The Brewer Taking the Internet by Storm: Oxo Rapid Brewer

OXO Rapid Brewer Review

Main Features

• A portable, modular brewer made from Tritan-style plastic. Its components include a serving cup and spout, coffee basket, tamper, water chamber, and shower screen.
• The basket has a mesh filter similar to an espresso basket. An AeroPress paper filter can also be added.
• A twist-on, pump-like base builds pressure and pushes water through the coffee.
• The water chamber has separate fill lines for hot and cold brewing. The brewer can make concentrated coffee intended to be diluted.
• The reviewer paid about $35. Sale prices may bring it to around $25, comparable to the price of a new AeroPress.

Brewing Results and User Experience

• Hot, concentrated brew: Following OXO’s fine-grind-and-tamp approach produced a highly concentrated brew, measuring about 3.05 TDS before dilution. Diluted roughly 1:2, it tasted balanced and sweet, with a thick, creamy, somewhat muddy character similar to an AeroPress.
• Hot, coarser brew: Using a coarser grind, no tamp, and a paper filter produced a clearer, sweeter cup at about 1.25 TDS. The reviewer liked this approach, though the included catch cup was too small for the larger brew.
• Larger doses: The brewer can accommodate large coffee doses—the reviewer says a 40 g dose is feasible—and make concentrate that can be divided among multiple cups.
• Cold brew: The reviewer tried 40 g of coffee with room-temperature water and a five-minute steep. Little visible extraction seemed to happen during the steep; most extraction appeared to occur while pumping. The concentrate was unpleasant undiluted, but surprisingly enjoyable when diluted approximately 1:2–1:4. The reviewer, who usually dislikes cold brew, was impressed.

Pros

• Versatile: it can make concentrated, AeroPress-like, and clearer, more percolation-style brews, as well as cold brew.
• The pump mechanism is novel and easy to operate, and the components pack together for travel.
• It can produce good-tasting coffee when the reviewer departs from the suggested recipe.
• The reviewer liked the cold brew result and personally preferred the brewer slightly over the AeroPress.

Cons and Caveats

• The recommended combination of very fine grounds and a firm tamp may not work well for immersion: water may not penetrate the coffee bed adequately before pumping.
• Pumping creates pressure that can push fines and other particles through the mesh, leaving sludge in the cup. The reviewer notes that an AeroPress can be pressed more slowly and gently.
• The brewer can retain pressure after pumping, so coffee may continue to flow. The reviewer advises care.
• The serving cup is too small for larger brews.
• The five-minute cold-water steep appeared to contribute little before pressing, and the resulting concentrate requires substantial dilution.
• It is less quick and simple than the AeroPress’s basic three-piece design.

Comparisons

• The AeroPress remains simpler and has a long track record, while the OXO offers a different pumping mechanism and a more integrated water-distribution setup.
• Depending on technique, the OXO can make coffee similar to an AeroPress brew, though the brewing methods and results are not identical.
• With coarse grounds and a paper filter, it can produce a pour-over-style brew. The reviewer also likened its design to a less expensive Tricolate or Pulsar.

Verdict

The reviewer does not consider the OXO Rapid Brewer a major upgrade over the AeroPress, but personally preferred it slightly and found it unusually versatile—especially for cold brew. It may be worth considering for people who enjoy experimenting with concentrated or varied brewing styles, but it is not an automatic buy, and the recommended recipe may not suit everyone.

Different Speaker Views

• Reviewer: Enjoyed the hot brews and was particularly surprised by the diluted cold brew. Would personally choose the OXO slightly over the AeroPress, while acknowledging that the AeroPress is simpler.
• Ugo: Liked the diluted cold brew.