The Breville Precision Brewer and the OXO Brain 9-Cup Coffee Maker are two of the best automated coffee makers on the market, but they are built for entirely different users. The Breville offers near-infinite customization over temperature, flow rate, and bloom time for the serious coffee enthusiast who loves to tinker, while the OXO delivers consistently excellent coffee with simple operation and smart features for the user who wants great results without the complexity.
Here’s everything you need to know to decide if the precision-focused Breville or the user-friendly OXO is the right coffee maker for your kitchen counter.
Breville Precision Brewer
The Breville Precision Brewer is a high-end coffee machine designed for home baristas who want total control over the brewing process. Featuring a "My Brew" mode that allows you to adjust every variable of the brewing cycle, this machine bridges the gap between automatic drip convenience and manual pour-over craftsmanship. Its premium build and professional aesthetic make it a statement piece for any coffee lover's kitchen.
- What it is: A highly customizable 12-cup (60 oz) programmable drip coffee maker.
- Key features: Precise digital temperature control (PID), adjustable water flow rate, customizable bloom time, six unique brewing modes including Gold Cup, Strong, Fast, and Cold Brew.
- Price: Around $250 - $300.
- Dimensions: 12.4" x 6.7" x 15.7".
- Materials/Construction: The body is primarily brushed stainless steel with high-quality, BPA-free plastic water reservoirs and components. It includes both a flat bottom and cone filter basket.
- Style: Sleek, modern, and professional. It has the look and feel of a commercial-grade appliance.
- Pros: Unmatched brewing customization for a home machine. Delivers professional-grade, SCA-certified coffee. High-quality stainless steel construction. Can brew a wide range of styles, from single cups to cold brew.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than other drip coffee makers. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming for casual users. Larger footprint on the counter.
This brewer is the perfect choice for the coffee enthusiast who wants to experiment with different beans and dial in the perfect cup for their specific taste.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/coffee/bdc450.html
OXO Brain 9-Cup Coffee Maker
The OXO Brain Coffee Maker (also known as the OXO Brew Barista Brain) provides smart, consistent brewing performance with an emphasis on simplicity and user-friendliness. Rather than offering endless settings to tweak, it uses a microprocessor-controlled brew cycle to mimic the pour-over method - blooming the grounds, managing water temperature, and ensuring even extraction. It's a highly intelligent machine that does the hard work for you.
- What it is: A microprocessor-controlled, easy-to-use 9-cup drip coffee maker.
- Key features: SCA-certified brewing, intelligent "BetterBrew" cycle for optimal water temperature and volume, single-dial interface, programmable wake-up timer, features a unique rainmaker shower head for even saturation of coffee grounds.
- Price: Typically around $150 - $200.
- Dimensions: 15" x 8.3" x 17.2".
- Materials/Construction: A mix of durable, BPA-free plastic and stainless steel accents, with a double-wall thermal stainless steel carafe.
- Style: Functional, modern, and straightforward. Its design focuses on practicality and clean lines that fit well in any kitchen.
- Pros: Incredibly easy to use with a single dial. Consistently brews high-quality, SCA-certified coffee. Great value for the price. Wake-up timer adds a useful layer of convenience. Sleek and compact enough for most counters.
- Cons: Lacks any manual customization. The brew cycle can be longer than standard drip machines. Plastic construction is less premium than the all-metal Breville.
This is the ideal coffee maker for anyone who prioritizes consistently excellent coffee and convenience over manual control.
Shop this product: oxo.com/9-cup-coffee-maker-207
Breville Precision Brewer vs. OXO Brain Comparison
Brewing & Customization
This is where the two coffee makers differ the most. The Breville Precision Brewer is all about giving the user control. Its "My Brew" setting lets you independently adjust bloom time, brew temperature, and flow rate - settings usually reserved for high-end commercial machines. Whether you're making a single serving of pour-over or a full batch of cold brew, the Breville provides the tools to get it right. It's designed for someone who sees coffee making as a hands-on process of discovery.
The OXO Brain takes the opposite approach. It relies on its internal microprocessor to execute a perfect, SCA-approved brew cycle every time. It controls temperature and water distribution automatically to mimic the precision of a skilled barista. You simply choose how many cups you want to brew, and the machine handles the rest. This is for someone who trusts the experts and wants a perfect cup without having to think about it.
Materials & Construction
The Breville boasts a sturdy, premium build primarily made of brushed stainless steel. It feels substantial and durable, designed for longevity and to look professional on your countertop. Its internal components, like its thermocoil heating system, are built for precision and thermal stability.
The OXO is built with a mix of high-quality plastic and stainless steel. While sturdy and well-designed, it doesn’t have the same high-end feel as the Breville. The focus here is on thoughtful, functional design - like the rainmaker shower head - more than on luxurious materials.
Price & Value
Priced around $250-$300, the Breville is a significant investment. For that price, you're getting unparalleled customization and a robust machine that can handle virtually any brewing style. For the serious hobbyist, the value is in the machine’s flexibility and pro-level features.
The OXO comes in at a much more accessible $150-$200. It offers incredible value by providing technology that delivers truly exceptional, SCA-rated coffee with zero effort. You get the quality of a premium brew without the premium price tag or the steep learning curve.
Style & Versatility
With its sleek stainless steel finish and digital display, the Breville Precision Brewer has a modern, almost industrial aesthetic that suits contemporary kitchens. It’s a machine designed to be shown off. Its versatility is its key strength, allowing you to switch between hot coffee, iced coffee, and cold brew with the turn of a dial.
The OXO Brain has a clean, minimalist design that's more subdued. It's designed to be functional and blend in, not necessarily stand out. While it lacks the multiple brew modes of the Breville, its core function - making excellent drip coffee - is flawlessly executed. Its programmable timer adds a layer of lifestyle versatility that busy households will appreciate.
Who Each One Works Best For
The Breville Precision Brewer is built for the coffee aficionado, the hobbyist, and the aspiring home barista. If you buy single-origin beans and talk about tasting notes, own a coffee scale, and enjoy tweaking variables to achieve the perfect extraction, this is the machine you've been looking for. It rewards your curiosity with control.
The OXO Brain Coffee Maker is for the practical coffee lover. You appreciate an excellent cup of coffee but prioritize consistency, reliability, and convenience. If you want to wake up to a perfectly brewed pot of coffee ready for you and don't want to mess with settings, the OXO is the superior choice. It puts smart technology to work so you don’t have to.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both coffee makers are fantastic options that excel in their respective categories, but they are aimed at very different people.
Choose the Breville Precision Brewer if:
- You want maximum control over every element of your coffee brew, from temperature to flow rate.
- You're a coffee enthusiast who enjoys experimenting with different grind sizes, beans, and brew methods.
- A premium, stainless steel build and professional aesthetic are priorities for you.
- You’re willing to invest more for a machine that can do everything from Gold Cup coffee to cold brew.
Choose the OXO Brain if:
- You want consistently delicious coffee with push-button simplicity.
- Your top priority is convenience and an easy-to-use, no-fuss morning routine.
- You value SCA-certified brew quality but don't want to manage the settings yourself.
- You're looking for an excellent balance of performance and price in a smart coffee maker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the Breville Precision Brewer and the OXO Brain?
The main difference is customization vs. automation. The Breville lets you control almost every brew variable, appealing to hobbyists. The OXO automates an optimal brew cycle, appealing to those who want simplicity and consistent results.
Which coffee maker is easier to use?
The OXO Brain is far easier to use. Its single-dial interface is designed for simplicity. You add coffee and water, then press a button. The Breville has a slight learning curve due to its extensive menu and customization options.
Are both of these coffee makers SCA Certified?
Yes, both the Breville Precision Brewer (on its "Gold" setting) and the OXO Brain meet the Specialty Coffee Association's rigorous "Golden Cup Standard" for exceptional home brewing. This means they brew at the right temperature for the right amount of time for optimal extraction.
Can you brew just a single cup of coffee?
Yes, both brewers can make smaller batches. The Breville has dedicated settings for brewing single servings and works exceptionally well when paired with a pour-over dripper attached. The OXO is also capable of brewing as little as two cups effectively.
Is the Breville Precision Brewer worth the extra money?
If you will actually use its advanced customization features, then yes. For coffee hobbyists who love to experiment, the control it offers is unmatched in a home brewer. If you just want a great pot of coffee every morning with minimal fuss, then no - the OXO provides similar brew quality for much less.
Which thermal carafe is better?
Both machines come with high-quality, double-wall stainless steel thermal carafes that keep coffee hot for hours. There is no significant performance difference between the two, both are excellent at heat retention.
How do you clean these coffee makers?
Both models feature dedicated cleaning and descaling cycles. You typically add a descaling solution or vinegar-water mix and run the cycle, followed by several rinsing cycles with pure water. Both carafes are easy to clean by hand.
Can I program them to start brewing in the morning?
The OXO has a built-in "wake-up timer" to start brewing automatically at a set time. The Breville's equivalent feature is "Auto-Start," allowing you to program it to begin a brew cycle at a predetermined time.
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