Simply Good Coffee Olson Brewer: Brewing Excellence Made Simple

In today’s fast-paced world, we crave convenience, but not at the expense of quality. This is especially true when it comes to our daily cup of coffee. Many of us have been there, staring at a complicated coffee maker with a dizzying array of buttons and settings, or worse, suffering through a bitter, weak brew from a cheap drip machine. We yearn for that coffee shop quality, but who has the time or expertise to master complex brewing techniques every morning? As a seasoned coffee expert with decades of experience, I’ve seen this struggle firsthand. That’s why I was intrigued by the Simply Good Coffee Olson Brewer, which promises a refreshingly simple solution.

Overview

Simply Good Coffee, a company founded by 30-year coffee industry veteran Laura Sommers, understands this dilemma. Their flagship product, the Olson Coffee Brewer, is designed with a singular, yet powerful, goal: to make brewing excellent coffee at home simple and accessible to everyone. No frills, no complicated settings, just simply good coffee. It’s an approach that resonates deeply with my own philosophy of demystifying the art of coffee making.

Design Philosophy - Brewing Excellence Made Simple

The Olson Brewer’s design philosophy centers on the idea that exceptional coffee shouldn’t require a barista’s degree. It strips away the unnecessary complexities found in many modern coffee makers and focuses on the essential elements that contribute to a perfect cup. This “less is more” approach results in a brewer that is both elegant in its simplicity and remarkably effective in its performance. It’s about empowering you to enjoy the ritual of coffee without the fuss. The Olson achieves this by focusing on what truly matters: precise temperature control, optimal water-to-coffee ratios, and a quick, efficient brewing process. This reminds me of the classic pour-over method, distilled into a user-friendly machine.

Detailed Look at the Features

Let’s delve into the science behind the Olson’s features and discover how they contribute to a superior cup of coffee, just as I would explain it to my students:

1. The Perfect Temperature: The Key to Unlocking Flavor

• Feature: The Olson boasts a powerful 1560-watt heating element that rapidly heats water to the optimal brewing temperature range of 195°F to 205°F, consistently delivering water at this precise temperature throughout the brew cycle.
• Science & Explanation: Think of coffee brewing like a carefully choreographed dance between water and coffee grounds. The temperature of the water is the tempo, and it dictates how quickly and efficiently the flavorful compounds in the coffee are extracted. Water that’s too cold will under-extract, resulting in a weak, sour brew. Water that’s too hot will over-extract, leading to bitterness. The 195°F to 205°F range is the sweet spot, where a symphony of desirable flavors, from delicate floral notes to rich chocolate undertones, are released. The Olson’s robust heating element ensures the water reaches this ideal temperature quickly and maintains it throughout the brewing process, guaranteeing a consistently delicious extraction. It’s like having a conductor ensuring the orchestra plays every note perfectly.
• User Benefits: You can say goodbye to weak or bitter coffee caused by inconsistent water temperature. The Olson delivers the ideal heat for optimal extraction, every single time.
• User Feedback: Many users have praised the Olson for producing coffee that tastes noticeably better than their previous drip brewers, often highlighting the richness and full-bodied flavor.
• Scenario: Imagine waking up on a chilly morning, and instead of fiddling with a complicated machine, you simply press a button on your Olson brewer. Within minutes, you’re enjoying a steaming cup of coffee, perfectly brewed to unlock its full flavor potential, warming you from the inside out.

2. Mastering the Brew Ratio: The Foundation of Flavor

• Feature: The Olson Coffee Brewer is meticulously designed to facilitate the proper coffee grounds-to-water ratio, a cornerstone of exceptional coffee. The brew basket is generously sized, preventing the dreaded overflow that often occurs with lesser machines when using the correct amount of grounds. The water reservoir also features helpful markings indicating the appropriate amount of coffee to add for different brew sizes.
• Science & Explanation: The coffee-to-water ratio is like the blueprint for your brew. It dictates the strength and concentration of the final cup. A ratio between 1:15 and 1:18 (coffee to water) is generally considered ideal for balanced flavor extraction. Too little coffee, and your brew will be weak and watery. Too much coffee, and you risk over-extraction and bitterness. The Olson’s spacious brew basket and clear markings empower you to easily achieve this golden ratio, ensuring a consistently satisfying cup. It’s akin to providing an artist with the perfect canvas and a precise palette of colors.
• User Benefits: No more guesswork or messy overflows. The Olson guides you towards the perfect coffee-to-water ratio, resulting in a consistently delicious and balanced brew.
• User Feedback: One user specifically mentioned appreciating the large brew basket. Those who measure their coffee grounds will find this feature very useful.
• Scenario: Let’s say you’re hosting a brunch. With the Olson, you can confidently brew a full pot of coffee, knowing that each cup will be as delicious as the last, thanks to the carefully calibrated design that promotes the ideal coffee-to-water ratio.

3. Brewing at the Speed of Flavor: Efficiency Without Compromise

• Feature: The Olson Coffee Brewer boasts an impressive brewing speed, capable of producing a full 8-cup pot in a mere 6 minutes.
• Science & Explanation: While it might seem like a minor detail, the speed of brewing plays a significant role in the final flavor profile. Prolonged contact between hot water and coffee grounds can lead to over-extraction, drawing out undesirable bitter compounds. The Olson’s rapid brewing time minimizes this risk, ensuring that only the most desirable flavors are extracted. This rapid brewing is achieved through a combination of the powerful heating element and the efficient design of the water delivery system. It’s like a sprint, not a marathon, extracting the best flavors quickly and efficiently.
• User Benefits: For busy mornings, this means less waiting and more enjoying. You get your caffeine fix faster without sacrificing quality.
• User Feedback: Users consistently praise the Olson’s speed, especially compared to their older, slower brewers. Some have described the time savings as a “game-changer” for their morning routines.
• Scenario: Picture this: you’re rushing to get ready for work, and every minute counts. With the Olson, you can have a full pot of perfectly brewed coffee ready in the time it takes to shower and get dressed. No more frantic dashes to the coffee shop or settling for subpar instant coffee.

4. The Bloom: Unleashing the Aromatic Potential

• Feature: The Olson Coffee Brewer includes an optional “Bloom” function, a pre-infusion cycle that saturates the coffee grounds with a small amount of hot water before the main brewing process begins.
• Science & Explanation: Blooming is like waking up the coffee grounds. When hot water first hits freshly ground coffee, it releases trapped carbon dioxide gas, a byproduct of the roasting process. This initial saturation, the bloom, allows the gas to escape, paving the way for more even and complete water penetration during the rest of the brewing cycle. This results in a more nuanced and aromatic cup, as the water can now access and extract a wider range of flavor compounds. It’s like letting a fine wine breathe before enjoying its full bouquet.
• User Benefits: Especially beneficial for freshly roasted coffee, the bloom function elevates the flavor profile, allowing you to experience the full spectrum of aromas and tastes that your beans have to offer.
• User Feedback: While not all users utilize the bloom function regularly, those who do, particularly those who grind their own beans, rave about the noticeable difference in flavor and aroma. The consensus among coffee aficionados is that the bloom is essential for unlocking the full potential of high-quality beans.
• Scenario: Imagine you’ve just received a bag of freshly roasted, single-origin Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans, known for their delicate floral and citrus notes. By using the Olson’s bloom function, you ensure that these subtle nuances are not masked by trapped gases, allowing you to savor the coffee’s unique character to the fullest.

5. One-Button Simplicity: Brewing Made Effortless

• Feature: The Olson Coffee Brewer champions simplicity with its intuitive one-button operation.
• Science & Explanation: By streamlining the brewing process to a single button, the Olson eliminates the potential for user error that often arises with more complex machines. There are no confusing settings to navigate or variables to adjust. This simplicity ensures that the brewer consistently performs its core function – brewing excellent coffee – without requiring any specialized knowledge or effort from the user. This design choice reflects a deep understanding of user behavior and a commitment to accessibility. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the most elegant solution is the simplest one.
• User Benefits: Even if you’re a complete novice to the world of coffee brewing, you can achieve outstanding results with the Olson. It’s as simple as adding water and coffee, and pressing a button.
• User Feedback: The ease of use is frequently cited as one of the Olson’s most appealing features. Users appreciate being able to brew great coffee without having to fiddle with complicated settings or read lengthy instruction manuals.

6. The Carafe: Maintaining that Perfect Temperature and Taste

• Feature: The Olson comes equipped with a well-designed glass carafe that includes a mixing tube.
• Science & Explanation: Once the coffee is brewed, maintaining its temperature and ensuring even flavor distribution is paramount. A well-designed carafe plays a vital role. The Olson’s glass carafe allows you to visually appreciate the rich color of your brew. The clever addition of a mixing tube promotes convection currents within the carafe as the coffee brews, ensuring a consistent temperature and preventing stratification of flavors. That means that every cup poured from the pot, from first to last, will have the same delicious taste. Glass, being a non-reactive material, also preserves the purity of the coffee’s flavor, unlike some plastic carafes that can impart unwanted tastes.
• User Benefits: You enjoy a consistently hot and flavorful cup of coffee throughout your morning, without any unpleasant surprises in the last cup.
• User Feedback: While some users express a preference for thermal carafes (which I’ll address later), many appreciate the visual appeal of the glass carafe and find that the mixing tube does its job effectively. One user noted how it was nice to actually see the coffee being brewed.
• Scenario: Imagine you’re enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning, reading the paper, and savoring your coffee. With the Olson’s glass carafe and mixing tube, you can be confident that each cup you pour will be just as delicious and perfectly tempered as the first.

7. Filter Basket Finesse: A Thoughtful Design for Optimal Flow

• Feature: The Olson’s removable filter basket is not just large, but it also features an open/close valve and a magnetic catch.
• Science & Explanation: The open/close valve on the filter basket is a thoughtful addition, that provides multiple advantages. First, it allows for a full immersion brewing, similar to a French press, if desired, adding to the versatility of the machine. This provides maximum water and coffee grounds contact time for full flavor extraction. Second, after brewing is complete, closing the valve will stop any residual dripping, keeping your countertop clean. The magnetic catch is another small but brilliant detail. It ensures the basket is perfectly aligned under the shower head, promoting even water distribution over the grounds. A secure fit also prevents accidental spills or misalignment during brewing. It’s these little touches that demonstrate a deep understanding of the brewing process and the user experience.
• User Benefits: The valve provides more control over the brewing process, you can even use this to experiment with immersion brewing, and a cleaner, more convenient experience. The magnetic catch provides peace of mind, knowing that the basket is securely in place.
• User Feedback: Users appreciate the sturdiness and secure fit of the filter basket, highlighting the satisfying “click” of the magnetic catch. There have been mentions of the basket overflowing if the incorrect grind size is used, highlighting that even with a great brewer, the fundamentals of coffee grinding are still important.
• Scenario: Imagine you want to experiment with a slightly bolder brew. With the Olson’s valve, you could close the valve to steep the grounds for longer in the filter basket before releasing the brewed coffee into the carafe.

8. Hot Plate with Auto Shut-Off: Safety and Convenience Combined

• Feature: The Olson includes a hot plate with a 40-minute automatic shut-off function.
• Science & Explanation: While I generally advocate for consuming coffee immediately after brewing to experience its peak flavor, I understand that’s not always practical. The Olson’s hot plate provides a solution for keeping your coffee warm for a short period. Importantly, the 40-minute auto shut-off feature is a crucial safety measure, preventing the potential hazards of a forgotten hot plate. It also helps to prevent the coffee from becoming excessively bitter, which can happen when it’s kept on a hot plate for too long. The hotplate will keep the coffee warm, but be forewarned, it will also continue to “cook” the coffee, potentially altering the flavor.
• User Benefits: Provides a safety net for busy mornings and prevents the burnt taste that can result from prolonged heating.
• User Feedback: The auto shut-off is a universally appreciated feature, providing peace of mind and preventing wasted coffee.
• Scenario: You brew a pot of coffee before getting caught up in a phone call. Thankfully, the Olson’s auto shut-off kicks in, preventing a potential fire hazard and ensuring you don’t return to a pot of burnt, undrinkable coffee.

9. Aesthetics and Build: A Modern Classic

• Feature: The Olson Coffee Brewer sports a sleek, modern design with a stainless steel exterior finish. Its compact footprint (13.7”D x 7.8”W x 14.6”H) allows it to fit comfortably on most countertops.
• Science & Explanation: While aesthetics might seem secondary in a coffee maker, they play a role in the overall user experience. The Olson’s clean lines and stainless steel finish exude a sense of quality and durability. The compact design is not just about saving space; it also contributes to the brewer’s efficiency by minimizing heat loss during the brewing process. The choice of materials, such as stainless steel, reflects a commitment to longevity and resistance to wear and tear.
• User Benefits: The Olson is a visually appealing appliance that you’ll be proud to display in your kitchen. Its compact size makes it suitable for even small kitchens.
• User Feedback: Users frequently comment on the Olson’s attractive design, describing it as “sleek,” “modern,” and “well-made.”
• Scenario: You’re renovating your kitchen and want appliances that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The Olson’s stylish design complements your modern décor while promising years of reliable service.

10. Value Proposition: High-End Brewing at an Accessible Price

• Feature: The Olson Coffee Brewer is priced at $149.95, significantly lower than many high-end brewers with comparable features.
• Science & Explanation: This is where the Olson truly shines. By focusing on the essential elements of good brewing and streamlining the design, Simply Good Coffee has managed to create a brewer that rivals the performance of much more expensive machines. This pricing strategy reflects a commitment to making high-quality coffee accessible to a wider audience. It’s a democratic approach to coffee brewing, ensuring that you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy a truly exceptional cup.
• User Benefits: You get exceptional brewing performance without the premium price tag. This makes the Olson an excellent value for the money.
• User Feedback: The price point is consistently highlighted as a major advantage in user reviews. Many users express pleasant surprise at the quality of coffee the Olson produces given its affordability.
• Scenario: You’re a discerning coffee drinker on a budget. The Olson allows you to enjoy the quality of a high-end brewer without having to spend hundreds of dollars.

Comparison with the Technivorm Moccamaster

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the Technivorm Moccamaster. As a long-time admirer of the Moccamaster, I understand its appeal. It’s a beautifully crafted machine with a legendary reputation. However, the Olson presents a compelling alternative, especially for those seeking exceptional value. While the Moccamaster excels in build quality and offers a wider range of colors, the Olson matches it in core brewing performance at almost half the price. Moreover, the Olson’s bloom function is a feature that the Moccamaster KBGV Select lacks. In my professional opinion, for most home brewers, the Olson delivers comparable results to the Moccamaster without the hefty price tag. Its important to remember that the Moccamaster is hand built, and comes with a 5 year warranty, compared to the Olson’s 2 year warranty.

The Simply Good Coffee Ethos: A Legacy of Coffee Passion

It’s worth noting that Simply Good Coffee is the brainchild of Laura Sommers, a respected figure in the coffee industry with over three decades of experience. Her previous ventures, such as Espresso Supply and Bonavita, have consistently pushed the boundaries of coffee equipment innovation. With Simply Good Coffee, she’s distilling that wealth of knowledge into a brand that prioritizes both quality and accessibility. This legacy lends credibility and trustworthiness to the Olson brewer.

Conclusion

The Simply Good Coffee Olson Brewer is a testament to the idea that simplicity and quality can go hand in hand. It’s a machine that embodies a deep understanding of coffee brewing principles, translated into a user-friendly and affordable package. By focusing on essential features like precise temperature control, optimal brewing ratios, and efficient brewing time, the Olson delivers a consistently delicious cup of coffee that rivals far more expensive machines. While there’s always room for improvement, such as the potential addition of a thermal carafe option, the Olson represents a significant step forward in making high-quality home brewing accessible to all. As Dr. Maxwell Bean, I wholeheartedly recommend the Olson Coffee Brewer to anyone seeking to elevate their daily coffee ritual without unnecessary complexity or exorbitant cost. It’s a brewer that truly lives up to its name: Simply Good Coffee.

Quiz: What is your Coffee Brewing IQ?

1. What is the ideal temperature range for brewing coffee?
   • a) 185-195°F
   • b) 195-205°F
   • c) 205-212°F
2. What is the purpose of the “bloom” function?
   • a) To cool down the water
   • b) To release trapped gases in fresh coffee grounds
   • c) To speed up the brewing process
3. What is the recommended coffee-to-water ratio for optimal brewing?
   • a) 1:10 - 1:12
   • b) 1:15 - 1:18
   • c) 1:20 - 1:25

Answers: 1. (b), 2. (b), 3. (b)

How did you do? Let me know in the comments below! And if you have any further questions about the Olson Brewer or the fascinating world of coffee brewing, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m always happy to share my knowledge and passion for the perfect cup.