Black & Decker DCM2500B SmartBrew Coffeemaker
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List Price: Our Price: $30.67 You Save: $9.32 (23%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Black & Decker DCM2500B SmartBrew Coffeemaker
Customer Review: The Best of the Inexpensive Coffeemakers
Summary: 4 Stars
I drink lots of coffee in lots of places. I've had the terrible plasticky coffee from the $10 drippers and very fine pressed coffee from the shops.
This is my third Black & Decker (more on that later) and continues to benefit from design upgrades and improvements. I found this dripper to be the top of the line inexpensive coffeemaker. Mine came with the resusable filter, but I find that using the disposable filters (for me) makes a slightly stronger and better coffee.
The program feature was a little counter-intuitive for me, but only took 30 seconds once informed to master. Wake up to my coffeemaker's aroma. Warning: The first time I tried to make coffee, the carafe didn't push the sticking, new drip basket arm in and I had a little overflow. Apparently, it was because the machine was new and it now works flawlessly. But you might want to make sure it drips properly the first time or two you use it.
I mentioned earlier that this is my third machine from this family. It's not Black & Decker's fault that I live in an area with extremely hard, unprocessed well water. All water processing appliances (like my water heater) get clogged up with time, even with proper maintenance. These machines have lasted better than the old, bottom line machines I started out with, and longer than a more expensive one I bought.
Customer Review: Makes Great Coffee, BUT...
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this coffeemaker because it is rated #1 by Consumer Reports. I am a very satisfied with the taste of the coffee it brews. However, I do have a few minor complaints. First, the coffee isn't as hot as I'm used to. It's not that I expect the coffee to burn my tongue, I just want it to be a little hotter. Second, the timer only goes for 2 hours, so after 2 hours it automatically shuts off and I'm left with cold coffee. Third. it doesn't signal you when the coffee is finished brewing. Maybe I'm spoiled by my old Braun coffeemaker which had a 4 hour timer and beeped 4 times when the coffee was finished brewing. Lastly, the water doesn't always all brew out of the reservoir, so when I open the cover to remove the grounds, some water spills on my countertop. Overall, because of the great pot of coffee it brews, plus the great price I paid, I do recommend this coffeemaker.UPDATE...After approximately 3 months of use, the coffeemaker became EXTREMELY LOUD and made popping noises. Black and Decker sent me a replacement coffeemaker for free, BUT it wasn't this model. I'm guessing that there's a recall in the future for this coffeemaker, so I can no longer recommend you buy it. The replacement I received, model # BCM1410B brews good coffee, but it's cord is too short (I needed an extension cord), and it's display is not lit well.Customer Review: Coffee Maker Has A Few Issues.
Summary: 3 Stars
I had ordered this product and had to send first one back cause water resivour was cracked and leaked. Second one I recieved works but has some issues.
Good: Makes a good cup of coffee, very well designed coffee pot, pause and serve feature works like a charm (no drips whatsoever), nice looking coffee maker.
Bad: Digital clock display has been messed up from day one, acts af if parts of display are burned out at times and other times shows correctly, when you raise lid to add water the condesation runs off it and always ends up on counter, the way the lid raises takes up enough room that when you are adding water/replacing filter/adding coffee grounds for most people you won't have enough room and have to pull it out to end off counter to be able to open lid enough or it will hit cabinets above.
Other than the bad stuff it still works good but i've only had it maybe a month so far, have never tried the timer on it though so don't know how well it works.
As for amazons returns, they do a great job! I went through process on there site for a return told them what the deal was, printed out a return label, shipped item back and had new coffee maker within same week.
Customer Review: Good Product, Good Price
Summary: 4 Stars
Pluses: Good coffee; large 12 cup capacity; sturdy carafe with comfortable handle; no spills when pouring coffee; no noisier or slower than my prior coffeemakers; 2-hour automatic shut-off for fire safety; price (especially since the Amazon price dropped $7 less than a month after I ordered it).
Minuses: Carafe lid connection looks fragile; no permanent filter; single cover for water compartment and coffee container; fragile looking insides; 2-hour automatic shut-off can be annoying unless you remember to turn the unit off and then on again to reset the timer before it turns off the unit.
Suggestion: Do not purchase the permanent filter on line. With shipping, it will cost close to $20. You can get one for about one-third that at a local hardware store. Size: 2 1/2 inches high; 4 1/2 inches diameter at the top. The B&D permanent filter has perforations only on the sides, making it a little difficult to clean since coffee sticks to the plastic bottom. Although common sense suggests that perforations on the bottom as well as on the sides would work better, the filter seems to work fine.
Customer Review: This is a good basic coffeemaker.
Summary: 5 Stars
As we drove away from home, I was always asking my wife if she remembered to turn off our old Mr. Coffee. Our new Black and Decker removed that worry, its 2 hour shut off was worth the price alone. It makes great coffee, and is hotter than our old one. The program features are simple, and easy to remember, so our coffee is ready when we get up. I like the tall glass pot, it does not spill when you pour. You will need to buy the paper filters, our old Mr. Coffee had a strainer basket, but its no big deal, I think the paper filter makes the coffee taste better anyway. Most of the coffeemakers today have all the fancy gadgets on them which we didn't need. This is a good basic coffeemaker, and the price was lower than Wal-Mart. We even got in on the free shipping special, life is good.
UPDATE AFTER 3 YEARS OF USE.
The finish on the hot plate under the glass pot has come off, not sure if it was teflon or paint or what. No big deal, but makes the coffee maker look bad.
My wife wanted a new Mr. Coffee anyway, so we retired the Black and Decker.