Tools and coffee seem to go hand in hand.
However, as we move more and more to portable tools, it only makes sense than we should add a portable coffee maker to our mobile arsenal as well.
Today, we’ll take a closer look and reveal our shortlist of favorite coffee machines, practically guaranteed to satisfy even the most discriminating of coffee-loving tool slingers.
The CoffeeBoxx from Oxx, Inc.
(The following section of information was taken directly from https://oxx.com/oxx-store/oxx-coffeeboxx/)
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
“Works with all K-Cup packs, Crush-Proof, Portable, Lightweight, Rust-Proof, Spill-Proof, Water Resistant, Impact Resistant, Dust-Proof: Meet the world’s toughest coffee maker. The COFFEEBOXX is built Beyond Rugged to endure the harshest environments. It’s designed to deliver a hot cup of premium coffee to the hardest workers on the planet, wherever they are.”
SPECS
11.5” tall, 9” wide, and 11” long, the CoffeeBoxx accommodates mugs up to 8” tall.
It has a retractable 3’ AC power cord and a 2.5 Liter removable water tank.
Empty, its weight is 12 pounds.
Power source: 120V AC, 60 Hz, 1450 Watts
DETAILS
Packs with your tools and gear; compact; lightweight; easy to carry (rubberized carrying handle built-on); fold-up drip tray; works with all K-Cup drink pods; 30-second pre-heat and 75-second brew time; 8, 10, or 12oz cup size selection; large 85oz spill-proof water tank (largest in the industry); accommodates extra-large thermoses such as the YETI Rambler; replaceable carbon water filter; water and dust resistant design with sealed buttons (IP54 rating); sealed water tank; stainless steel hardware and UV resistant shell; crush-proof chassis (1500lb load); tough design; impact resistant polymer construction; hot water on demand; suitable for hot foods; no coffee residue.
(end website information)
OUR TAKE
BENEFITS:
- It is actually not very easy to find a large, rugged, portable coffee maker such as the CoffeeBoxx. There are not many currently on the market. This in itself is something to consider due to the fact that this coffee maker currently enjoys a high level of feedback from its users.
- It uses K-Cup drink pods, a standard size for coffee makers, which makes selection and availability excellent.
- It definitely has a tough design and appears quite comfortable alongside your other power tools, as well. Many other reviewers have noted how well it seems to handle the elements and abuse.
- Customer service seems highly responsive and eager to help overall, which is an important factor to take into account.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- One of the first things we noticed was the weight of this little guy. At 12 pounds dry, it’s already a bit weighty, but after water is added…well, let’s just say that it does not move very easily. Perhaps this is a good thing? Just keep this in mind if your desire is to find a multi-cup drip coffee maker to lug around.
- Another feature of the CoffeeBoxx we would like to point out is the AC cord. At just three feet in length, it does not leave many options for locating your portable coffee machine. It is worth noting, however, that the cord is retractable rather than wound around the device, therefore this would be the main contributing factor to this spec.
- Another consideration is related to the above, and that is the NEED of a power cord in the first place. Some other portable coffee makers–as you will see with our other reviews–are free from reliance on an AC outlet, opting instead for power sources such as Litihum Ion batteries. Again, this makes the CoffeeBoxx more conducive to work site use.
- It takes a BIT of getting used to, as it operates a little differently than other one-cup coffee makers I have experience with. If you remove your cup when you think it’s finished, then you will inevitably have to clean up a bit afterwards.
FINAL RATING AND VERDICT:
When we see a specialty product like the Oxx CoffeeBoxx, we could write it off as an overpriced novelty, as we often do with some other devices. It would be especially easy to do so if this portable coffee machine lacked the functionality and quality that both the price and details suggest.
However, this mobile creator of coffee elixir is not simply an exorbitantly priced, one-of-a-kind novelty—it serves a specific purpose, is of good quality, tough, and reasonably priced. For those looking for a smaller and lighter portable coffee maker for just one or two people, we would recommend looking elsewhere. However, for those whose coffee applications are more work site oriented and/or in more abusive environments, we do not hesitate in recommending the CoffeeBoxx by Oxx. Besides, we have to admit that they gave it an extra level of cool by naming the sleek, black version “Special Ops Black” and giving it a nice field case. Good job!
WrenchGuru.com RATING: 4 out of 5 stars.
Next Up:
The Makita 18V LXT® Lithium‑Ion Cordless Coffee Maker
*The Following Section is Taken Directly From the Makita website for Accuracy (https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/DCM500Z):
- CONVENIENCE : No paper filter needed; permanent drip filter allows grounds to be poured directly into coffee maker
- COMPACT : Compact design at only 8-3/8″ tall with a 3-1/2″ cup clearance
- VERSATILITY : Battery adapter can be removed when using AC power
- CAPACITY : Brews one 5 oz. cup of coffee in 7 minutes when powered by an 18V LXT® battery
- INCLUDES : Includes coffee maker only (battery and charger not included)
About Model
Get fresh brewed coffee wherever the job takes you with the 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Cordless Coffee Maker (DCM500Z, Tool Only). No paper filters are needed, just your favorite ground coffee, water, and a Makita 18V Lithium-Ion battery. It will brew up to three 5 ounce cups of coffee on a single charge of an 18V LXT 5.0Ah battery (sold separately). It is also compatible with Makita 18V 4.0Ah, 3.0Ah, and 2.0Ah batteries. For added convenience, the battery adapter can be removed for use with AC power.
It’s part of Makita’s expanding 18V Lithium-Ion series, the world’s largest cordless tool line-up powered by an 18V Lithium-Ion slide-style battery. Makita 18V Lithium-Ion batteries have the fastest charge times in their categories, so they spend more time working and less time sitting on the charger.
For improved tool performance and extended battery life, Makita created Star Protection Computer Controls™. Star Protection is communication technology that allows the Star Protection-equipped tool and battery to exchange data in real time and monitor conditions during use to protect against overloading, over-discharging and overheating. For increased versatility, the tool can also be powered by Makita 18V LXT® and Compact Lithium-Ion batteries with the star symbol on the battery indicating Star Protection inside.
Features
- Brews one 5 oz. cup of coffee in 3 minutes when plugged into a power outlet; brews one 5 oz. cup of coffee in 7 minutes when powered by a 5.0Ah 18V LXT® battery (battery not included)
- No paper filters needed; permanent drip filter allows grounds to be poured directly into coffee maker
- Battery adapter can be removed when using AC power
- Compact design at only 8-3/8″ tall with a 3-1/2″ cup clearance
- Boil dry protection automatically turns the coffee maker off if there is not enough water
- Weighs only 3.7 lbs. with battery (battery not included)
- Brews up to (3) 5 oz. cups of coffee on a single 5.0Ah LXT® battery charge (battery not included)
- Brews up to (2-1/2) 5 oz. cups of coffee on a single 4.0Ah LXT® battery charge (battery not included)
- Brews up to (2) 5 oz. cups of coffee on a single 3.0Ah LXT® battery charge (battery not included)
- Not compatible with BL1815 batteries
- Battery and charger sold separately
- 3-year limited warranty
- Only use genuine Makita batteries and chargers
Includes
- (1) Measuring Spoon
- (1) AC power supply cord
- (1) Battery Holder
Specs
- Overall Length : 8-3/8″
- Battery : 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion
- Net Weight (with battery) : 3.7 lbs.
- Power Type : Corded and Cordless Operation
- Shipping Weight : 4.4 lbs.
- UPC Code : 088381-677226
(end website information)
OUR TAKE
BENEFITS
- First off, the portability of the Makita coffee maker is the main strength it has. Not only is it small and light—weighing in at less than four pounds WITH the battery attached—it also has the main benefit of running directly off of Makita’s 18V Lithium-Ion batteries, which are a heck of a lot easier to have around than an AC outlet! Just connect the battery and you are ready to start brewing right there—wherever you may happen to be. If you do happen to have an AC outlet, however, then you can save your battery and plug it in.
- Interchangeability is great for those who already own or are thinking about purchasing other cordless Makita tools (such as an impact wrench, for example!). No need to hunt for a plug of course, and for those of us who already own related tools, we can easily slide off the battery and whip up a cup of Joe in under ten minutes.
- Functionality is basic and straight-forward. No need for filters as the basket has a self-contained filtering system built-in. Another good feature—and one that even some home coffee makers do not have—is that it will automatically shut off when it detects that there is no water, thus eliminating the “boil dry.” I still remember cooking the crap out of more than one coffee pot after the levels had gotten to be too low. It’s true that the reservoir is a different thing, but the concept is similar—no dry heating and no wasted energy!
- Faster coffee on AC. If you do have access to a wall outlet, then your coffee craving can be cured in less than half the time, at around three minutes.
- Cost. The actual price of the coffee maker itself is amazingly low, which makes it more than a nifty, cute, or fun item to have around. For those who already have the right Makita tools with included battery and charger, the addition of a matching teal coffee maker could be just the right touch—or gift.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
- Additional cost. The first thing to remember is that, as with many cordless tools, the Makita coffee maker needs at least one (particular) charged battery to function, and that battery will also need a charger. While the coffee maker itself has a nice, low price tag, the required portable power solutions will most certainly cost quite a bit more. As always, confirm what you are actually going to get before you purchase.
- Battery eater. While you may be thirsty for coffee, your coffee maker is hungry for power. Depending on battery type, the portable Makita coffee maker will make short work of it if you are in need of more than one cup. For example, and according to Makita’s specifications, their 5.0 ah battery will only make up to three cups. So, while the portability is great, do not expect to get a nonstop flurry of hot coffee for you and your fellow workers or campers—unless you have an AC outlet nearby for your battery charger.
- Serving size and cup accommodation size. Each brewed cup of coffee will be five ounces, which is typically a shot glass sized portion for most American coffee drinkers—especially those busy using power tools or shooting the breeze. Considering that the maximum amount of cups that can be brewed on one large battery is three, this makes for a total of fifteen ounces of coffee on one battery charge. I am fairly certain that my dad drinks more than fifteen ounces of coffee during breakfast alone. For those who may not know, eight ounces equals one cup, so five ounces is just over half a cup. The second part of this is the cup size that the Makita machine can accommodate, which is only 3.5 inches tall. Upon putting this “consideration” here, it seems a moot point given the fact that it is unable to even fill that cup up to begin with.
FINAL VERDICT
For me personally, I felt that this was a bit of a sad review to make. I really wanted to be very happy with this device, given my fondness for the company and their tools—as many others are. However, unlike most of their other cordless devices, this one just does not seem to have the research and development it needs to truly be a must for most applications. The simple fact that it is highly portable and can basically be taken anywhere to provide a hot cup of java is not enough for me to be satisfied, and neither is the relatively low price. The portion sizes seem more like the ones I got out of the vending machines I tried while I visited Tokyo—but those were really cool and useful, with many options. Insult is added to that injury as one realizes that only two to three of these small cups can be brewed on a single battery—something I just cannot bring myself to accept from Makita’s reputation for technology. Still, I could accept the small cup servings if the coffee maker was able to brew up a much larger quantity on one charge.
Nevertheless, I cannot rate it much lower as it is still handy for those who could benefit from its use—for it is indeed useful in its own way, and it is, after all, a Makita.