OXO Brew Compact Cold Brew Coffee Maker,Black

Quality brew, easy clean, stellar price
I am a professional barista. I wanted something close in quality to the Toddy system I’m used to at work, but designed for smaller batches. This fits the bill exactly. It makes an excellent gift for both cold brew novices (I got mom one for Mother’s Day and she loves it) and those of us who have (or have used) nearly every sort of coffee brewer imaginable.The standard recipe OXO provides (which the marks on my carafe and brewer are accurately set to) uses 6oz/170g of coffee, and results in about 16oz of concentrate, or around a week’s worth for one person. Other brewers I’ve used are generally designed to make a lot more coffee concentrate, and I never get through all of it before it’s off peak. The small brew size is also great for making small test batches or trying new coffees.I’ve brewed two batches so far, one with only the included metal filter and one using the additional paper filters OXO sells (the paper filters fit the larger brewer as well as this one the same). Both batches were very clean, with no ‘chewy’ or gritty feeling from fines. I don’t believe the paper filter is necessary for a good cup, but the batch I brewed with a paper filter was slightly superior. Aeropress filters are about the same size and would probably work in a pinch.I have had no issues with leaking, but always leave the brewer in a bowl just in case. The auto-dispenser feature works well and is so, so convenient. Cleaning this is much easier than the basket-style infusers–I like that I can fill it with water, swirl the used grounds, and pour it out in the garden without dripping through the house or having grounds go down the drain trying to get them all out. The whole unit comes apart easily for washing.All parts (including carafe) fit inside one another if you are not using the system; this was important to me as I don’t drink iced coffee in the cold months and I don’t have a lot of storage space to dedicate to something I only use for part of the year. The small overall footprint also makes it easier to tuck away on the counter where it isn’t going to be bumped into.The only gripe I have is that the colander-looking thing you pour water through does not always do a good job soaking all the grounds. The instructions tell you not to stir the coffee, but I do gently press the grounds to ensure they’re submerged. It’s not a major issue at all, just stands out because of how much of the marketing is about that shower head feature.

Consistent, Easy, and Strong: The OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker Delivers
I’ve been using the OXO Compact Cold Brew Maker, and it’s quickly become a favorite. I’ve tested brew times from 18 to 24 hours, and 18 hours hits the mark for the best flavor. I also played around with coffee-to-water ratios and prefer using more water for smoother extraction. Initially, I struggled with full extraction, but trial and error helped me nail it. Now, I just pour everything in and make sure the grounds are properly saturated.I’ve been using Starbucks Veranda Blend Blonde Roast, and the 12-ounce pre-ground bag costs around $8. Recently, I scored a 28-ounce bag at Target for $17, and I’m looking at Costco for a light to medium roast, but so far, it’s mostly dark roasts there.The brewer has a solid capacity. One time, I let it sit too long and it overfilled the carafe, but I got almost 32 ounces of concentrate—enough to fill my Chameleon Cold Brew bottle. The thing is, the Chameleon concentrate (which is supposed to be diluted) doesn’t hit hard enough for me. It’s not great quality, and I’m not surprised it’s from Texas—what do they know about strong coffee anyway?Overall, the OXO brewer has been a great addition to my setup. It’s simple to use, delivers consistently strong cold brew, and makes it easy to experiment with different brewing times and coffee ratios. Highly recommend if you’re looking to step up your cold brew game.

This is a great cold brew system. Very easy to set up and use, easy to clean, and makes a great product.Be warned, the yield the manual says you’ll get (473ml of concentrate, from 700ml water in) is a bit generous and not completely cut and dry. For my first batch, I followed these instructions and yielded only about 300ml. I did use quite a dark roast bean, however, and that can lower yield (since the beans are drier and absorb more) so it wasn’t too big a concern. The coffee tasted great, with no sediment and minimal oils.My only real gripe is the lid for the carafe. the seal on the cork lid was not very snug, so if you’re not careful and try to pick it up by the top, you could drop it. Perhaps a tighter fitting lid would be worth redesigning.$52CAD seems a bit expensive for the material and relative simplicity of the design, but if you’re a fan of cold brew, you’ll get your money’s worth quickly.

This is her favorite cold brewer, likes the strong brew, the small cute glass carafe to go in the fridge, the small countertop footprint, great design, easy to clean, using for 4 months now. Had to buy a second one for her to take back to university to replace the other brand we initially sent her last year as this one is so superior.