If you’re familiar with coffee makers such as the OXO Brew 9-Cup Brewer, Bonavita coffee maker or Moccamaster, then you’re familiar with SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) certified and their amazing brewing results.
If you’re not so sure about SCA certified coffee makers and how they work, read on to learn more about OXO’s 8-Cup brewer, which happens to be SCA certified.
Features of OXO 8-Cup Coffee Maker:
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
There are two great things about the OXO 8-Cup coffee maker:
- It is SCA-Certified and can brew to Gold Standard set by the Specialty Coffee Association. This means that the coffee brews at an optimal water temperature that ensures it will bring out the best flavor out of your coffee ground. It also means that the machines uses a rainmaker shower head. This type of shower head ensures that the entire coffee basket is saturated and the water is evenly distributed.
- The other thing is, this model can brew a single cup of coffee. A special basket is included with your machine for single serve brewing. When you’re not brewing a single-serve cup, you can use the including double-walled stainless steel carafe.
While the machine is labeled as an 8-cup coffee maker, it is important to note that these are measured in 5-ounce per cup. So, what you’re getting is a coffee maker with 40 oz capacity. The majority of us use cups larger than 5 oz, so you won’t get 8 cups exactly out of it.
When brewing a single-serve cup, a minimum of 10 oz of water is required. So you can brew a full standard mug or a larger mug when doing single-serve brewing.
A brewing basket for the full pot and single serve brewing are included with the machine. When using paper filters, you can use any #4 flat bottom filters available to you.
The water reservoir on the OXO brewer is not removable, so you’ll have to bring the water to it. On the wall of the reservoir, you’ll see clear markings for each capacity you want to brew.
You’ll notice that there are not much buttons on the OXO brewer. There are simple four buttons:
- The on/off switch
- 2-4 cups
- 5-8 cups
- Clean button
This machine does not have a digital clock, so there’s no automatic on or scheduled brewing. You simple run your brew cycle when you need it.
When it comes to design, the machine is rather sleek with its stainless steel accents and clean lines. It also has a nice small design with 13.5” in height, 7” wide and 10.5” in depth. It’s quite reasonable in size and should fit most counters.
Comparisons:
OXO 8-Cups vs. OXO Brew 9-Cups Coffee Maker:
How does this 8-Cup coffee maker compare to OXO’s other SCA-certified coffee maker?
The OXO Brew 9-Cup model is a larger machine. It brews from 2 to 9 cups of coffee, also measured in 5 oz/ cup. So actual reservoir capacity is 45 oz.
The OXO Brew has a digital control display. Using the dial, you can program a start timer and the number of cups to brew.
This machine does not have single-serve brewing option. The minimum you cab brew is up to 4 cups.
Like the OXO 8-cup brewer, this one also uses a rainmaker shower head, brews to optimal 197 to 204 F and delivers consistent results that match SCA’s Gold Cup Standard. A stainless steel double-walled carafe is included with the machine.
Which To Pick?
- If you want single-serve capability or an overall smaller machine, pick the OXO 8-Cups model.
- If you want digital control and auto start capability, then the 9-cup model is your best bet.
Learn more about OXO 9-Cup Coffee Maker here.
OXO-8 Cup vs. Bonavita 8-Cup Coffee Maker:
Bonavita is another SCA-certified coffee maker that is quite similar to OXO 8-cup brewer. As both are SCA Certified, they use the same method of brewing, using similar shower heads and the same range of temperature. The Bonavita also comes with a thermal carafe that keeps your coffee hot for a longer time.
Also like the OXO, this is a simple machine with a single switch on/off button and nothing else. There’s no timer or auto start. But it can brew a full pot in just 6 minutes.
So, are there any actual differences between the two machines?
The OXO has single serve brewing option with its own smaller filter basket. Also, the OXO has serving size selector (2-4 cups or 5-8 cups), which means, the machine draws only as much water needed from the reservoir and can hold some water (if you’re not brewing full capacity).
With the Bonavita, there is no single-serve brewing. The brewer basically brews whatever you fill up in the reservoir, and 6-cups is the required (or recommended) minimum by Bonavita.
The Bonavita is available in other capacities as a cheaper price, so if you’re on a budget, you have more options from Bonavita.
You can learn more about Bonavita coffee maker here.
