While both make excellent coffee, the Bunn home coffee maker and the OXO Brew Coffee Maker are fundamentally different appliances. Bunn leverages its commercial heritage to deliver incredible speed and rugged durability, brewing a full pot in just a few minutes. OXO focuses on precision, modern features, and sleek design, offering a customizable, barista-style experience with features like programmable timers and single-serve settings.
Here’s everything you need to know to choose the right coffee maker for your kitchen counter.
Bunn Velocity Brew 10-Cup Coffee Maker
The Bunn coffee maker is a powerhouse designed for speed and simplicity, built with the same commercial-grade DNA as the machines you’d find in a diner. Its defining feature is an internal hot water tank that keeps water constantly at the optimal brewing temperature (around 200°F). This allows it to brew a full 10-cup pot of coffee in about three to four minutes - making it one of the fastest home brewers on the market.
- What it is: A high-speed, 10-cup home coffee maker with commercial-grade construction and an always-ready internal hot water tank.
- Key features: Brews a full pot in 3-4 minutes, internal stainless steel water tank keeps water hot 24/7, multi-stream spray head for even coffee ground saturation, designed and assembled in the USA.
- Price: Around $130 - $160
- Style: Utilitarian and functional with a no-frills, classic aesthetic. Focuses entirely on performance over flashy design.
- Materials/Construction: Built with robust plastics and stainless steel components designed for longevity and heavy daily use.
- Pros: Extremely fast brewing is ideal for busy mornings. Commercial-grade durability means it's built to last. Simple one-switch operation is easy for anyone to use. Consistently hot brew temperature for optimal extraction.
- Cons: The internal hot water tank is always on, consuming small amounts of energy. Lacks modern features like a programmable timer or brew strength control. The design is practical but may look dated in modern kitchens.
This machine is perfect for households that prioritize speed, high-volume brewing, and bulletproof reliability over bells and whistles.
Shop this product: bunn.com/consumers/home-coffeemakers
OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker
The OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker is a smart, modern machine engineered for coffee enthusiasts who appreciate precision and convenience. It is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), meaning it meets rigorous standards for water temperature, brewing time, and even extraction. It uses a microprocessor-controlled brew cycle to create a consistently excellent cup of coffee, and its thoughtful design includes features that make the brewing process seamless.
- What it is: A programmable, SCA-certified 9-cup coffee maker focused on brewing cafe-quality coffee with precision and control.
- Key features: Microprocessor-controlled brew cycle, precise temperature control (197.6-204.8°F), single-serve setting, programmable 24-hour start timer, double-wall stainless steel thermal carafe.
- Price: Around $230
- Style: Sleek and modern with a minimalist interface, digital display, and polished stainless steel finish that fits well in contemporary kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: Made with high-quality plastics and stainless steel, with intelligently designed, easy-to-clean components.
- Pros: Brews exceptional, SCA-certified coffee. Highly versatile with settings for full pots or single mugs. Programmable timer is a huge convenience. Sleek, compact design looks great and saves counter space.
- Cons: Significantly more expensive than the Bunn. The brew cycle is much slower (6-8 minutes for a full pot). More complex with settings and buttons compared to Bunn's single switch.
The OXO is designed for the modern coffee drinker who values precision, customization, and aesthetics, and is willing to pay a premium for a top-tier brew.
Shop this product: oxo.com/9-cup-coffee-maker.html
Bunn vs. OXO Coffee Maker Comparison
Brew Speed & Performance
This is the most significant difference. The Bunn is all about speed, brewing a full 10-cup pot in under four minutes. This is possible because its internal tank keeps water at the perfect brewing temperature at all times, so there's no waiting for it to heat up. It delivers a fast, hot, and consistent brew every single time.
The OXO prioritizes precision over speed. Its intelligent microprocessor heats fresh water for each brew cycle, carefully managing temperature and extraction time to meet SCA standards for a truly balanced pot of coffee. This results in a slower 6- to 8-minute brew time but offers a more nuanced flavor profile that coffee aficionados will appreciate.
Materials & Construction
Bunn coffee makers are built like commercial equipment. They use heavy-duty plastics and stainless steel components with a focus on durability above all else. They are designed to withstand years of heavy, daily use, making them a long-term fixture in your kitchen. The design is practical and robust, not necessarily pretty.
OXO uses high-quality materials with an eye for both function and form. The construction is solid, but the emphasis is on smart design, a polished aesthetic, and user-friendly features like removable parts for easy cleaning. It's built for durability in a home setting but doesn't have the industrial-strength feel of the Bunn.
Price & Value
Bunn coffee makers typically cost between $100 and $200. The value proposition is in their sheer longevity and speed. You're paying for a brutally efficient machine that will likely outlast most other appliances on your counter.
OXO coffee makers command a higher price, often ranging from $150 to $250. Here, the value comes from advanced features, SCA certification, sleek design, and brewing precision. For those serious about coffee quality and convenience, the extra cost is justified by the superior coffee it produces and the user-friendly experience.
Style & Versatility
There is a clear distinction in style. Bunn's design is utilitarian, it's a workhorse that doesn't pretend to be a showpiece. Its straightforward look fits into traditional kitchens but can feel out of place in more modern, design-focused spaces.
OXO is designed to look good. With its sleek lines, stainless steel accents, and minimalist controls, it complements contemporary kitchen decor perfectly. OXO is also more versatile in function, allowing you to easily switch between brewing a full carafe for guests or a single mug for yourself.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both coffee makers are excellent, but they appeal to very different users who prioritize different things in their morning routine.
Choose the Bunn coffee maker if:
- You want your coffee brewed as fast as humanly possible - speed is your top priority.
- You value extreme durability and want a machine that is built to last a decade or more.
- You prefer simple, one-touch operation without complicated settings or timers.
- You consistently brew full pots of coffee and need a reliable, high-volume machine.
Choose the OXO coffee maker if:
- You're a coffee enthusiast who appreciates the nuanced flavor of a precision-brewed, SCA-certified cup.
- A sleek, modern aesthetic that complements your kitchen decor is important to you.
- You want convenient features like a programmable timer to wake up to fresh-brewed coffee.
- You value versatility and want to switch easily between brewing a full pot and a single cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between Bunn and OXO coffee makers?
The core difference is speed versus precision. Bunn is designed to be incredibly fast and durable, using a pre-heated water tank to brew a full pot in minutes. OXO is designed for a precise, optimal brew, controlling temperature and time meticulously for a superior flavor, which takes longer.
Which coffee maker is faster?
Bunn is significantly faster. It can brew a 10-cup carafe in about three to four minutes, whereas the OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker takes about six to eight minutes to complete its optimized brew cycle.
Is the OXO coffee maker worth the higher price?
If you are a coffee enthusiast who values nuanced flavor, wants an SCA-certified machine, and appreciates modern conveniences like a start timer, the OXO is absolutely worth it. If you just want hot coffee quickly, the premium may not be necessary.
Does the Bunn coffee maker use more electricity?
Yes, typically a Bunn coffee maker will use more electricity over time because its internal hot water reservoir is constantly on, keeping the water heated to 200°F. However, the energy usage for this feature is relatively low.
Which brand is more durable?
Both are well-made, but Bunn is widely recognized for its commercial-grade construction and superior long-term durability. These machines are famous for lasting for many years, even with heavy daily use.
Can you make just one cup with these machines?
The OXO coffee maker is designed for this explicitly, featuring a single-serve setting that adjusts the brew cycle for smaller quantities. While you can brew a smaller amount in a Bunn, it's optimized for brewing larger batches of 4-10 cups for the best flavor extraction.
Are OXO coffee makers easy to clean?
Yes, OXO products are known for their user-friendly design. Components like the filter basket, water tank, and carafe are designed for easy removal and cleaning, and the machine has a dedicated cleaning cycle alert.
How does the Bunn internal hot water tank work?
The stainless steel tank holds water and keeps it heated to an ideal brewing temperature of around 200°F. When you're ready to brew, pouring fresh cold water into the machine displaces the hot water in the tank, instantly sending it over the coffee grounds to start brewing immediately.
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