The OXO Brew Pour-Over Kettle is a modern contender in the world of pour-over coffee, combining thoughtful design, quick performance, and user-friendly features that make it stand out in a competitive market. Whether you’re an artisan barista or a casual coffee lover, this kettle brings a balanced blend of functionality and aesthetics to the table, offering precise control over temperature, a comfortable grip, and reliable performance for everyday brewing.
The Evolution of Pour-Over Kettles
Gooseneck kettles have long been favored by pour-over enthusiasts, with their thin spouts allowing for precise water flow. In recent years, electric pour-over kettles have grown in popularity, with brands like Bonavita, Hario, and Fellow leading the way. The OXO Brew Pour-Over Kettle is part of this newer generation, bringing with it a digital interface and variable temperature control—features that cater to the increasingly sophisticated demands of coffee brewers.
This model continues OXO’s commitment to ergonomic design and practical kitchen tools, but does it match the legacy of more established brands? Let’s dive into the details.
Design and Build Quality
OXO has a reputation for creating products that feel good in the hand and work seamlessly in everyday life. This kettle upholds that reputation with an ergonomic handle and a streamlined design that makes it comfortable to use, even for those longer pouring sessions. The handle is counterbalanced to prevent wrist strain, so whether you’re pouring slow for a Kalita Wave or speeding things up for a Chemex, it feels just right.
The stainless steel build is sturdy without being heavy, which is important because you want a durable kettle but also something that feels nimble during a pour. It’s clear that OXO has thought carefully about this kettle’s balance, and they’ve nailed it. While some kettles feel bulky or cumbersome when full, the OXO maintains its composure and gives you fine control over the pour, which is essential for achieving consistency in coffee brewing.
Performance and Features
When it comes to heating water, the OXO Brew Pour-Over Kettle shines. Its 1500-watt heating element is a beast, bringing water to temperature faster than many of its competitors. In my tests, it took just under four minutes to heat a full liter of water from room temperature to 205°F, a temperature I regularly use for brewing coffee. This speed is impressive, especially considering other kettles in the same category can take a minute or two longer.
But it’s not just about speed — precision is where this kettle really excels. The variable temperature control lets you dial in temperatures from 104°F to 212°F, giving you the flexibility to brew a range of beverages, from delicate green teas to robust pour-over coffee. I especially appreciated how the kettle maintains the water temperature for up to 30 minutes, so if you’re brewing multiple cups, you don’t have to keep re-boiling the water. And for those moments when you’re doing an extended pour, the kettle holds its temperature beautifully, allowing you to focus on your brewing technique rather than rushing to pour before the water cools.
One feature I really like is the built-in timer. Once your water reaches the set temperature, you can activate the timer with a simple press and hold of the control dial. This is super convenient for timing your pour-over bloom or even timing the entire brew. It’s little touches like this that make the kettle feel thoughtfully designed for real coffee brewing scenarios.
Pour Control
Arguably the most important feature of any gooseneck kettle is how well it controls the flow of water. The OXO Brew delivers one of the most refined pouring experiences I’ve encountered. The gooseneck spout offers superb control, allowing you to adjust between a slow trickle or a faster, more forceful pour. Whether I was using it to saturate coffee grounds during the bloom or maintaining a steady stream during a continuous pour, the kettle responded perfectly. There’s no sputtering or gushing — just a smooth, consistent flow that makes achieving an even extraction easier.
The kettle’s high angle spout and excellent balance mean that it’s forgiving even for beginners, but it still offers the finesse needed for more advanced techniques like pulse pouring or creating spiral patterns during a pour-over.
User Interface and Controls
Simplicity is key, and OXO seems to understand that coffee brewing should be about the coffee, not fumbling with complicated settings. The OXO Brew Pour-Over Kettle uses a single rotary dial to control all functions. A quick press turns the kettle on, and from there, you simply rotate the dial to select your desired temperature. A second press begins heating, and the LED display shows the current water temperature in real-time.
I found this interface incredibly intuitive. There’s no need to consult the manual or deal with a bunch of buttons. Everything about the interface is streamlined, and even though I’ve tested many kettles, I found OXO’s approach to be one of the most user-friendly. My only critique here is that the dial could benefit from a more textured surface. When your hands are wet or you’re in the middle of a busy brew session, a bit of grip would make adjusting settings quicker.
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Speed and Temperature Accuracy
When it comes to speed, the OXO ON Adjustable Temperature Pour-Over Kettle doesn’t mess around. It’s fast—seriously fast. From 1 liter of cold tap water to 205°F, a perfect starting point for pour-over, it takes about 4 minutes and 10 seconds. To see how the kettle performed at different stages, I ran several tests starting with 65°F (18.3°C) water, and here’s what I found.
Timings and Accuracy Table
| Set Temp | 100°F | 150°F | 200°F | 205°F | Measured Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timing 1 | 1:16 | 2:41 | 4:04 | 4:14 | 208.5°F |
| Timing 2 | 1:14 | 2:38 | 4:03 | 4:13 | 207.9°F |
| Timing 3 | 1:16 | 2:40 | 4:05 | 4:15 | 208.2°F |
| Timing 4 | 1:15 | 2:39 | 4:04 | 4:13 | 208.2°F |
| Average | 1:15 | 2:39 | 4:04 | 4:13 | 208.2°F |
Notice how quickly the OXO goes from 200°F to 205°F, with only a few seconds difference. The kettle powers down just before reaching the set temperature, allowing residual heat to take it to the target. This is a smart design choice, and the “click” of the heating element shutting down is barely noticeable.
But how accurate is it? The kettle consistently overshoots the target temperature by a couple of degrees. To get a clearer picture, I ran the tests again, this time checking the water temperature 25 seconds after the kettle beeped to indicate it had reached the set temperature.
| Set Temp | 100°F | 150°F | 200°F | 205°F | Measured Temp | Temp + 25sec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timing 5 | 1:16 | 2:40 | 4:04 | 4:15 | 207.7°F | 206.1°F |
| Timing 6 | 1:14 | 2:38 | 4:03 | 4:13 | 207.9°F | 206.4°F |
| Timing 7 | 1:14 | 2:39 | 4:05 | 4:14 | 207.8°F | 206.2°F |
| Timing 8 | 1:15 | 2:39 | 4:04 | 4:13 | 208.1°F | 206.5°F |
| Average | 1:14 | 2:39 | 4:04 | 4:13 | 207.875°F | 206.3°F |
While the kettle overshoots by about 2-3°F, for coffee brewing—especially pour-over—that’s not a big deal. You’ll lose those extra degrees while pouring. However, for more delicate teas, you might want to adjust accordingly. You could set the kettle to 202°F if you’re looking for a stable 205°F right when it beeps, but remember, the kettle will now try to maintain the lower temperature.
In the grand scheme, the heat-up speed more than makes up for the minor overshoot. Competitors like the Stagg EKG or Bonavita digital gooseneck kettles take up to 50% longer to reach the same temperature. The OXO has a clear edge in both speed and consistency, keeping your brewing process efficient without sacrificing precision.
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Final Thoughts
The OXO ON Adjustable Temperature Pour-Over Kettle has made a serious impression, both with me and my fellow coffee enthusiasts. Even a friend who owns the coveted Stagg EKG was tempted to make the switch after trying it out. Yes, it overshoots its programmed temperature slightly, but this is a minor flaw, easily offset by the kettle’s overall performance.
This kettle stands out in so many ways: it’s lightning fast, beautifully designed, and remarkably easy to handle. The gooseneck spout is a highlight, offering precision that’s perfect for controlled pours—ideal for pour-over techniques or any coffee style that demands accuracy. It’s become my go-to kettle, even replacing the stovetop version in my routine, despite the smaller capacity.
The temperature control down to 104°F is a thoughtful touch, something I find myself using frequently for everything from dough prep to other kitchen tasks. And when you consider the price, it’s a steal compared to boutique options, while still offering the features you’d expect from a high-end kettle. Add in OXO’s two-year warranty, and this kettle truly delivers value and performance. For that reason, I confidently give it a “Best in Class” rating.
