Braun OptiBrew Pro Review: Drip Coffee Maker Adds Cold Brew, Coffee Shot and Built-In Frother
TechRadar's review of the Braun OptiBrew Pro finds a $199.95 drip coffee maker that brews five styles in seven sizes, froths milk and handles cold brew, but requires pre-ground coffee.
According to the review, the machine makes five coffee styles: Regular, Bold, Over Ice, Cold Brew and Coffee Shot. It brews in seven sizes, listed as 8, 10, 12, 16 and 20 ounces, a six-cup half carafe and a 12-cup full carafe. TechRadar says the Coffee Shot setting is not technically espresso but produces about three ounces of highly concentrated brew with a similar strength, positioned for making lattes and cappuccinos.
A built-in milk frother sits on the left side of the unit and swings out for use; pressing its top switches it on and releasing switches it off. Twisting it to the unlock symbol releases it for cleaning. The review notes the frother froths milk but does not heat it, and that it is the only part of the machine that is not dishwasher-safe, though it is easy to wash by hand.
The OptiBrew Pro ships with a reusable filter, and TechRadar says a cone-shaped #4 paper filter can be used instead. A double-sided coffee scoop is included, with a chart in the user guide listing how many large or small scoops to use for each brew style; the handle doubles as a coffee bag clip. The water tank sits on the back, can be removed for filling and is marked with brew sizes. For single servings, a built-in platform slides out to bring a mug closer to the filter, which the review says reduces splattering and limits the coffee's contact with air. The platform height suits a regular-to-large mug or a small-to-medium travel mug.
Setup runs through a large touch screen, which also allows adjustments for high altitude and hard water. A timed auto-brew function can be set for a specific time, and a keep-warm plate holds coffee at a chosen temperature for up to four hours; the review notes the same plate can rewarm cold coffee. Brewing can be paused mid-carafe to pour a cup. TechRadar describes cleanup as easy, with most parts dishwasher-safe.
The review lists the retail price at $199.95, roughly £151.10 or $287 AUD, in a single black-and-silver colorway. It is sold on Braun's website as well as through Target and Williams-Sonoma. TechRadar gives the dimensions as 6.9 by 14.6 by 11.8 inches, or 175 by 370 by 300 millimeters, and the weight as 10.14 pounds, or 4.6 kilograms. The machine is listed as a manual/drip type and does not include a coffee bean grinder.
Among the drawbacks, TechRadar says the OptiBrew Pro must use pre-ground coffee, that the milk frother only froths rather than heats milk, and that the machine is somewhat pricey. The review's stated reasons to buy center on the range of coffee styles and sizes, cold brew and brew-over-ice options, concentrated coffee shots, the built-in frother, the timed auto-brew and keep-warm functions, the pause feature, ease of use and cleaning, and the quality of the coffee produced.