OXO Pour-Over with water tank (review)
One of my favourite methods of brewing coffee at home is a pour-over. Because it is so flavoursome and delicate. You really can get the best out of a good specialty coffee bean with this method.
I wasn't aware that Oxo Good Grips had a range of coffee making products and (as well as some other cool kitchen items) so when I saw this pour-over coffee maker, I just had to test it out.
If you're new to making pour over coffee at home, this is a perfect piece of brew equipment for beginners, because you only need a regular kitchen kettle and it makes really lovely coffee.
Surprisingly there's a lot I like about this nifty piece. At first I wondered if their was any point of having the "tank" but it actually takes away some of the manual labour of standing there, and carefully pouring with your gooseneck kettle. Personally, I find the physical act of pouring water over coffee grinds in a circular motion with my Buono kettle quite relaxing and effective for control. But, there are days where I'm in a hurry - often I've hit snooze a few more times than I intended, so I opt for an Aeropress or french press. Getting out of the house with a well made coffee is so important. If it's not enjoyable or doesn't taste good, then whats the point?
But I find pour overs in general, a much cleaner cup and this water tank is quite a revolution - in terms of time. If you don't have an electric filter maker, most home brew methods require manual action, which means time standing making your coffee. With this water tank, you can just pour the appropriate amount of water in the tank and leave it! Its like an electric filter maker without the electric and you don't need a gooseneck kettle!
I used a recipe that required 250ml water. So I placed it on my coffee scales and started the timer to see how long it would take. It took 3.5 minutes which is pretty close to my desired brew time. I usually aim for 3-4minute brew time. The angle and the holes that water drips through is gradual and consistent. This means I can now use this recipe, pour the water in the tank to the '8oz line', leave it for 3-4 minutes while I finish applying my make-up or getting my breakfast ready - without a scale. If you're in the office, it means you can pop to the loo or drop documents off to a colleague during this time and be back to something delicious and uplifting!
My cup was super clean and tasted great (partly because of the coffee I used) but the brew method is super important when aiming for a great tasting brew. You will need to make sure you have ground your coffee to a good size. I use an electric grinder at home but you can always get a good value hand grinder that is quick and easy.
This OXO pour-over coffee maker also looks pretty chic, even though it's made of plastic. It is light-weight and 'V' shaped with a slightly flat base and single hole (to restrict flow) and the inside is ribbed to allow water and air flow between the filter paper. It looks ceramic, but is actually plastic and super affordable! If you are new to making pour overs or want something at the cafe or office that you don't have to stand over, this is something you could consider. And for about £16, this pour-over is a steal!
Below is my recipe and steps to use it... enjoy! You can have a closer look at it here.
RECIPE and METHOD:
Place cone on a mug or jug
Insert filter paper
Rinse your filter with hot water and discard water
Add 18g ground coffee (medium to fine grind)
Place the water "tank" on the cone
Add 250ml hot water to the tank (8oz line) and place lid on top (to retain heat) and leave it to disperse.... it should take between 3-4minutes.
The holes in the tank restrict water flow and disperse the water evenly over coffee grinds for a good extraction.
After it's done, flip the lid and place the cone on top to catch any drips!!
Side note:
You can get the standard filter papers that fit the OXO pour over from most supermarkets (I get "Melita" brand from Tesco). I often find supermarkets only sell the 2 cup size but they still fit the OXO pour-over, the paper just sticks out a bit, but the 'tank' still fits on top.
Also, for additional information on larger batch brew coffee machines for home, check out this article here by review.com