied on. I also appreciated the minimalist and sleek design, which is why this is displayed proudly on my kitchen countertop at all times. The one downside is that the carafe doesn’t keep the coffee hot for very long since it has a small hole at the top where stream escapes after brewing, so I recommend drinking it quickly or adding hot water to the water tank. There’s also no auto start button, so you’ll need to turn it on manually. 

Cleaning, storage, and maintenance

After use, you can rinse out the carafe with soap and let dry before using again. The brew baskets were dishwasher safe in the top rack. If the Clean button light on the coffee maker starts blinking, it will need to be descaled, which removes mineral buildup. To do this, fill the water tank with a descaling solution, which will need to be purchased separately. Then, switch to carafe mode and press the Clean button to run a clean cycle. Once the cycle is complete, the machine will chime and the Clean button light will turn off. Make sure that you refill the water tank and run a 5-8 cup water-only brew cycle, then discard all the water before using again.  

How does it rate online?

You'll only have to consult a few buying guides before you realize that the OXO Brew 8-Cup is at the top of all of them. It's not because all the experts have conspired or had some sort of conversation between ourselves, but because the OXO is genuinely the best out there. 

Most of the praise for the OXO is simple but strong. For example, customer and expert reviews all give the OXO top marks for the taste and quality of the coffee brewed in the OXO, which is arguably the most important function of this. People also love that the single-cup function makes coffee that tastes as good as a full carafe. Not many models can brew a decent single-serving, if at all, so the fact that the OXO can execute it so perfectly is impressive.

I could go on and on about the different features that people love the OXO for (it uses insulation rather than a hotplate to keep your coffee warm, which is better for the flavors; it's relatively compact; and it's easy to use). However, there are some drawbacks. I found a subset of reviewers who found the coffee brewed in the OXO was too hot to drink straight away. Given that the grounds weren't burnt, I can't imagine it was too bad, but if you know you like your coffee cooler, take note.

How does it compare?

The OXO is the best drip coffee maker on the market, so it always feels a bit mean to compare it to other models. Within OXO's offering, there's the 9-Cup Coffee Maker, which makes good coffee, but it's harder to pour from, less versatile, and bigger. I've compared the OXO 8-Cup and the OXO 9-Cup against each other in detail, and the 8-Cup generally comes out on top.

For those who want a model that comes with a coffee grinder and more elaborate settings, the Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker is a better option. It comes with a cold brew setting as well as some other smart pre-sets. You have to pay a premium for the luxury of all these settings and I don't actually think the flavors are as good, but it's still one of the best.

Should you buy it?

The OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker retails for $200, and it’s worth it for anyone who brews coffee regularly, especially large portions for multiple people. It’s sleek, reliable, and easy to use. The main con is that your coffee may not stay hot as long as other coffee makers, and it doesn’t include some of the extra bells and whistles like a built-in clock or automatic mode if you wanted to brew your coffee at a certain time. However, it delivers a solid cup of coffee, which is what matters most.