Bloom is Coming Off the Rose


 
LMichaels

LMichaels

TVWBB 2-Star Olympian
Have been having this love/hate thing going on with my OXO 12 Cup brewer. It's a really cool beast and one of the things I love is how it's laid out. The control panel on the "skinny" side with flip up lids for the filter basket and water tank. Has a huge shower head and brews in a manner to mimic a pour over. One really unique feature is how the water tank and distribution system works. The tank is solid glass. When you set it to brew the water in the tank will heat up to nearly brewing temp first. (about 170F). Once heated a valve opens allowing water to flow to a combo pump and secondary heater for hitting target temp for SCA certification and to pump up and over the bed.
I am currently on my 3rd of these units due to a common issue on all 3. Sometimes it will pre-heat then signal "done" at which time you have to start the process all over again. Or it will run the cycle and never shut off the secondary heating element.
Sadly I think this is going to merit yet another call to OXO CS. As this makes for 2 issues. Mostly I cannot turn my back on it. And I don't like that. Sometimes I need to have coffee ready on wake up. I can't rely on this feature for 2 reasons (either it does not complete the brew cycle or does not shut off) one being inconvenient the other being a safety issue. Been needing to rely more heavily on my Breville Precision Brew. Actually a wonderful machine but a big tank of a machine that is inconvenient to use because it needs to be slid out to fill with water then slid back in. A process I really dislike. They layout of the big OXO allows it to sit in a manner I need do nothing like that. But, sadly this fighting this malfunction is beginning to become a PIA
 
LMichaels said:
I am currently on my 3rd of these units due to a common issue on all 3. Sometimes it will pre-heat then signal "done" at which time you have to start the process all over again. Or it will run the cycle and never shut off the secondary heating element.
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It is discouraging to find an item whose design is unique and enjoyable, yet doesn't function properly. But given this safety risk there would be no amount of calls to CS that would regain my confidence to use that model again. Good luck.
 
For the record I love the Breville and it's been a rock solid performer. It's just not convenient to use. But, enter the Breville Luxe https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bdc465 which seems to hit even more sweet spots. As 1, it doesn't need to be slid around the counter thanks to removable water tank, 2, even more "granular" control to the brewing process being able to control temp, flow rate, bloom time and even bloom volume (a tinkerers dream) :D
So at this point I'll be talking with OXO as this 12 Cup was no "budget" device. Being right around $300 as I purchased directly from OXO (not a 3rd party). And I am going to request that I be able to return it for a refund. Citing convenience and safety concerns. Especially with this being the 3rd one. My first was bought through Amazon and through some "quirk" in being a 3rd party OXO was balking at warranty. So I simply boxed it and returned to Amazon as it acted up within 30 days. I then went online and bought this one directly at OXO. It then began malfunctioning so, OXO sent me a brand new one with an RMA. This one has been misbehaving off and on and every time I ask them the first thing they want me to do is descale it. Ugh! I've descaled this thing so many times it's nuts with this latest episode(s) happening within 10 cycles. I don't think it's scale buildup especially since it's being fed RO'd water (though lightly remineralized to 70 PPM).
To be sure it's a REALLY well made and incredible (making great coffee) unit but I am having a hard time wrapping my head around living with not knowing if I set it to run by itself in early AM if I am gonna come out to no coffee made or a kitchen full of smoke :(
I will report back on the issue with them.
 
Well good, but sad news. As much as I love this machine and that it makes some of the best coffee bar none I've ever had, I made a call to OXO and they want to have this machine returned and they are going to refund me for the machine.
Like I explained to the CSR on the phone. If you push the brew button and walk away and the machine doesn't brew but, simply pre-heats the water in the tank then indicates brewing is falsely finished..........that is simply an "inconvenience". But when it goes through a brew cycle then leaves the heating element turned on, and refuses to shut it off that is more than an inconvenience. That is a scary proposition. Because I cannot trust if my wife asks me to set the brewer up so she can head to an early appointment and wants coffee pre-made at say 0545 that she will know if the machine's heating element has refused to shut off and it leaves me sawing logs while that thing goes nuclear. That is scary not an inconvenience. So, they've already sent me an RMA to ship it back to them via FedEx and I will do so here in short order. And then will likely order the new Breville that will work nicely in the spot thanks to removable water tank. Just too bad that after 3 tries I could not get a reliably working machine :(
 
R Chin said:
Have you thought about the Technivorm?


This place is down the road from me and has all things for coffee geeks
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Had one. One of the worst machines I had to use. All the little bits and pieces to clean and reassemble every day, would never wet the entire bed of grounds. Not a happy camper with it. Plus their so called 10 cup unit is really an 8 cup. Honestly I could not wait to get my hands on one with all the raves about how good they are. Then I got one and what a let down. In order to have the entire grind bed saturated I would have to start the machine up and manually push the safety switch to fill the filter basket, stand there while it filled, release the safety switch, agitate the bed and allow to bloom, then place the pot in place, allow machine to restart. Nah, no use for those shenanigans. If I didn't do that only the center of the bed would saturate. to the sides of the brew head the grounds would be dry. I think I tried 4 different grinders, different grind levels from nearly espresso to nearly French Press, wetting the filters, not wetting them, even sinking to trying pre-ground coffee.
I have a smaller OXO that brews wonderful coffee, I have the big Breville that does the same. Both of which blow the Technivorm away. But, they're hard to use with my cabinet/counter arrangement. Have to drag them out, then slide them back. Gettin' old fast.
Will likely order the new Breville Luxe brewer. Does everything I really like about my current Precision Brew even better. Much more granular control, plus the water tank lifts off to fill. Perfect! No need to slide a large heavy appliance all over the counter to make coffee. Not a cheapie ($350) but, I have good history with Breville stuff.
I'm holding off a little until I see what Prime Days brings in way of deals. Otherwise I will order it directly from Breville as they give you a lot of freebies if you do
 
R Chin said:
Have you thought about the Technivorm?


This place is down the road from me and has all things for coffee geeks
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went to their web site. That little cordless grinder is intriguing me. Last time we stayed in hotel I took my little Shardor with but in a suitcase it's not so little. Even bigger than the little Cuisinart drip machine I brought along. I am gonna look for one since we'll be needing to stay in hotels a couple more times at least this year and I really hate hotel coffee
 
Maybe go full manual with a pour over when time allows…

I just got a cuisinart gooseneck electric kettle that is fast and convenient for my mint tisane
 
R Chin said:
Maybe go full manual with a pour over when time allows…

I just got a cuisinart gooseneck electric kettle that is fast and convenient for my mint tisane
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I know how to do this but honestly I don't want to be bothered. I want really good coffee but very easy
 
Another reason pour over manual stuff could not work for me is I never make simply one cup or 2 at a time. It's always at least 7 or 8. Sometimes like today 10 (or 50oz at a time). I don't think there is any way to do that effectively with manual brew methods.
Anyway I'm also tossing another brewer into my "mix" of considerations though I know very little about the company or it's support levels. The Fellow Aiden https://fellowproducts.com/products/aiden-precision-coffee-maker So it would be a crap shoot for me and seeing as it's a pretty tech intensive product, (which the tech in and of itself does not put me off in any way) I worry about how well the company will support the product plus it's only a 1 year warranty as opposed to Breville's 2 year warranty and known level of support.
Both machines can get quite "granular" and quite honestly while some may not like or think it's necessary I get a bit of a kick out of "playing around" and seeing what changes what rather than simply "pushing a button". Weird? Yeah, but then that, like also buying different beans, experimenting with grind levels, and such are all just one of those little "luxuries" I give myself.
Just like when I go to Costco or Sam's and peruse single malt Scotch looking for little hidden "gems'. It's just sort of fun to me.
IDK if anyone on the forums has one of these, but, if you do I'd love your thoughts on it.
 
LMichaels said:
The Fellow Aiden https://fellowproducts.com/products/aiden-precision-coffee-maker So it would be a crap shoot for me and seeing as it's a pretty tech intensive product, (which the tech in and of itself does not put me off in any way) I worry about how well the company will support the product plus it's only a 1 year warranty as opposed to Breville's 2 year warranty and known level of support.
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Looks pretty slick! You going for the combo with the grinder?
Saw this on the warranty.

Enjoy either a 2-year standard warranty, or a 3-year warranty if you register your coffee maker.
 
timothy said:
Looks pretty slick! You going for the combo with the grinder?
Saw this on the warranty.

Enjoy either a 2-year standard warranty, or a 3-year warranty if you register your coffee maker.
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Weird, I saw only a 1 year warranty included. Re combo answer definitely no. Right now I have the 2 Baratza Forte grinders. One is the "AP" with ceramic burrs, the other is the "BG" with steel burrs. The AP is sort of geared to espresso and it's quite obvious as if you use the ceramic burr machine at coarser settings it produces a lot of "fines". The BG is more geared to "Brew Grind" or methods for a coarser end of things. And here you can also see when doing these they are extremely consistent. There is almost no "dust" or "fines" but while it can grind espresso it struggles to get it right, and seems to go from not fine enough to so fine it clogs the brew head. Whereas the AP has a lot of latitude doing espresso.
Now seeing these are commercial level units, priced at levels I'd never dream of spending ($849 for the AP, and $899 for the BG) and I've only got a fraction of one invested in both (including parts I bought to repair and upgrade) no way I'm giving them up.
So, the warranty thing could be something. Though in the Breville's favor I am familiar with them, I own one (the predecessor of the Luxe called the Precision Brew) and it's been dead reliable. Only reason for considering the Luxe is the improvements they made to it's form factor that would allow me to place it and not constantly have to move it. Otherwise the Precision Brew works fine but it's form factor makes it a bit of a PIA to use
 
LMichaels said:
Another reason pour over manual stuff could not work for me is I never make simply one cup or 2 at a time. It's always at least 7 or 8. Sometimes like today 10 (or 50oz at a time). I don't think there is any way to do that effectively with manual brew methods.
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You can do 65 ounces in a Chemex. I routinely do up to 1 liter in a Hario V60. Batch size is likely not the constraint many might think. My goose neck kettle is a bigger constraint than my pour over brewers
 
I've never seen a large capacity pour over "brewer?" Had no idea such an animal even existed. Even knowing this IDK if I want to venture there. I get a bit of a kick messing around with "programming" but not so much playing around with a pot of very hot water :D
 
the brewers you have give you so much control, that makes sense. Only piece I could think of is pour over gives you more control on how gentle or aggressive an agitation of the coffee bed, and also allows you to include an immersion piece in your brew (with some pour over brewers). I really don’t believe I have the talent on the agitation side, but immersion comes in handy with some difficult to extract beans
 
Just got email from Fellow today. They say they gonna increase price of Aiden to $399. What a crock of :poop: These people all they do is look for any excuse possible to stick it to a consumer :mad::mad:
 
LMichaels said:
Just got email from Fellow today. They say they gonna increase price of Aiden to $399. What a crock of :poop: These people all they do is look for any excuse possible to stick it to a consumer :mad::mad:
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Many businesses are doing that...our daughter's company is raising their prices across the board even though many of them are made here in the USA. It's a way of deflecting consumer backlash against price hikes.
 
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