From Concept to Cup: The Art and Science behind the OXO BREW® Rapid Brewer

Nothing beats a good cup of coffee. While it’s nice to treat yourself to an occasional barista brew, knowing how to make coffee concentrate at home gives you the basic building block to customize your favorite caffeinated brew in minutes, without the hassle or the wait. Enter the OXO BREW® Rapid Brewer.

This innovative brewer is designed for coffee enthusiasts who crave the rich flavor of cold brew but without long brew times. Unlike traditional methods that require overnight steeping, the Rapid Brewer delivers a concentrated brew in just minutes. Did you forget to start your cold brew last night? No worries! The Rapid Brewer conveniently delivers the same smooth cold brew flavor in a fraction of the time. Late for work? The Rapid Brewer's design makes it easy to toss the brewer in your bag to make a delicious cup of coffee when you arrive at the office.

We recently sat down with OXO Product Manager Shannon McConnell and Associate Director of Engineering Chris Diskin to learn the thinking behind the OXO BREW® Rapid Brewer’s unique design.

Tapping Into the Cold Brew Trend

"We saw cold brew was really gaining in popularity," says McConnell, noting that while there were two other cold brewers on the market, the team saw a need for a product that didn't require a significant time investment. "It typically takes 12 to 24 hours to brew coffee. We wanted to do something much quicker."

The concept of a quick cold brewer was supported by customer feedback and OXO's continual commitment to innovation. “We took a lot of the feedback we got on our current machines and looked to make improvements,” says McConnell.

But in addressing the request for faster delivery than traditional cold brew methods, the Rapid Brewer created its own dilemma: how to make coffee concentrate quickly without sacrificing flavor or quality.

What Is Coffee Concentrate Made From?

Coffee concentrate is made of a higher-than-usual coffee-to-water ratio. The result is a strong black coffee base, perfect for making a variety of different coffee drinks. Achieving this strength and richness quickly, however, isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.

To start, Diskin and his team developed a coffee basket with a built-in stainless-steel filter that could be filled with finely ground coffee and tamped it into a puck—similar to espresso. Then, the OXO team created a pressurized brewing chamber. The way it works: After filling the chamber with water, it is pressurized by using the attached hand pump to pump air inside, which then forces the water through the coffee grounds.

By pushing water through this puck, the machine is able to achieve high extraction and strength in about five minutes, resulting in premium coffee concentrate. “We had to design a system that could reliably get the water to flow through the coffee consistently, smoothly and without excess stirring or channeling,” says Diskin. (Channeling occurs when water follows the path of least resistance through the grounds, flowing more quickly through less dense areas in coffee pucks, which results in weak flavor extraction from the grounds and an inferior-tasting coffee brew.) The Rapid Brewer’s pressure mechanism evens the flow of water through the grounds, preventing channeling.

Innovation and Development

Research into the development of the Rapid Brewer began in 2020. “It started by looking at ways to reach a much faster brew time with cold brew specifically,” says Diskin, who spent a year with his team trying different ideas and experimenting with various techniques to accelerate the cold brew process until they found a method that worked.

From there, the team focused on fine-tuning their prototype into a user-friendly kitchen appliance. “We spent the next couple of years turning it from a proof of concept into a real product," says Diskin. Through testing, usability studies and internal explorations into improving coffee quality, the team eventually settled on a model they believed addressed all potential pain points while providing a flavorful cup of coffee.

Overcoming Challenges

Among the challenges the OXO team addressed: Concerns over cleaning and usability. “We knew from our other overnight brewers that cleaning up a lot of wet coffee grounds when you don't have a paper filter can be a little more challenging,” McConnell explains. In response, the team ensured that the Rapid Brewer could be easily cleaned by simply tapping used grounds into the garbage.

The team conducted extensive user testing in the office and at home to refine the cleaning process and other features. "We sent [the prototypes] home with people for the weekend or overnight and had them do this full brewing and cleaning process unsupervised," McConnell shares. Home testers would then share detailed results from their experience back to the OXO team.

Developing the brewer’s pump mechanism proved to be another challenge. “We spent a lot of time trying to understand the right way for somebody to interact with this pumping operation,” acknowledges Diskin, explaining that their ultimate goal was to ensure the brewer was intuitive and easy to use.

Thumbs Up From an Independent Study

Satisfied with the Rapid Brewer’s innovative design that allows for superior flavor in a fraction of the time compared with other cold brew machines on the market, the OXO team sought validation for the OXO BREW® Rapid Brewer from a third party. A collaboration with the University of California, Davis—which now boasts the UC Davis Coffee Center(Opens in a new window), an institute dedicated to research, education and outreach in the field of coffee science—confirmed the new brewer’s benefits.

As part of the collaboration, UC Davis's sensory science and food science program conducted a study comparing the Rapid Brewer prototype to two other market-leading overnight cold brewers. Researchers made the same coffee, the same strength, with all three brewers and then asked 150 study participants to sample each one. The testers ranked the brews based on personal preference as well as various metrics related to taste.

The result? Even though the prototype brewed in five minutes, participants found no significant difference in taste compared to coffee brewed for 18 hours with the leading market machines. The findings were a "big win" for the team, says Diskin.

Portability

A key feature of the Rapid Brewer is its non-electric design, making it highly portable. “Not having to charge, replace batteries or plug it in is a big advantage,” notes Diskin. This feature, combined with its compact size, lightweight design and built-in filter makes the Rapid Brewer perfect for use at home, in the office or on the go.

The design decision was driven by the desire to create a product that was not only efficient but also versatile. “We noticed that people were taking some of our other products camping and traveling,” Diskin says. “It’s hard to get good coffee if you're staying in a hotel or an Airbnb where you don’t know the coffee situation. We wanted something to be easy to travel and would all nest together [so you could] bring your coffee with you.”

McConnell shares that she uses the Rapid Brewer both in the office and at home. The brewer's ability to make both hot and cold coffee also helps it cater to different seasons and preferences—which is key since OXO’s research showed that many households are split on hot versus cold coffee, often necessitating multiple coffee-brewing appliances. In the kitchen where space is at a premium, the Rapid Brewer’s versatility eliminates that need. Plus, the brewer’s small size makes it easy to store in a cabinet or drawer, keeping prime countertop real estate clutter-free.

Sustainability and Durability

OXO's commitment to sustainability is reflected in the Rapid Brewer’s design and material selection. “We try to use recycled materials where we can,” McConnell explains. The carafe and water chamber are made out of Tritan™ Renew, made from 50% recycled content  certified through a 3rd party mass balance approach. All in all, the product contains 22% recycled content by weight. Additionally, the small brewing size and built-in reusable filter contribute to less waste, compared to traditional brewing methods.

The brewer underwent extensive testing to ensure it could withstand the bumps and potential drops of travel. Based on their findings in rigorous durability tests, the OXO team selected materials that were temperature- and drop-resistant. And with the help of a cycle testing machine, the brewer was pumped more than 100,000 times to make sure it was durable enough to stand up over the course of many years (and coffees).

Key Features for Users

The OXO BREW® Rapid Brewer is packed with thoughtful features. Diskin shares that it is both lightweight and durable, drop and temperature-resistant and easily fits into bags with all parts stored in a single unit. Measurement markings inside the brewer for both hot and cold brews help users achieve the perfect coffee-to-water ratio without needing a measuring cup or a scale. Eliminating the need for additional measurement tools makes it easy for coffee drinkers to bring along their Rapid Brewer whenever they travel.

What Is the Best Ratio of Coffee Concentrate to Water?

Depending on your intended use of the coffee concentrate, you’ll want to add more or less water to the chamber. A ratio of 1:5 (50 grams of coffee for every 250 grams of water) or 1:4 is often ideal for coffee concentrate, but don’t be afraid to experiment.

Brew times for coffee concentrate also differ when using hot water versus cold. While cold brewing with the Rapid Brewer boasts a quick five-minute brew time, hot coffee is ready in just two minutes.

The Rapid Brewer is suitable for brewing two cups, but many coffee drinkers prefer richer hot coffee, in which case a single serving may be better. “The recipe that we suggest using for hot brewing is for one serving of hot coffee instead of two,” says Diskin. Of course, the serving size is wholly dependent upon personal taste.

Grinding and Brewing

To achieve the best results with the Rapid Brewer, freshly ground coffee is essential. “The best upgrade you can make to your coffee setup is grinding fresh,” says McConnell. Freshly ground coffee beans ensure a robust flavor, enhancing the taste and aroma of the brew, making each cup more enjoyable.

As a general rule, finely ground coffee works better than coarser grounds, says Diskin, but finding the exact grind size may take some trial and error. Also, it may differ depending on the roast you use, the origin and whether the coffee is freshly roasted, he adds, so having a coffee grinder with multiple settings can be helpful when experimenting with brews. Diskin shares the following tips for determining the perfect grind:

• If your coffee doesn’t drip out of the basket over the course of five minutes, it may be too finely ground (e.g., an espresso grind).
• If the coffee quickly flows through the basket and there’s not much water left in the chamber after the steep period, you likely need to grind finer.

Is Coffee Concentrate the Same as Coffee Extract?

While the ratio of coffee grounds to water will determine the strength of your coffee concentrate, this is not the same thing as coffee extract. Coffee extract, which also has a strong flavor, is produced by steeping coffee beans in alcohol. The resulting extract is then used like a vanilla extract, adding and enhancing coffee flavor in foods, such as baked goods and dairy treats. Unlike coffee concentrate, which must be used within days of brewing, coffee extract is shelf stable.

Hosting and Special Occasions

The Rapid Brewer's ability to customize each brew makes it perfect for hosting gatherings. Whether it’s a holiday morning or a casual get-together, you can easily cater to different tastes with a variety of coffee drinks. Since it makes a concentrate, you can dilute it to your taste, making it suitable for a wide range of beverages, including Americanos, lattes, and cappuccinos.

This feature is handy for entertaining, as it allows hosts to offer an assortment of drinks with a single machine. The Rapid Brewer is also perfect for a coffee bar, as it makes creating custom coffee drinks for your guests quick and easy. From Vietnamese-style brew to cold brew martinis, the brewer easily pivots between hot coffee and cold brew to tailor drinks to guest requests.

Product Highlights

With its thoughtful, intuitive design and versatile features, the OXO BREW® Rapid Brewer stands out compared to other cold brew coffee makers. These are just a few points of distinction:

• Brew time: Produces coffee concentrate in just minutes, unlike traditional methods requiring 12 to 24 hours.
• Portability: Non-electric design makes it perfect for travel, camping and office use.
• Ease of use: Built-in stainless-steel filter eliminates the need for paper filters, and measurement markings ensure perfect coffee-to-water ratios.
• Cleaning: Designed for easy cleaning; simply tap used grounds into the garbage.
• Versatility: Suitable for both hot and cold coffee drinks, allowing for customized brewing.
• Sustainability: Made with Tritan™ Renew recycled plastic, contributing to less waste.
• Durability: Rigorously tested to withstand drops and heavy use, ensuring long-lasting performance.
  
  

Ultimately, say McConnell and Diskin, the OXO BREW® Rapid Brewer revolutionizes how we enjoy cold brew coffee. Forget waiting 12 to 24 hours for your cold brew fix—this brewer gives you a rich, smooth coffee concentrate in just minutes. Whether you’re rushing out the door to work or class, packing for a camping trip or simply craving a great cup of joe at home, the Rapid Brewer has you covered.

Ready to explore the world of coffee further? These recipes for spiced coffee will start your morning strong.