How do you make coffee in an OXO 9-cup coffee maker?
Waking up each morning to the fresh aroma of a pot of hot coffee sounds like heaven, doesn’t it? With the right coffee maker, you can enjoy that bliss daily without much effort.
I’ve been using my trusty OXO 9-cup coffee maker for several years now and have found it makes consistently tasty coffee. Here’s a guide to getting the most from your OXO 9-cup coffee maker.
Picking the Right Coffee Beans For OXO 8-cup coffee maker
The first key is choosing top-quality coffee beans. I like to visit my local specialty coffee shop to sample different single-origin or small-batch roasted beans before settling on something I love.
Coffee tastes best within 2 weeks of being roasted, so I only buy what I’ll use fairly quickly. Look for roast dates on the bags. Common sizes are 8, 12, or 16 ounces, so consider your typical consumption. Ground or whole bean is fine for this brewer.
Configuring Water and Coffee Amounts
My OXO has markings inside the water reservoir and on the basket to guide water and coffee amounts. I usually do 55 ounces of water which makes a little over 9 cups of coffee, just right for myself and my partner in the mornings.
Feel free to adjust amounts to your preferences. As for coffee, I do 1 rounded tablespoon per 6 ounces of water which yields a medium strength for our tastes. Play with slightly more or less grounds to suit your liking.
Cleaning the OXO 9-cup Coffee maker
To keep the brewer operating at its best, I clean it regularly. After each use, I run a full water flush cycle without coffee grounds to rinse out residues.
About once a week, I wipe down the exterior, reservoir, and basket with a damp cloth. Around monthly, I fill the reservoir with equal parts white vinegar and water and run another clean cycle to remove any mineral buildup inside. This leaves it smelling nice and fresh. Be sure to do a final rinse with plain water afterward.
Setting Up the Night Before
One of the perks of automatic drip coffee is being able to schedule a fresh pot for morning.
I like to prep my coffee maker the evening prior so all I need to do is press “brew” when my alarm goes off. After cleaning, I add the desired amounts of water and ground coffee, then program the timer or “start brewing at” time. This makes waking up a breeze! Just be sure any leftovers are discarded rather than reheated later for food safety.
Tweaking Brew Settings
While the default settings on my OXO suit my tastes well, you may want to experiment with the brew time or strength. This model allows adjusting both via dials on the front.
For lighter roast beans I’ve had good results increasing brew time from the standard 4 minutes up to 6-8 minutes for fuller extraction. With darker roasts I’ve shortened it slightly.
As for strength, starting at the medium mark is a safe bet, then go up or down based on your preferences in subsequent tests. Patience is key – it can take some trial and error to dial it in perfectly.
Brewing for Guests
Entertaining is more relaxing with coffee taken care of. When hosting brunch or dinner parties, I use my OXO to brew an extra-large batch for all. Simply increase the water and coffee proportions while keeping the ratio the same.
This brewer can handle it, producing delicious volumes to share. For larger groups, I sometimes make a half-strength “tea” batch with just water first, then add full strength toward the end to layer flavors without it being overly potent. Creativity in coffee is half the fun!
Serving and Storing Leftovers
Nothing beats sipping hot coffee straight from the pot in the mornings. For guests, I like to use a glass carafe with a pour-through coffee filter to let them enjoy the full aroma. Stainless steel or ceramic are also nice options.
Proper storage is key to keeping leftovers fresh – I transfer any remnants to an airtight glass or stainless container within 30 minutes of finishing the last cup.
Leftover coffee stays drinkable in the fridge for up to 3 days this way. Any more and I’ll switch to iced coffee recipes instead.
Tips for Great Flavor
A few simple techniques can optimize your coffee’s taste when brewed in the OXO 9-cup coffee maker. First, only use cold, filtered water which won’t impart off-flavors.
Second, store coffee beans and grounds in an airtight container away from light, heat and odors to preserve their natural oils and prevent staling.
Third, give the pot an occasional stir mid-brew to ensure even extraction. And finally, enjoying it while still hot maximizes enjoyment of the complex flavors. With the right approach, this coffee maker delivers incredible results.
You can also read How To Store Coffee Beans Properly For Maximum Freshness?
Handling Maintenance Issues
Like any appliance, occasional problems may arise with extended use of the OXO 9-cup coffee maker that are easy enough to remedy oneself. One issue could be a slow or stalled brew cycle – check the water level, run a rinse, and make sure the showerhead isn’t clogged with sediment buildup.
Diminished flavor may stem from mineral deposits inside – run the vinegar cleaning cycle. Drips or leaks suggest worn gaskets – contact OXO support about replacements. Otherwise, just periodic cleaning keeps it in great working order. Simple troubleshooting usually does the trick without fussing with repairs.
My Favorite OXO Coffee Recipes
In addition to standard hot coffee, this brewer lends itself well to chilled variations on warm days thanks to the large batch size.
I really enjoy a cold brew concentrate made by steeping coarsely ground coffee in the filled reservoirs at room temp overnight, then diluting to taste over ice.
For iced lattes, I’ll brew half regular strength directly into a glass of milk and ice. And any leftovers become delicious iced coffee by mixing with cold milk or cream and extra ice. Get creative enjoying your java – it’s the perfect machine for customized beverages!
FAQs For OXO 9-cup coffee maker
How do I clean the coffee maker?
The best way to clean the OXO 9-cup coffee maker is to run it through a clean cycle with just water. Remove any old filter or grounds, fill the water reservoir, then select the “Clean” button. This will flush out any residue.
You can also hand wash removable parts like the carafe, lid, and filter basket with mild dish soap. Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth as needed. Run white vinegar occasionally to remove mineral deposits.
Can I brew less than a full carafe?
Yes, you can brew a partial carafe of coffee in the OXO maker. Simply add the desired amount of grounds for the cups you want to brew and fill the water reservoir to the corresponding fill line.
The machine is programmed to use just the right amount of water for the grounds inserted.
How do I know when to replace the filter?
You’ll want to replace the coffee filter included with the OXO maker after every 10-12 brews or whenever it starts looking worn or developing holes.
Reusable filters may last longer but should still be washed after each use. Paper filters are meant for single use to prevent oils from recycling.
Can I use different types of coffee?
The OXO maker works great for brewing all types of coffee, including regular ground coffee as well as specialty options like dark roast,medium roast, flavoured, or decaf.
Just be sure your grind size matches the type of brewer – usually a medium grind works best. You can also experiment with different ratios to suit each roast.
How long will a full carafe of coffee stay hot?
With the double-walled thermal carafe, a full pot of coffee stored in the OXO carafe will maintain its ideal drinking temperature of between 180-185°F for around 2 hours without the warming plate.
This is longer than many basic carafes that can lose heat more quickly.
Can the delayed start time be changed after setting it?
Yes, you can easily adjust the delayed start time on the OXO 9-cup coffee maker after it has been set initially.
Just repeatedly press the “Delay Brew” button to cycle through the hours until you reach your desired start time. The machine will automatically reset to the new time.
Summary Of OXO 9-cup Coffee Maker
After years of faithful service, I can wholeheartedly recommend the OXO 9-cup coffee maker to anyone seeking consistently great-tasting coffee with minimal effort.
With the right beans, water, and small adjustments described here, it delivers balanced brews to caffeinate your mornings or entertain guests in style.
Plus, the durable construction and simple maintenance keep it running smoothly for many years to come. Overall this remains one of the best drip coffee machines on the market in my opinion.
I hope these tips help you maximize the deliciousness from your OXO brewer too!
