I love a coffee showdown. Nothing holds me back from grabbing some freshly ground beans and creating an enticing aroma in my kitchen while I make a delicious brew.
That’s the dream, but in reality, as soon as I get a new coffee brewer to test and review, my family can’t wait to get in on the action. From reviewing the AeroPress Clear to making a fresh brew with the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer, I don’t get much of a look-in.
However, once I’ve satisfied their curiosity, and they simply can’t take in another sip of caffeine, I get to work and put the coffee brewers through their paces.
At Tom’s Guide, we know that you all love hearing about the best coffee makers and latest coffee gadgets — as soon as a new coffee product is released, you’re on it. And it’s no different with manual coffee makers, with the likes of AeroPress being a hot topic among coffee nerds.
But, although the AeroPress is a hit with consumers, other manual coffee presses deserve acclaim, which is why I’m pitting the AeroPress Clear against the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer to see which one comes out on top.
Price
Making a fresh brew is never cheap, but buying a manual coffee press will save you dollars compared to a fancy coffee or espresso machine. You can pick up the AeroPress Clear Colors coffee press for $49.95 at Amazon, and it’s widely available elsewhere.
However, you’ll save $10 with the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer, which is currently $39.99 at Amazon, giving you spare change to spend on some beans.
The AeroPress does seem pricey for what you get, as the OXO Rapid Brewer comes with more parts, and you don’t need to buy any filters — it’s already included in the gadget. Although you can buy a reusable metal filter for $14.95 from Aeropress.
Winner: OXO Brew Rapid Brewer
Design
The AeroPress Clear is pretty simple. Like all AeroPress models, it’s based on extracting coffee fast through pressure and filtration. Coffee is placed in the chamber, hot water is added, and then a plunger is used to pass the water through the grinds.
It comes with three main parts — a filter section (you’ll need to buy the filter papers), a chamber and a plunger. You might be starting to think that paying out nearly $50 is a lot for three parts! However, it’s super lightweight and easy to pack up and go, making it perfect for taking into the office or even on a camping trip.
The OXO Brew Rapid Brewer comes with more parts, but they all stack up incredibly neatly. What's more, if you’re tight on countertop space, there really isn’t much difference between the two. With the OXO coffee press, you get a beaker to capture the brew, a coffee filter and pusher, and a chamber and plunger. And, boy, the plunger is smooth!
The OXO Brew Rapid Brewer feels more like a premium product. It’s classy, ultra smooth — just like a great-tasting cup of joe.
Winner: OXO Brew Rapid Brewer
Ease of use
I don’t know if it’s just me, but although both of the manual coffee presses are easy to use, I can get into a pickle with the AeroPress.
Although getting used to how to use an AeroPress is not difficult, sometimes, I don’t quite get the pushing action right when I press the plunger down into the chamber, and I have a coffee spill.
It can also depend on the vessel you use to capture the coffee and whether you have something sturdy enough that won’t crack under pressure.
However, with the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer, you don’t need to push a plunger to the same extent. You leave the water to work its way through the filter before pressing a pump — which does most of the hard work for you. It also comes with a cup that captures the liquid, so you don’t need to scramble around for a suitable vessel.
The other point, which I’ve already mentioned, is that you’ll need to buy paper filters to use with the AeroPress. These aren’t expensive, but it’s another thing to consider.
Winner: OXO Brew Rapid Brewer
Cleaning up
Since I do most of the cleaning in my household (well, it feels like it) I don’t know why my family complains, but they find the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer harder to clean because it has more parts.
What they mean is that with the AeroPress Clear, you can tap out the spent coffee grounds straight into a compost bin (you can also save coffee grinds to use on your lawn), and it uses the paper coffee filter that helps to eject the grinds in one go. Whereas, with the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer, I often need to use another implement to remove the grounds.
It’s not a major issue, but it does make the AeroPress easier to clean, plus it also has fewer parts to wash.
Winner: AeroPress
Taste
The ultimate test is in the taste. Here, there is a clear winner, and the AeroPress gets the vote of every member of my family, including myself. Although OXO’s coffee press delivers a perfectly acceptable beverage, the AeroPress provides a richer, deeper brew.
Could this be due to greater pressure on extraction? Possibly. There is certainly more force in using the AeroPress than the OXO Brew Rapid Brewer.
Winner: AeroPress
The bottom line
I’m on the fence about recommending either the AeroPress Clear or OXO Brew Rapid Brewer as a winner. I love the design and ease of use that the OXO coffee press delivers, and it’s the one coffee gadget I pick up time and time again. I’m in love with how satisfying the pump is to use and I never have to worry about an overspill. So, for me I’ll keep choosing the OXO Rapid Brew for my morning coffee fix.
However, coffee is all about the taste, right? So, although I derive pleasure from the brewing process, if the taste is your top priority and you’re willing to overlook the brewing process, then I’d recommend the AeroPress Clear.
That’s everyone covered.
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