The Oxo Cold Brew is a frontrunner among cold brew coffee makers. Oxo has included several thoughtful design aspects, including a rainmaker lid and brew release switch, to make this brewer stand out in an already saturated market. The Oxo Cold Brew coffee maker has made brewing cold brew accessible to the mainstream.
Oxo cold brew
Best cold brew coffee maker
The Oxo Cold Brew is a basic brewer capable of producing a high-quality coffee concentrate. Oxo has included several features to simplify the brewing process. The Oxo is an excellent brewer for the cold brew lover, albeit on the pricier side.
Design
The Oxo cold brew coffee maker has a tidy design. The brewer is mainly composed of black-tinted plastic, giving it a sleek look to complement any kitchen. It is a tall but compact brewer; however, Oxo also has a compact cold brew coffee maker, which is even smaller if space is an issue.
The compact cold brew coffee maker has a very similar design. The two key differences are that it has a smaller capacity, of only 16 oz. It also has a spring-loaded release switch to automatically drain the cold brew when you place it on the carafe.
Oxo’s cold brew coffee maker is made up of five pieces. The main brewing container sits on a brewing stand, with the glass carafe stored underneath. A rainmaker lid sits on top of the brewing container. This lid is one of the stand-out features of the Oxo brewer. It facilitates the even distribution of water over the coffee grounds and negates the need to stir during brewing. The Oxo cold brew coffee maker has a simple brew-release switch that allows the brewed coffee to flow through the filter directly into the carafe when brewing is finished. The carafe comes with a plastic stopper to seal the carafe, allowing you to store your cold brew concentrate in it.
The Oxo cold brew coffee maker has been designed with careful attention to detail. The glass carafe includes measurement markings on the side, so you can use it to measure water for brewing. The stopper has a 2 oz. marking on the side to measure out a dose of cold brew concentrate. These thoughtful design features make the Oxo cold brew coffee maker simple to use and stand out among its competitors.
Specs: Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 14.7 inches | Weight: 4.4 lbs. | Capacity: 32 oz. | Brewing time: 12-24 hours
Capacity
The Oxo cold brew has a maximum capacity of 32 ounces (which is what the glass carafe holds). Although most users find it yields more like 24 to 28 ounces of cold brew concentrate. Given that it brews a concentrate, this needs to be diluted down before drinking. Oxo recommends a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio of coffee concentrate to water or milk. Given this, the Oxo cold brew coffee maker will make around 12 drinks, depending on how strong you like your coffee.
This capacity is less than other cold brew coffee makers like the Filtron or Toddy but is still sufficient to cater to a small household.
Ease of Use
The Oxo cold brew coffee maker is very straightforward to use. The initial setup is the most challenging part, given the number of parts that must be assembled. Oxo recommends the following recipe as a starting point:
Oxo Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Coffee Measurements:
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Quality of Brew
The Oxo cold brew coffee maker produces a strong, smooth, and flavorful batch of coffee. It has a reusable stainless steel filter built into it, which effectively filters out most of the coffee grounds. You may find a small amount of sediment makes it into the cup. You do have the option of using paper filters if you prefer a cleaner cup with fewer oils. Cold brew coffee typically has less acidity or bitterness than a hot coffee, so is a good option for those with a sensitive stomach looking for a low acid coffee. So our article on the best coffee beans for cold brew for our top coffee bean recommendations.
As mentioned above, the Oxo makes a cold brew coffee concentrate, so it needs to be diluted before drinking. Oxo recommends 1 part cold brew to 2-3 parts water or milk. There are other ways of enjoying cold brew though- either as cold or hot coffee. If you are after a hot coffee you simply dilute 1 part cold brew concentrate with 2 parts hot water. Alternatively, for a refreshing cold coffee you can dilute 1 part cold brew with 1 part cold water and 1 part ice for an iced coffee.
Cleaning
The Oxo cold brew coffee maker is a bit fiddly to clean. First the ground coffee needs to be discarded (or used for compost). Then the brewer needs to be washed. The glass carafe is dishwasher safe; however, all the other parts need to be hand washed. The various parts disassemble for easy cleaning. The filter cap also screws off so you can rinse the filter under hot water.
Price
The Oxo cold brew coffee maker retails around $50 and is definitely on the pricier side compared to other cold brewers. Considering you can make cold brew coffee with an old mason jar and filter, it is a lot to pay. However, we would say it is worth it for the dedicated cold brewer. The Oxo makes short work of brewing and produces a delicious cold brew coffee. If you are not convinced it is the one for you, there are a few alternatives.
Alternative Cold Brew Coffee Makers
Hario Mizudashi
The Hario Mizudashi is a more affordable cold brew coffee maker. It has a sleek and compact design. It consists of a glass jug with a mesh filter that slots into the jar when brewing and can be removed after. The glass jar easily fits in the fridge door. It is worth noting that the cold brew coffee produced is a lot weaker and not a concentrate.
Toddy Cold Brew System
The Toddy cold brew coffee maker is a retro brewer that has been around since the 60s. This popular system comes with what is essentially a bucket as a brewing container and a glass carafe for collecting the concentrate. The Toddy is really distinguished by the felt filters it uses, which produce a very smooth brew. The Toddy also has a larger capacity than the Oxo.
Oxo Cold Brew Coffee Maker- The Verdict
The Oxo cold brew coffee maker is a brewer the cold brew lover ought to consider. It is simple to use, durable, and produces a strong concentrate. The sleek design means it should slot easily into any kitchen.
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