Frequently Asked Questions
Through the years, we’ve heard some excellent questions from our customers. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions (and answers) we encounter.
Small Appliances:
The glass used is BPA-free borosilicate glass, which provides a pure, clean taste and thermal shock protection. Thermal shock protection means the Kettle can go from very hot to very cold temperatures, without cracking or deforming – so it’s no problem to empty a very hot pot and fill it up again with cold water.
The Kettle will automatically turn itself off when water has reached a rolling boil.
The Kettle will heat to 212°F and then automatically shut off.
Both the 12-Cup Coffee Brewing System and the 9-Cup Coffee Maker will heat to no higher than 204.8°F during coffee brewing, which is the maximum temperature allowed for an SCAA-certified Golden Cup of Coffee. The 12-Cup Coffee Brewing System can heat to a maximum of 212°F (depending on altitude) when used in ‘tea’ mode.
Yes, we make our carafes out of insulated double walled stainless steel to preserve temperature and taste without over-brewing. The brew-through lid also allows hot coffee to enter but prevents hot air from escaping, ensuring that your coffee stays hot; when tilted to pour, the lid automatically allows coffee to pour through, and then seals again once it’s level. We also added a removable silicone internal mixing tube that mixes the coffee as it is brewed into the carafe, guaranteeing the last sip is as delicious as the first.
The glass used is BPA-free borosilicate glass, which provides a pure, clean taste and thermal shock protection. Thermal shock protection means the removable Kettle can go from very hot to very cold temperatures, without cracking or deforming – so it’s no problem to empty a very hot pot and fill it up again with cold water.
When heating water for tea in the removable Kettle, the Brewing System will keep water warm at your chosen temperature for 30 minutes or until canceled. If water is left in the glass kettle after brewing coffee brewing, the remaining water will be kept at the brewing temperature for 30 minutes or until canceled.
The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) is a non-profit trade organization and world-recognized leader in coffee knowledge development. The organization sets and maintains the quality standards for the industry. The SCAA was established in 1982 by a small group of coffee professionals seeking a common forum to discuss issues and set quality standards for the specialty coffee trade. It is currently the world’s largest coffee trade association with nearly 3,000 company members all with the shared belief that properly brewed coffee should be accessible to all!
For more information on the SCAA, visit http://www.scaa.org/.
The SCAA only certifies home brewers that meet their rigorous technical requirements to brew a Golden Cup of coffee. According to the SCAA:
The SCAA recognizes home brewers that meet our longstanding rigorous technical requirements. These requirements are based on decades of industry knowledge and research by the Coffee Brewing Center. All SCAA Certified Brewers have met these requirements, which are based generally on proper water temperature, brewing time, and ability to brew within the SCAA Gold Cup recommendations. If a brewer passes all of the tests conducted by the SCAA, that brewer will be recognized as an exemplary home brewer and join the short list of SCAA Certified Brewers.
In case you’re curious, the specific requirements set forth by the SCAA for brewing perfect, Gold Cup coffee are:
- Coffee/water ratio of 55g coffee/1 liter water
- Total brew time between 4 and 8 minutes
- Water temp at coffee grounds must reach 197.6°F within the first minute of brewing and stay between 197.6°F-204.8°F during remaining brew time
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) measurement of final beverage should be between 1.15%-1.35% with an soluble extraction percentage between 18.0-22.0%.
Simply put, a cup of coffee’s flavor comes from the beans. This means that coffee flavor is influenced at every stage of a bean’s life cycle including climate and geography of the growing regions, picking, processing, packaging, roasting and brewing. We encourage you to try a variety of different coffee beans to find the flavor that best suits your tastes!
The coffee brewing process — exposing coffee grounds to water at a certain temperature for a certain amount of time — allows soluble materials in coffee grounds to dissolve into water. These dissolved solids are what give coffee its flavor. A higher water temperature accelerates the flavor extraction process, as does a finer coffee grind size. Extracted flavor also changes and develops throughout the brew process – this means the flavor extracted at the beginning of a brew could taste completely different from the flavor extracted towards the end.
According to the SCAA, a Gold Cup of coffee requires a brew time of no longer than eight minutes. The OXO On 12-Cup Coffee Brewing System and 9-Cup Coffee Maker’s intelligent microprocessor will automatically adjust brew time depending on the number of cups you want to brew, but they will stay within the SCAA parameters for optimal brew time.
To a certain extent, bitterness is simply part of coffee’s flavor and in small amounts can complement or enhance other flavors in the coffee – a well-rounded cup of coffee will generally have trace amounts of bitterness. The flip side is that too much bitterness can significantly detract from a cup of coffee, and most people don’t like to take a sip of an overwhelmingly bitter drink on their way to work. Coffee can become bitter if grounds are over-extracted (i.e. If the grounds are too fine, water too hot or brew time too long) or if brewed coffee is further heated with a warming plate. To produce well-rounded flavor while avoiding over extraction, the OXO On coffee appliances automatically and precisely maintain temperature throughout the brew cycle (between 197.6°F-204.8°F) and brew time (between 4-8mins). We also designed our double-walled, vacuum insulated, stainless steel carafes to retain heat so there is no need for use of a heating plate to keep coffee hot.
According to the SCAA, optimal brewing temperature is between 195°-205° Fahrenheit. Water temperature below and above this range can produce under and over-extracted coffee respectively. Both our 12-Cup Coffee Brewing System and our 9-Cup Coffee Maker heat water and precisely maintain it between 197.6-204.8°F.
Depending on the brewing method, brewed coffee consists of about 98-99% water. Water quality dramatically affects the taste of brewed coffee, but pure filtered water can also negatively affect taste. A good rule of thumb is: good tasting water will help to make good tasting coffee.
Roasted coffee beans naturally hold some amount of trapped gas that is released naturally over time. “Wetting the bed” (i.e. pre-wetting the coffee ground bed before the full brew cycle commences) accelerates the off-gassing process and allows water to better saturate the coffee grounds during brewing. The foamy expansion of the bed ground during pre-wetting is often called “bloom.”
Brewing extraction is the process of dissolving coffee solubles into water. Extraction yield is the percentage of coffee grounds that are dissolved in water during brewing. Extracted soluble yield or concentration (i.e. strength) is usually measured in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) or a soluble extraction percentage. These measurements help determine coffee strength and brew quality. In general, a higher TDS is correlated with a higher soluble extraction percentage and stronger coffee flavor. The opposite is also generally true. A lower TDS is correlated with a lower soluble extraction percentage and weaker coffee.
According to the SCAA, optimal extraction results in a TDS measurement between 1.15-1.35% or a 18-22% soluble extraction. When paired with a proper medium ground coffee and correct coffee/water ratio, our OXO On appliances produce coffee within optimal TDS and soluble extraction percentages.
Neither. Freezers and refrigerators are full of odors that your coffee can absorb! Refrigeration also causes condensation on the coffee that can cause the flavor to deteriorate rapidly.
Instead, we recommend buying enough coffee to last you about a week or two and keeping it an airtight, opaque container (like our Coffee Pop Container) in a dark, cool place away from moisture.
Yes, boiling temperatures vary with altitudes: the higher you are, the lower the boiling temperature.
Both the 9-cup Coffee Maker and the 12-Cup Coffee Brewing System will work at any altitude, but if you live at a higher altitude, your coffee might be slightly under-extracted compared to the SCAA’s standard because the water dispersed over the grounds is lower than optimal boiling temp.
OXO considers 5 fl oz. to be one cup of coffee. This is based on the average for the industry and recommendations set forth by the SCAA. Remember that about 10% of water is trapped within coffee grounds during brewing.
Additionally, 2 cups equals one mug of coffee.
Grinds refers to dry ground coffee; grounds refers to wet ground coffee.
Mixer Speed: What are the actual RPM speeds for the 6 different Blender settings?
Cooking & Baking:
Aluminized Steel is steel that has been coated with aluminum – this gives the material the structure, strength and durability that steel provides but with the corrosion resistance and heat conductivity of aluminum. Aluminized Steel is the material of choice for the professional baker. It offers superior heat transfer, corrosion resistance, and durability that cannot be attained by steel or aluminum alone. The gauge selected for our bakeware was selected based on years of performance data by commercial bakeries.
Our unique micro-textured pattern ensures even baking by minimizing surface contact and promoting airflow under the baked good. It adds structural rigidity to help prevent warping. Because surface contact between the pan and baked good is reduced, the result is a superior release.
OXO uses ILAG Non-Stick Ultimate Resist R Plus. This is a Swiss-engineered, PTFE, ceramic reinforced, two-layer, commercial-grade coating. It provides the ultimate non-stick food release and is scratch-, stain-, corrosion- and abrasion resistant. It is an All-Purpose Non-Stick coating in that it is recommended for use for professional baking and roasting.
The coating is PFOA free.
Light baking pans reflect heat, while dark pans tend to absorb it, which can make a difference in your baking. Dark pans cook faster and are more likely to burn baked goods than light pans. If you opt to use dark pans, you would most likely need to reduce the heat and the baking time by approximately 25%.
A sheet pan that has a continuous lip around all four sides is typically called a Jelly Roll Pan or Sheet Pan. A pan that has at least one flat side is called a cookie sheet; the flat side makes it easy to slide the baked product off the end.
Commercial ovens typically use a Full Sheet Jelly Roll. Because home ovens are not this large, Jelly Rolls are offered in varying sizes such as Half Sheet and Quarter Sheets. OXO offers the following sizes:
Half Sheet – 13 x 18 x 1
Traditional Jelly Roll – 10 x 15 x 1
Quarter Sheet – 9 x 13 x 1
The edges of our bakeware are formed from a single piece of steel molded into a unique square-roll shape rather than from folding the steel over a piece of wire. This uniform construction and square-rolled edge not only help prevent warping but also provide structure, strength and a secure grip for easy handling and transferring to and from the oven.
Straight side-walls on cake pans are ideal for making uniform layer cakes. Our loaf pan is tapered as this is a common shape used for baking loaves of bread and savory loaf recipes.
What is the “stay-flat” feature on the Jelly Roll Pans (Half Sheet, Jelly Roll & Quarter Sheet)?
This small detail in the side walls of these pans help prevent and/or minimize the likelihood of the pans warping.
The OXO Non-stick Pizza Pan does not have holes but our micro-textured baking surface minimizes surface contact and promotes airflow for a consistent, even baking of the crust. It works well for frozen, homemade or reheating pizza.
OXO wooden utensils are made from solid one piece beech wood.
To remove natural shedding, simply rub a brown paper bag over the utensil, which will help remove the particles.
Your wooden utensils should be conditioned from time to time with a food grade mineral oil.
This depends on how often they are used, however normally when they appear to be drying out completely.
Food grade mineral oil is used to treat wooden cutting boards and utensils. It is used to keep the wood from cracking and drying out. It can be purchased at some grocery stores, and specialty kitchen shops.
No. Olive or other vegetable oils will eventually turn rancid when exposed to air. Standard mineral oil may not be food grade.
All of our wooden utensils and tools are hand wash only.
The silicone is bonded to flexible stainless steel.
Yes, they are top rack dishwasher safe.
OXO nylon utensils are heat resistant up to 400°F. However they should not be exposed to direct heat.
Yes, they are dishwasher safe.
Yes. All of our stainless steel cooking utensils are dishwasher safe.
Beverage:
Plastic mugs keep beverages at or above ideal drinking temperature* for over 2 hours. Stainless Steel mugs keep beverages at or above ideal drinking temperature* for over 6 hours
We recommend preheating your mug with hot water for a few minutes prior to pouring in your hot beverage for better heat retention.
*Ideal drinking temperature is considered 120F – 150F based on internal tests and coffee industry experts.
As coffees, teas and creamers are oil-based products, it is necessary to use dish soap to remove any residues. When cleaning the lid, please ensure that the button is in the open position. You can soak and run warm, mild soapy water through it, followed by a thorough rinsing with pressurized water from your tap. You may also cleanse with diluted vinegar if you prefer. We suggest that you wash daily after each use.
If the contents or residue have been left in the OXO Travel Mug for a longer period of time, without the daily suggested maintenance, the cleaning time will increase. To prevent odors, it is necessary to cleanse the mug as soon as the mug is emptied of its contents, as storing a sealed mug with leftover drinks for extended time may trap unpleasant smells such as soured creamer, etc. Please also ensure that your lid is allowed to thoroughly air dry with the button in the open position before storing your product.
To remove rust and mineral deposits from inside the Tea Kettle and/or whistle, boil water for 30 minutes with 2 Tbsp of baking soda and 3 Tbsp of lemon juice. Rinse thoroughly and wipe with a clean, soft cloth. Depending on the severity, you may need to repeat this process. It is also important to be sure to empty your kettle of excess water after each use.
With all of our kettles, we suggest medium heat only, as higher than that can damage the whistle and other components. Do not use on a heating element larger than the bottom of the kettle and do not place kettle on heating element with the spout open. Always ensure you center the kettle over flame or heating element as well.
If kettle is boiled dry, turn off burner and wait until kettle cools before handling it. Boiling dry may damage kettle. If this occurs, please contact Consumer Services.
Our kettles are manufactured from 18/8 grade stainless steel.
All of our kettles feature a Hole Tone Whistle (non-harmonic).
Storage & Organization:
Yes, however when exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations the container lid may lift due to changes in air pressure.
The gasket can be removed for cleaning, and either placed on the top rack of the dishwasher, or can also be cleaned with a baking soda paste to help remove odors.
OXO Tot:
The following products can be sanitized using sterilization liquids:
- Divided Feeding Dish
- Divided Plate
- Feeding Spoon Set
- Fork and Spoon Set
- Formula Dispenser
- Plate
- Small and Large Bowl Set
- Snack Disk
- Bottle Drying Rack
- Baby Blocks Freezer Storage Containers
- Straw & Sippy Cup Top Cleaning Set
- Toothbrushing Station
- Baby Food Freezer Tray
OXO Tot Straw and Sippy Cups can be sterilized using an enclosed microwave sterilizer container. Always follow the instructions included with the microwave sterilizer.
Do not sterilize using microwave sterilizer bags.
Do not boil or steam OXO Tot products to sterilize.
General Product & Company FAQ’s:
Since many dishwashers have different heat/sanitizing cycles, we recommend top rack only.
As our products are designed for in-home use only, they are not NSF certified.
We have a formal Blogger Outreach program and post frequently about opportunities to sample our products. To join our database, visit blogger.oxo.com.
OXO products are available at a wide variety of retailers. For information about the retailer closest to you, check out our store locator.
Our founder, Sam Farber, loved the letter “O.” His clever wife, Betsey, wanted to create a logo that could be read backwards, forwards and upside down. And while we love the connection to “Hugs & Kisses,” the similarity was not intentional. OXO is pronounced “Ox-Oh.”
Worldwide, we have 127 employees across New York, Pennsylvania, UK, Japan, and Germany. There are 97 in our NYC headquarters.
Please visit our jobs pages for more information on open positions at OXO.
Yes. Since 2007, OXO employees have donated their personal time, money and effort in support of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, an organization dedicated to raising funds to support new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer. In 2011, we introduced a formal corporate sponsorship, matching many nationwide efforts to support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Click here for more information on our history with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer and to learn how you can get involved.
Our parent company, Helen Of Troy, can be found listed on NASDAQ as HELE. To visit the Helen of Troy website, click here: http://www.hotus.com/.