I have to begin with a confession: I am not a “true” coffee drinker. Like millions of people, I enjoy drinks from coffeehouses, but I need the sugar and cream and whatever else the baristas put into those delicious lattes and frappes. So, when I received the OXO Good Grips Pour-Over Coffee Maker With Water Tank, I needed someone else to test it.
I enlisted two coffee devotees. Both said the brew made by the device tasted good. But they had used their chosen brands of coffee since, as one said, the coffee is only as good as the bean.
How it works: Place a filter into the dripper section and place the dripper over a 6- to 12-ounce cup. Pour coffee grounds into the filter (instructions include the water-to-grounds ratio), then place the water tank atop the dripper and add boiling water. The dripping will begin immediately.
Does it work?: Yes.
Pros: The foremost selling point is the water tank, as few pour-over coffee gadgets include one. Both testers said the lid for the water tank kept the water hot longer. Also, the fill-to lines on the tank (in milliliters and ounces) helped prevent a weak cup of joe; the eight holes on the bottom of the tank give the water an even flow; the device sits pretty well on mugs with diameters of 4 inches or less (including a standard Styrofoam cup); and the three-piece gadget is easy to wash. Because water is not being poured directly onto the grounds, there’s no chance of pouring so fast that the filter caves in and grounds make their way into the cup.
Cons: Because there is no stopper for the holes in the water tank, another vessel is necessary to pour the hot water into the reservoir (this is OK if you’re at home and pouring from a kettle, but a hassle if you’re at work). Ideally, there’d be a switch on the tank so you could fill it with hot water from the office water cooler, bring it back to your desk and then, with the push of a button, open the holes to start the dripping. Also, only 10 No. 2 cone filters are included (too bad it wasn’t a reusable filter), and the whole device is a little bulky.
Cost and availability: $15.99 at oxo.com, amazon.com and wayfair.com, and at various prices on other sites.
Worth it?: Pour-over cup coffee makers can be found for as little as $4, but those don’t include a water tank. Of the two testers, one expressed interest in the product; the other already had a similar item (without water tank) that cost $6 online plus $8 shipping. With that combined cost in mind, I think this product is worth it for coffee junkies.
Got a gadget that you love, or are you curious about one you’d like us to test? Email crave@staradvertiser.com or write Crave, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza Suite 210, Honolulu 96813.
