Brew huge, medium and small coffee batches with the Oxo Barista Brain 12-cup (pictures)

$300 is a lot of money to spend on a drip coffee machine, but the Oxo Barista Brain 12-cup Brewing System brings a lot to the table that you're going to like. This includes the flexibility for brewing between small 4-cup carafes and big 12-cup pots of hot joe. The coffee maker also functions as an electric kettle and features adjustable temperature settings to handle specific types of tea leaves properly.

Brian Bennett

Brian Bennett is a former senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET.

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Brian Bennett

Oct. 23, 2015 10:12 a.m. PT

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A big brewer that strives to be svelte

There's no getting around the fact that the Oxo Barista Brain 12-cup is a massive coffee maker. Oxo disguises its size well, however, through a very efficient use of space.

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This filter basket is almost bottomless

The filter basket is also huge and accepts flat-bottomed basket paper filters.

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The boiler puts on a show

If you're into watching bubbles, the Barista Brain won't disappoint. The large glass kettle's contents swirl vigorously as temperatures reach the boiling point.

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Select your brewing temperature

During the calibration process you can set the coffee brewing temperature. Likewise you can heat water between 174 and 212 degrees F when in electric kettle mode.

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Make lots or a little coffee

A scale in the kettle base senses how much water you have to work with. You can then brew anywhere between 4 and a full 12 cups of hot java.

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Water through a hot shower head

The Barista Brain 12-cup uses a circular shower head to evenly drip hot water over coffee grounds in the filter basket.

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Expect excellent brewing performance

One of the few coffee makers to earn the Specialty Coffee Association of America's certification for brewing coffee correctly, I can confirm that the Barista Brain makes very delicious drip.