How to Set Up the OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (Step by Step)

You lift the new grinder out of the box and look for a timer dial. There isn’t one. That’s the first clue that this compact model works differently from OXO’s bigger grinders.

Here’s how to set up OXO compact conical burr coffee grinder from box to first cup. It covers assembly and your first grind setting. It also covers a test grind and the mistakes new owners make.

Which OXO Grinder Do You Have, and What’s in the Box?

If your box says model 8720800 and the hopper holds 50 g of beans, you have the compact. OXO also sells larger Brew grinders with a timer dial or a built-in scale, and their setup differs.

The compact is about 11 inches tall and 4 inches wide. Its 50 g hopper makes up to six cups (30 oz) of brewed coffee. The standard model holds 12 oz and has a timer dial. A third model adds an integrated scale. If you own one of those, our oxo coffee grinder complete guide explains how the lineup differs.

Inside the box you’ll find three main pieces:

• The grinder base
• A hopper with a lid
• A grounds container with a pouring spout

The upper and lower stainless steel burrs both come out for cleaning. The cord wraps up for storage. OXO makes the hopper and grounds container from Tritan™ Renew, a food-safe plastic with certified recycled content.

Two details catch people out. The 50 g hopper is a one-dose design, so a big carafe means grinding twice. The grinder is also rated for 120 V only, so you’ll need a step-down converter outside North America.

Still comparing grinders? Our notes on the oxo brew compact conical burr coffee grinder are a good place to start.

How Do You Assemble the Grinder?

Wash and dry the grounds container, check the burrs, then twist the container and hopper into place. Here is how to set up OXO compact conical burr coffee grinder parts in the right order.

1. Remove all packaging.
2. Wipe the grinder body with a soft, damp cloth.
3. Wash the grounds container and spout by hand with soap and water.
4. Dry both parts completely.
5. Set the base on a stable, level, dry surface near an outlet.
6. Look at the burrs in the hopper assembly. Brush off any packing dust with a dry brush.
7. Place the grounds container on the base. Turn it clockwise until it locks.
8. Set the hopper on top of the container. Turn it clockwise until it locks.
9. Plug in the cord, unwinding only the length you need.

To take the parts off, turn each one counterclockwise. Don’t skip step 4, because damp plastic makes grounds cling. Never put any part in the dishwasher, and keep water off the burrs and the base.

The container sits under the hopper, so pouring out your grounds means lifting the hopper off first. Most of your setup time goes to waiting for the container to dry.

How Do You Pick Your First Grind Setting?

Start at 8 for drip or pour-over, then adjust by taste. The dial runs from 1 (fine) to 15 (coarse), with 29 micro-adjustments in between.

To change it, press and hold the grind size adjustment button. That unlocks the hopper. Keep holding the button and turn the whole hopper to your number. Release the button to lock it in. The setting stays until you change it.

OXO groups the 15 steps into three bands. Treat them as starting points, not rules.

Brew method	Setting band	Where I’d start
Espresso-style, moka pot (fine)	1–5	3
Drip, pour-over, AeroPress (medium)	6–10	8
French press, cold brew (coarse)	11–15	12

Move one main number at a time and save the micro-adjustments for last. A sour or weak cup, or a brew that drains fast, calls for a finer setting. A bitter cup, or a slow drain, calls for a coarser one.

The hold-and-turn motion catches new owners off guard. Turning the hopper without holding the button does nothing. The grinder also remembers only one setting, so a weekend French press means turning the hopper several numbers coarser. Write down your pour-over number before you change it.

Settings 1 and 2 grind very slowly. The 40-second cycle can end before a full dose is done. I’d stay at 3 or coarser.

How Do You Run a Test Grind and Dial It In?

Grind a small batch of cheap beans first, then taste it before you open your good bag.

1. Weigh your beans, up to the 50 g limit.
2. Pour them into the hopper.
3. Replace the lid.
4. Press the OXO button once to start.

The grinder shuts itself off after 40 seconds. Press the button again to stop sooner. There’s no timer dial and no built-in scale, so the weight you pour in is your dose. Weigh before you load.

Static is the usual annoyance because the container is plastic. Mist the beans with one or two spritzes of water before you pour them in. OXO sells a spray bottle made for this grinder. Keep water away from the burrs.

Let the grounds settle for a few seconds before you lift the hopper. Rub a pinch between your fingers. Pour-over grounds should feel like sand, and French press grounds like coarse salt.

Say you’re brewing pour-over at 8, and the cup tastes sour while the water drains fast. Turn the hopper one micro-step finer and brew again. If the next cup turns bitter, back off one micro-step. Change one thing at a time.

What Setup Mistakes Should You Avoid?

Most first-week trouble comes from a loose part, a damp container, or a setting that’s one notch off. Knowing how to set up OXO compact conical burr coffee grinder correctly the first time prevents most of it.

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Grinder won’t start	Not plugged in, or the hopper or container isn’t fully locked	Plug it in. Re-seat both parts until they lock.
Grounds clump or cling	Damp container, or static	Dry the container fully. Mist the beans lightly.
Uneven grounds	A burr sits loose or has oily buildup	Unplug it, reseat the burrs, and brush them clean.
Cup tastes off	Setting is a notch off	Move one micro-step, then taste again.
Dose varies	No timer dial to control it	Weigh the beans before they go in.
Grounds spill on the counter	Static, or pouring too fast	Wait a few seconds, then pour through the spout.

Brushing the burrs is the routine maintenance job. Do it every week or two, and more often with oily dark roasts. Wipe the body with a damp cloth. Hand-wash the container and dry it every time.

FAQs

Do I need to throw away the first grind? The manual only asks you to wipe the exterior before first use. Still, I’d grind a small batch of cheap beans and toss it. It clears dust and shows where your setting lands.

Are the hopper and grounds container food-safe? Yes. OXO makes both from Tritan™ Renew, a food-safe plastic made with certified recycled content. Hand-wash the container, and keep it out of the dishwasher.

Can the compact grinder make espresso? OXO points the fine end of the dial at espresso-style brewing, but I’d treat settings 3–5 as moka pot territory. For unpressurized espresso baskets, I’d skip this grinder.

How should I store beans? The 50 g hopper holds one dose, not a week’s supply. Keep the rest of the bag in an airtight container away from heat and light. Load only what you plan to grind.

What does the warranty cover? OXO guarantees its Brew appliances for two years against manufacturing defects. The warranty applies to units bought new in the U.S. or Canada. It excludes misuse and repair attempts, so check your booklet before opening anything beyond the cleaning steps.

Can I buy replacement parts? Yes. OXO lists an upper assembly (part 8123600) and a grounds cup (part 8723700) made for the 8720800. The upper burr sold for the standard grinder does not fit this model, so confirm the model number before ordering.